7 Job Interview Tips for Aspiring OFWs

Looking for a job overseas is similar to looking for a job in the Philippines. You need to submit your resume, which contains information like educational background and work experience. Recruiters use it to screen applicants and determine if they pass the second stage, which is job interview.

So, you looked great on paper, but what can you do to wow your interviewer? Believe it or not, job interviews could make or break your dreams to work abroad, which is why you need to make it good in order to proceed to the next step. At the same time, job interview is a good opportunity for employers to get to know you better and determine whether you are fit for the job.

The question is how will you do it?

Here are job interview tips you need to know and remember:

1. Research about these three things.

The job you applied for, the company you will be working with, and the country where you will be assigned.

You need to know the job you are applying for and make it a point to share your experiences while doing the job. You also need to research about the company, what they stand for, company culture, and how they treat their employees. You will most likely be interviewed by a representative of the company, so familiarize yourself with that person before you meet him. Consequently, know the country where you will be working. Get to know the culture, food, places, and traditions among others to give you an idea on what to expect if you were chosen.

Never go to an interview without any knowledge of the job, company, or even the country where you’re going. Knowing these could give you an advantage over other applicants.

2. Be on time. 

The concept of Filipino time doesn’t work in this case. Keep in mind that interviewers will interview more than one people for the job and they want to do it as quick as possible. If the appointment say 8:00 am, then be there at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time.

3. Make the most out of your first 30 seconds. 

They say first impressions last, so make the most out of it. From the moment you enter the room, you should be able to exude confidence with the way you walk, stand, sit, and talk. Interviewers will also judge you by the way you present yourself, so make it count.

4. Emphasize your strengths and acknowledge your weaknesses. 

You will be asked why you are the right candidate for the job or why they will hire you. At this point, you need to highlight your strengths and back it up with previous experiences. Share situations from your previous employment where your skill and professionalism stood out.

At the same time, identify your weaknesses and offer commitment on how willing you are to turn those weaknesses into something positive. Employers want someone who is skilled and knowledgeable, but they also need someone who is resilient and willing to improve.

More importantly, never lie just to get the job. Honesty goes a long way, so make sure you only share something that really happened to you.

5. It’s okay to ask clarifying questions. 

… especially when you don’t understand what the interviewer is asking. This will enable you to give a better answer because you understood the question. Nonetheless, listen carefully again and make you got the question once the interviewer repeated it since repeating this could be annoying for them.

6. Learn to adapt to the situation. 

Interviewers have different personalities. Some prefer to talk while you listen and will only say something when asked while there are others who prefer listening to you, which means you need to elaborate as much as you can. Regardless, make sure you adapt to the situation. You can easily gauge what the interviewer wants based on body language, so make sure you pay attention to it.

7. Practice with someone. 

They say practice makes perfect – and there is no better way to ace this interview than preparing.

Before the interview, have a run-through with someone, say your spouse or a close friend. Prepare questions that could possibly be asked. Make sure to answer the questions as if you are already on your interview. Ask for feedback and make sure to accept constructive criticisms.

Are you ready to ace that job interview? Good luck and you can do it!

Facts about Overseas Filipino Workers that You Need to Know

Bagong Bayani. 

This is how people call Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs these days – and they deserve it. These people decided to leave the comfort of their homes and sought greener pastures to provide a better life and future for their family. The remittances they sent to their families back home helped improved the Philippines’ economy; hence the title.

Aside from this, how much do you know about OFWs?

Here’s what we know:

1. There is an increasing number of OFWs deployed every year. 

According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration or POEA, there were more than 1.8 million Filipinos (both new hires and re-hires) who left the country to work in 2015. Land-based workers still got the big chunk at more than 1.4 million while there were more than 406,000 seafarers deployed.

What’s more alarming is that this number increases every year, which could indicate that income opportunity in the Philippines is not at par with other countries overseas. There are also more re-hires than new hires, especially for land-based workers.

