Ms Holms: Monroe operates a number of departments, namely Industrial, Technology, Professional, Health and Consumer Goods. What are the key sectors that are expanding in the Philippines?
Ms Viladot: As I mentioned before, BPOs are growing thanks to the young and educated professionals with very good English-language and computer skills. We are placing executive-level professionals with business outsourcing companies daily.
Information Technology is another key area, particularly in the highly innovative banking or financial technology sectors. The Philippines is lagging behind the likes of Malaysia and Singapore in Southeast Asia and are only spending about a third of those in Malaysia and Singapore on digital upgrades. This will evolve as customers change their mindsets in regards cash-only transactions. Less than a quarter of Filipinos have a bank account, and around 50 percent have mobile phones, so this represents a sector with tremendous potential for growth.
Digital retail as well as traditional retail are also key areas, which will fuel demand for jobs in traditional positions such as marketing, business development, sales, operations, human resources, financial roles as well as logistics, which we see as another major growth area.
Other areas include construction, which as slowed recently but will bounce back, real estate and property development, manufacturing, health and gaming.
Ms Holms: How can Monroe assist in executive recruitment?
Ms Viladot: Monroe is an international executive search agency that has been operating in the Philippines since 2007. I am proud to say that we are one of the leading headhunting companies in the country and are held in the highest regard by our client companies and job candidates, according to our 350 reviews on Google. The positive reviews, which match our internal surveys, are not only due to our recruitment services, but our focus, our dedication, to customer service. It is something that is essential to our business model and something that is constantly evolving.
The overriding factors in the success of Monroe in the emerging economies in which we operate around the world, is our business model and our executive recruitment consultants. As you mentioned in a previous question, our headhunting services focus on five industry verticals. Each of our headhunters must have a thorough understanding or background in their specific fields, with many of our consultants having more than 10 years of experience in their areas. They are experts at what they do.
Ms Holms: It is obviously having a positive impact judging by your success in April.
Ms Viladot: Monroe has a very positive image in the Philippines and I am happy to have been able to have an immediate impact and build on that success. The company recently completed a move to new offices and we made three great new hires last month. Our new headhunters have embraced our international award-winning 12-step executive recruitment methodology and had an immediate impact.
In April, we placed 14 executives with our clients, and added 17 new client companies utilising our headhunting services. That’s a total of 75 active national and multinational companies that are currently engaging with us to provide recruitment services. This is a clear indication that the market trusts the Monroe Consulting Group brand and understands that we are a reliable recruitment and business partner.