English has become the world's most widely-used language for international business and communication. It is the major language in news and information, business, finance, entertainment, maritime, and international air traffic communication. English has commensurate importance in government, diplomacy, science, medicine and other professions.
The advent of information and communication technologies spurred the onset of new and diverse fields and industries. In a world connected by bits and bytes, fluency in the English language has become increasingly important as it emerged as a common vehicle for communication. Often cited as the 3rd largest English-speaking country in the world, the Philippines has drawn a considerable amount of foreign investment that banks on this competitive advantage.
In the Philippines today, myriad and high-paying employment opportunities abound for graduates who have excellent English communications skills. Some of these industries include:
PEP believes that a high proficiency in English equips the Filipino worker to be a world-class professional ready for the global economy. English proficiency is a valuable asset for:
- Allied Health Professionals
- Nurses
- Physical Therapist
- Medical Technologist
- Teachers
- IT Professionals
- Maritime Workers
BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) generally refers to a decision to sub-contract a set of functions or processes by one firm to another, or to a group of individuals. Outsourcing non-core business processes allows a company to invest more time, money, and human resources into core activities and building strategies, which fuel company growth. The more popular jobs within this 'sunshine industry' are in the areas of customer service or technical support at call centers medical transcription, software development and computer operations, animation, engineering, and accounting.
The outsourcing sector is targeting to create 802,684 jobs by 2010, according to the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT).
CALL CENTERS
Also known as "customer care centers", "contact centers", "multimedia access centers" and "service bureaus", call centers are arguably the Philippines' hottest attraction for both job-seekers and investors alike.
A call center is defined as a physical location where calls are placed, or received, in high volumes. This could be for the purpose of sales, marketing, telemarketing, customer service, technical support, or any other specialized business activity that is usually outsourced.
Customer Sales Representatives (CSRs) often interact with people from other countries, making fluency in the English language of critical importance. Moreover, CSRs need to bring in an understanding of the client countries' culture to enable them to respond successfully to customers.
Once accepted, potential CSRs then have to undergo an average of three months of intensive training on culture, geography, and "accent neutralization" to polish their spoken English and make themselves understood by their global customers. More
MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION
Medical transcription (MT) refers to the conversion of medical documents into digital form. MT services that are accurate, easily accessible, and immediately available are essential to good healthcare.
Medical transcriptionists listen to dictated recordings made by physicians and other healthcare professionals and transcribe them into medical reports, correspondence, and other administrative material. Using a headset to hear the recordings, they encode the reports and may routinely pause (using a foot pedal) to check for grammar and clarity, ensuring that the output is easily comprehensible and accurate. Transcribing the highly technical documents requires patience and an intimate knowledge of medical terminology and jargon, reinforced by an understanding of anatomy and physiology, diagnostic procedures, and pharmacology.
Often, the experienced transcriptionists' facility in the language enables them to spot mistakes or inconsistencies in a medical report, and verify the information. This reduces the chance of patients receiving ineffective or even harmful treatments and ensures high quality patient care. More
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
Software or applications development and animation are fast becoming rising stars in the country's IT-enabled Services (ITES) sector. The ITES sector encompasses a broad range of uses, such as website design and development, the creation of e-commerce software and other customized applications, content management software, and flash animation design, among others.
Several industry consultants have pointed out that attention focused in the promotion of software development skills and high-value outsourced ICT services will position the Philippines as a true regional e-Services hub.
In an interview with Computerworld Philippines, Josephine Briones-Gonzalez, division chief for IT services and electronics division at CITEM, encouraged local animators to use computer-based animation processes because their foreign counterparts are already using digital technology.
She further noted, "We'd like to specifically highlight wireless application developers because it is emerging as a special niche in the local software applications market."
| 