2. Middle East countries are still the top destination among OFWs. 

In particular, Saudi Arabia with more than 406,000 workers deployed and United Arab Emirates with a little over 227,000 documented workers.

What’s the reason behind this?

Migration to Middle East dates back to 1970s when the countries in this region started recruiting “guest workers” to work on various projects, including infrastructure. In 1975, then President Marcos implemented “Development Diplomacy,” which paved way to the rise of Filipinos deployed overseas.

Aside from Middle East countries like Kuwait and Qatar, Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong are among the top destinations for OFWs. Europe, America, Oceania, and Africa are also considered by Filipinos seeking to work abroad.

3. Household service workers occupy the top occupational category. 

There are several occupational groups deployed overseas. This includes:

  • Household service workers
  • Nursing professionals
  • Laborers
  • Cleaners and helpers
  • Waiters
  • Construction workers
  • Welders
  • Engineers
  • Plumbers and pipe fitters

Among these groups, household service workers remain to be the top job applied to by Filipinos with more than 194,000 and at least 183,000 new hires in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

READ: Fair Training Center 

4. OFWs help boost the Philippine economy by sending remittances. 

Do you know why the Philippines was able to withstand recession despite the several economic crises around the world? It’s all because of OFW remittances.

In 2014, remittances were almost at $24 billion and in 2015, OFW cash remittances is at $16.21 billion from January to August alone. This increases the country’s dollar reserves, thereby making the Philippines more resilient despite the economic crises rocking the world.

READ: Banks versus Remittance Centers: Which is better? 

5. The life of OFWs abroad is not as easy as it seems. 

It’s true that OFWs earn bigger and in dollars. The fact that they are abroad makes it easier for them to visit other places and experience a different culture. Unfortunately, OFW life is not easy.

Apart from dealing with homesickness and unexplainable lack of funds even while working abroad, OFWs are exposed to violence and abuses from employers, exploitation, and incarceration. If OFWs fight back and unfortunately killed the employer, the OFW is subjected to death sentences and could even lead to death itself.

OFW life is not easy. If you want to give this a try, then you need to prepare physically and emotionally to help you get through this life. It is rewarding, but sacrifices have to be made to provide a better life for your family.

Battle Homesickness with the Help of these Tips

You have a good job, your employer is nice and reasonable, and pay is good. You are treated well, which makes you love your job even more. Everything seems to be going well, except that you are overseas and your family is in the Philippines.

Homesickness is one of the many problems OFWs face. Despite earning bigger, most, if not all OFWs experience feeling homesick, with some even deciding to go back home because they miss their family. Unfortunately, you have to make sacrifices in order to provide a better and secure future for your family.

Here’s the challenge: how will you address homesickness?

It’s not easy to address, but these tips will help:

1. Establish a schedule where you can talk to your family. 

The good thing about living today is that communicating with people from anywhere around the world is easier. You can always use Skype, Viber, WeChat, or FaceTime to talk to your loved ones back home and see their faces.

Therefore, establish a schedule where you can set up video or phone conferencing. It is advisable to do this at night time where the family is complete. Ask your family how their days went and listen to them as they share the things that happened to them. This way, you can still keep communication lines open with your family.

2. Call anytime. 

Aside from the scheduled video calls, make an effort to call or send a message to members of your family anytime within the day. Let them know that you think of them and how much you miss them. Ask them how their day is going so far. This assures your family that you are still there and just a phone call away.

3. Watch Pinoy shows during your downtime. 

You deserve a break. You’ve been working so hard for the past week, so don’t hesitate to lie down on your bed and watch Filipino shows during downtime. Seeing Filipino actors on your screen will make you miss home even more, but at least you are not alone. It gives you a little piece of how life is back home and a good way to de-stress as well.

4. Meet up with the Filipino community. 

Have you seen the Aga-Claudine-John Lloyd movie, Dubai? It’s a great way of showing the closeness and bayanihan spirit of the Filipinos.

If you don’t like the idea of being alone, then you should know that there is a Filipino community waiting for you. For instance, many Filipinos in Hong Kong gather every Sunday for their day-off. Take this opportunity to relax, de-stress, and meet fellow kababayans. This will make you cure homesickness.

Don’t worry. All of the sacrifices will be worth it, especially if your priority is a better life and secure future for your family. Hang in there.

4 Healthy Tips for OFWs While Still Abroad

They say “Health is Wealth.” That’s true. If you are healthy, then you would be able to do the things you need and love to do such as working for your family and enjoying the good things life has to offer. Once you start neglecting your health, everything else will crumble.

Unfortunately, health is something many OFWs don’t prioritize. You take more than two jobs to be able to send money back home and fulfill your promises to your family. Sometimes, you skip meals and convince yourself that your family needs it more than you do. You also don’t get enough sleep and rest because you need to provide for your family in the Philippines.

Here’s the thing: when you do these things, your health starts to suffer. When it suffers, your employer might send you back home because you are no longer fit to do the job. Worse, you don’t have enough savings that will even last you and your family a month.

You can change that by taking note of these tips to ensure your health is in tiptop condition:

1. Skip the vices. 

Night outs with friends is fine. You deserve to relax and take a break after a long day at work. Plus, you’ve been working so hard, so one night of fun won’t be that harmful – until the night out becomes every week. Worse, it comes with alcohol and cigarettes, which are perfect elements to jeopardize your health.

Take it easy on vices. Once a month is fine, but everyday could be harmful to your health. Keep in mind that vices could lead to serious conditions that may threaten your health and career – and you don’t want that to happen.

2. Take time to exercise. 

Do you still make time for exercise? If not, then you are surely blaming it on the busy schedule and side jobs you have. Still, don’t use this as an excuse to skip physical activities.

The truth is you don’t have to go to the gym to workout. Simple things like walking on your way to work or taking the stairs instead of riding the elevator can be considered as physical activities. If you have free time, then take that opportunity to jog around the park.

The bottom line is to move. It keeps your heart healthy as well.

3. Eat healthy and wisely. 

Many OFWs skip meals or settle with mediocre meals just to fill their tummies. You would rather save the money you’re supposed to spend on food and send it to your family. When you do this, you are compromising your health because your  body is not getting enough nutrients.

Therefore, make sure to eat three to five healthy meals everyday. Your body will thank you because you know how to take care of it as well.

4. Do something with stress. 

OFW life can be stressful, we know that. You have a lot in your plate and you need to make sure that your family gets all the help they need to survive. Then, there are relatives who will rely on your padala or friends who send you a message to borrow money. You also need to worry about savings and Emergency Fund or the monthly amortization for your housing loan. Roll them all together and you are in it for a stressful life.

Still, it’s not the end of the world. Life overseas can be stressful, but don’t let it take over you. Too much stress could trigger medical issues that require medication, which is the last thing you need.

Breathe, relax, and do your best to look at the positive sides of your situation.

4 Tips on How to Start Your Child’s Education Fund

A sufficient savings account, a car that you own, a house you can finally call your home, and a small business to help sustain daily finances. These are some of the many goals you want to achieve, which is why you decided to pack your bags and look for opportunities overseas. Aside from these goals, surely, you want to give your kids the best education.

Apparently, sending money for tuition fee is not enough. You need to look long-term and prepare for the future because let’s face it, you can’t work overseas for the rest of your life.

This is why while you still can, you need to start saving up for your children’s education – and here’s how you can do it:

1) Establish your child’s education goals. 

This is the first step you need to establish when preparing for your kid’s educational fund. Establishing goals will make it easier for you to decide how much money you will set aside for this fund and how much you need to save. In line with this, you need to consider the following factors as you establish educational goals:

  • Your child’s school, preferably something you can sustain even without your overseas stint.
  • Amount of tuition fee in the preferred school

Find out how much the tuition fee costs and multiply it with the number of years your child will go to school. Make sure to include inflation since tuition fee increased by at least 10 percent every year.

2) Decide how much you want to set aside for Education Fund. 

Now that you know how much you need for your child’s education, it’s time to devise a strategy on how to save for this amount.

There are many ways on how you can save for your child’s Education Fund:

  • Set aside a specific portion of your monthly income for tuition fee.
  • Look for additional ways to earn money and save the money earned for this specific fund.
  • Save the bonuses you received from work and deposit it in the Education Fund.
  • Involve your child in saving such as keeping the money received from godparents. You will also be teaching your child to be financially responsible at an early age.

The bottom line is be creative to help you earn extra income. Every centavo counts when it comes to saving for your child’s education.

3) Invest your money to make it grow. 

Savings will not be enough to cover the expenses for your child’s education. At this point, you need to look for ways that will help you grow your money as tuition fee and other school-related expenses increase. In that case, you need to carefully consider investment.

Here are some of your investment options:

  • Education plan, preferably something that includes dividend earnings and with flexible payout options.
  • Mutual Fund
  • Unit Investment Trust Fund (UITF)
  • Stocks

READ: Investment Options for OFWs 

4) Start saving NOW. 

All of these won’t be helpful if you won’t start doing it now. The earlier you start to build your child’s Education Fund, the better and higher you can save for his/her future. Don’t wait for your contract to end before you realize how important education is. Start now and you will be able to provide a better and more stable future for your child.

In line with this, don’t forget to track how much money you are saving. Tracking your progress will make it easier for you to adjust spending and investment options to ensure that your child will get the education s/he deserves.

4 Reasons Why You Need to Start Saving for Your Retirement

Everybody ages. It takes one year at a time but eventually, your hair turns gray, your vision and hearing starts to falter, and you can no longer do things as swiftly as you can. It’s part of life because aging will come knocking at your door.

When that time comes, you should be prepared not just physically and emotionally but also financially. After all, you don’t want to be still working overseas at your 50s, do you? When you’re in that age, you should be going back home and retiring for good.

This is why you need to start saving for your retirement as soon as you hit foreign soil. In case you’re wondering why, well, here’s why:

1. Spending never stops. 

Sadly, it doesn’t even if you stopped receiving your paycheck in dollars. Utility bills, food, medicine, and school expenses will continuously pour in and there’s nothing you can do but to pay for them. How will you be able to cover for these expenses if you don’t have a retirement plan?

Daily expenditures will never stop, which is why you need to establish your pension from government agencies (which may not be enough to cover daily spending) and look for passive income generator like stocks to help you with the expenses.

2. You will start relying on your children for your needs. 

There is an unwritten rule and obligation that children will take care of their parents. This explains why you keep sending money to your parents as part of your “obligation.”

Do you want your kids to do the same?

While they have moral obligation to do so, you don’t want to be a burden to other members of the family. You also don’t want to use the “utang na loob” argument on your family members too. As much as possible, you want to have your own money so you don’t have to rely on other people to pay for your personal and medical needs – and having a retirement plan can save you.

READ: 6 Tips to Help You Save for Retirement 

3. There is a higher tendency that you will still be working even if you’re aging. 

Your aim is that once you retire from overseas work, you don’t have to work a day in your life because you are already prepared for settling down. If you go back home and look for a job a week after you came back for good, then it simply means you weren’t serious about establishing your retirement plans.

This shouldn’t be your case. Plus, companies are wary of accepting applicants who are almost close to retirement age.

4. Two words: financial worries. 

Do you want to retire and worry about where to get money for your daily expenses? Surely, you have a different perception by the time you went home for good.

Here’s the thing: if you weren’t able to prepare for your retirement, then financial worries will always haunt you the moment you step on Philippine soil.

READ: Financial Milestones Before Retirement 

Therefore, prepare for retirement as early and as soon as you can. Don’t waste your hard-earned money buying things that won’t last. Be wise with your spending and look for other ways to earn extra income – and set aside the money earned for your Retirement Fund. Consequently, invest your money to make it grow. You have to be prepared and starting early is your best preparation.

5 Signs It’s Time to Go Home – For Good

How many years have you been working as an Overseas Filipino Worker? If it’s your first time to work abroad, do you have any plans of going back?

Working overseas is a good opportunity for you to earn bigger and make your dreams happen. You get to earn more compared to how much you’re earning in the Philippines. Apparently, OFW life is not forever. At some point, you have to go back home and settle with your family. The question is when?

Here are signs that tell you it’s time to go back home and for good:

1. You have a house you can finally call your own. 

One of the many things OFWs want to have is to have their own home. Most of the time, your family is renting a house or living with parents. This could be one of the reasons why you decided to take the sacrifice of working overseas to save up for your dream house.

If you finally have a house registered under your name, then it could be a good sign to go back to the Philippines.

READ: Buy Your Dream House with these Tips 

2. There is an Education Fund for your children. 

Education is something that cannot be taken away. This is why you work hard because as much as possible, you want to give the best education for your children.

While you’re abroad, make sure that you save enough for your kids’ education. This fund must be enough to sustain them until college because again, OFW life is not forever. If you have sufficient fund for their education, then retiring in the Philippines may not be an issue since you have one less thing to worry.

3. Diversified investment portfolio is one of your assets. 

Savings will never be enough. You need something that will help your money grow continuously even if you are no longer working. This is where investment comes in.

There are several investment options you can choose from. The best part is you can start for as low as P5,000 to help you make your money grow. Explore your options to help you find out the best options for you.

READ: Investment Options with Less Than P10,000

4. You can start your own business with sufficient capital.

You need to do something while you’re in the Philippines. This way, you can ensure that money comes in everyday without the possibility of going overseas again. Investment will always be a good option, but starting your own sustainable business will help a lot to ensure that you have sufficient supply of cash everyday.

Therefore, you should be able to save enough to help you start your business. If you can, start your own business while you are still overseas to give you enough time to make it grow.

5. Debt, what debt? 

Borrowing money is fine as long as you use it for the right purpose. It is also understandable if you borrow money, especially when you don’t have enough cash to finance important expenses such as costs related to your work abroad. Regardless, you still need to pay them by the time due date comes. When you are about to retire, you need to at least minimize your debt, if not fully pay. This way, you can truly enjoy retirement because you don’t have to worry about monthly amortizations or putting your property at risk for foreclosure.

You don’t want to lose everything you worked hard for, do you?

You might say that these signs are impossible. That could be true, especially when there are a lot of expenses you shoulder. Nonetheless, you can still make this happen. It takes a lot of discipline and commitment, but you can achieve this.

An OFW’s Guide on Getting Your First Credit Card

Do you have a credit card? If yes, then you should still read this. If you don’t have one, then you have more reason to read this.

Getting a credit card can serve you a lot of purpose. You can buy things, especially pasalubong for your family back home (just make sure it is Visa or Mastercard) when you forgot to bring your cash. You can also rely on your card in case of emergency and when cash is not available at that time. More importantly, owning a credit allows you to build your credit score, which plays a crucial role when you apply for a loan.

So, should you apply now?

Don’t get too excited. There are things you need to remember when getting your first credit card:

On Choosing a Credit Card

Choosing a credit card is somehow similar to choosing what toy to buy for your child, the family car, or your dream home – you need to think hard and explore your options. Each credit card offers something that might not be available with the others, which is why you need to look into it closely.

Below are some of the things you need to consider:

  • Eligibility – This refers to the minimum requirements you have to fulfill when applying for a credit card.
  • Interest Rate – Also known as finance charge, the interest rate charged by credit card companies are high. Still, this will only apply if you have a balance from the previous month.
  • Annual Fee – This may be charged once a year, but it is something you can never get from. The first year is usually waived by credit card companies.
  • Penalty Fee – Aside from interest, you will also be charged with penalty fee in case of late payment and no minimum fee was paid OR you went beyond your credit limit.
  • Rewards Program – Every cent spent using your credit card must amount to something. The credit card company’s Rewards Program  should give you waiver for annual fee, air miles, gift certificates, items that correspond to the points earned, or cash back rebates.

As much as possible, go for a credit card that offers low interest rate, penalty fee, and annual fee. Good rewards program is also worth considering.

How to Apply for Your First Credit Card

  • Submit a completed application form to your chosen credit card company. You can get it directly from them or download an application form online. Make sure that all information is true and complete.
  • Prepare at least two government-issued IDs and proof of income like payslip, Income Tax Return, or Certificate of Employment. These supporting documents will help the credit card company verify your identity and determine your capacity to pay.

Tips to Remember when Using Your First Credit Card

Congratulations. You finally have your first credit card. Still, don’t get too excited. There are certain rules you need to follow to make sure that you won’t get in debt. After all, credit card is one of the reasons why people, not just OFWs are in debt.

Nonetheless, here’s what you need to remember:

  • Sign the back of the card as soon as you got it. This way, you will be able to prevent unauthorized credit card usage.
  • Activate your card. Some card were pre-activated, nevertheless, it is best to activate it using the number provided in your welcoming kit.
  • Do not share your credit card details to anyone to avoid credit card fraud.
  • Pay your credit card balance on time and in full amount. Any remaining balance from previous month will be carried over the next month and included in the computation of interest.
  • Set a budget for your credit card usage. Using your entire credit limit is a red flag for lenders, plus it would be harder to pay for it, causing you to accumulate debt.

Are you ready to apply for your first credit card?

Bad Credit History? Here are 5 Ways on How to Fix It

Nobody wants to be in debt. Surely, no one wants to borrow money and not be able to pay it, especially now that you are earning in dollars. Unfortunately, financial difficulties happen and there are expenses you won’t be able to pay on time, which prompts you to borrow money.

You might ask, “What if I am unable to pay?” 

In that case, late or non-payment of financial obligations could affect your credit score, thereby reducing your chances of getting approved when you apply for a loan. The same goes if you have little credit history, which means you haven’t tried applying for a loan or credit card.

Is there a way to fix this? The answer is yes. Here’s what you can do to fix your bad or no credit history:

1) Start building your credit history. 

This is applicable if you don’t have financial obligations under your name.

Take note that credit history is among the most important factors lenders like Balikbayad look into. If there is none, then don’t worry. Now is the best time to build your credit history, starting with getting a credit card.

Credit card companies are more lenient in giving credit card to consumers. This is because this plastic card serves as your entry in the Consumer Lending market. Despite the convenience, make sure you are a responsible credit card holder by paying your bill on time and in full every time you use it for your pasalubong purchases.

If you happen to have bad credit, paying off your credit card debts could reduce your chances of being put in a bad light. In other words, don’t underestimate your credit card.

2) Don’t apply for another credit card. 

If you have existing financial obligations, getting a new credit is a big no-no. You will be tempted to use the card to pay for your purchases even if you cannot pay for the bill in full. Lenders also take this as a red flag because borrowers with too much credit cards in his name often indicates that you are financially troubled.

Resist every temptation to apply for a new credit card and avoid using cards newly issued to you, which leads you to this next tip.

3) Pay off existing loans and bills. 

Online cash loan, personal loan, salary loan, auto loan, car loan, credit card debt, and even utility bills – all of this have an effect on your credit history. Any late or non-payment could affect your overall credit score, which means getting a loan approval can be difficult as well.

Here’s what you can do:

  • List all existing debts and financial obligations. Indicate the amount, interest rate, and due date for each expense.
  • Identify which loans have either higher interest rate or earliest due date. Prioritize these loans when making a payment.
  • Look for ways where you can earn extra. You can try selling items you no longer need or getting a side job.
  • Make little sacrifices. If possible, walk on your way to work, avoid buying material things for your family back home, skip the weekly drinks with colleagues. You need to save money so you can pay off your loans.

Every payment made goes a long way. Lenders would like to see borrowers who have existing debts yet are making efforts to slowly pay off their loans.

4) Try negotiating with lenders. 

This may not work since it depends on your previous credit standing. If you were able to pay on time before, then explain the roadblocks you experienced, which led to delay in payment. Your lender would be willing to help you on this based on the type of borrower you were.

You can also suggest debt consolidation so you will only worry about just one loan. Try negotiating for lower but reasonable interest rate to make loan repayment easier for you.

5) Make sure that your family is working with you. 

All of these efforts won’t be possible if your family back home is not backing you up. It is imperative that you explain the financial situation with your family and collectively, look for ways on how you can pay off your loans and improve your credit score. Encourage your family to save and make little sacrifices as well to improve your financial condition.

Applying for a Business Loan? Here are 5 Things to Remember

Starting your own business is not easy. There are million things you need to do to ensure that it will make it work. Marketing your product or service is another important consideration because this will help define the success of your business. More than anything, you will need capital. 

Being an OFW means you get to earn more than what you can earn here, but this doesn’t mean you have enough capital to start your own business. This is why lenders offer business loans for starting entrepreneurs like you to give you a fighting chance in the market.

Nonetheless, getting a loan for your business is something you need to think about and not rush. To help you decide if this is something you truly need, we listed five things to remember before you submit your loan application:

1. The purpose of the loan

You will never run out of lenders since they are more than willing to extend credit to those who truly deserve it. Nonetheless, they look into the reason why you are applying for a loan.

Before you apply, establish why you need to get a loan. Do you need additional working capital? Are you thinking of expanding or renovating your location? Do you plan to acquire new products to expand your existing inventory? Are you planning on investing in a property where your business will be located?

Lenders will appreciate if you establish the purpose of your loan and make sure you can back it up.

2. The amount of loan

Apart from the purpose, which must be realistic and something that can be achieved, you need to know how much money you are planning to borrow.

It is easy to aim for the maximum loan amount, but lenders are wary of this. They can’t grant you with P1 million if the purpose of your loan is to launch a product. Make an estimate of how much you need and make sure that it is realistic and in line with the purpose of your business loan.

3. The payment terms

Lenders want to get paid every month at this given rate. By the end of the loan term, they expect you to fully pay the amount. When applying for a business loan, don’t be afraid to negotiate payment terms. You can’t do anything about the maturity date, but you can ask your chosen lender to negotiate the rate and payment schedule. This way, you can assure the lender that payment will come on the agreed dates.

4. Loan documents

Each type of loan requires documents. Some loan facilities may be stricter and require more documentation, but the bottom line is lenders will ask you to submit something.

When applying for a business loan, make sure that all the documents are ready when you go there. Check the lender’s list of requirements, which are usually listed in their website for reference, and prepare them as soon as you can. This will reduce the processing time because you have all the necessary documents ready.

5. Your credit score

This is the most important consideration when applying for a business loan, or any other type of loan. Lenders look into this closely because they want to make sure that you are a responsible lender who is ready to fulfill his financial obligations. At the same time, you are in a better position to negotiate loan terms if you have a positive credit rating.

Before you apply, make sure you establish your credit standing first, starting with getting a credit card (which you must pay on time and in full). If you have existing loans, then make sure you pay them as well.

READ: How to Boost Your Credit Standing

Keep these five things in mind because this will serve as your guide on whether getting a business loan is worth it. Since you’re thinking of getting one, keep in mind that Balikbayad is here to help. Fill out our online application form for pre-approval and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

If you happen to live in Cebu, we are happy to announce that Balikbayad Cebu is already open. This way, we can better serve OFWs in the Visayas region and allow us to be part of your entrepreneurial journey.