So, you want to become an OFW, right? But before you take the plunge and apply for a job overseas, it’s important to know what qualities you need. After all, it will be difficult to find work if you don’t have the right skills or qualifications.
Also Read: 9 Survival Tips Every First-time OFW Must Know
You need to understand that not everyone is cut out to work abroad. The best thing you can do is make sure that you have the skills and qualifications needed for the job, as well as the right attitude. If you’re going to be an OFW, then it’s important that you know what qualities to look for in order to stand out from other applicants. Here are some of them:
1. Independence
This is the most important quality that a person must have when he or she is working abroad. Being independent means being able to make decisions and act on them, manage your time, handle conflict, work without supervision and take responsibility for your actions. It also means being able to make your own choices—this will help you become more confident in yourself and learn how to take control of any situation that comes up.
2. Integrity
You may think that integrity is a word you only see on resumes. But it is also a quality that you need to have in order to be an OFW.
It’s the quality of being honest, having strong moral principles and doing what is right even when no one is watching. It’s about being consistent with what you say and do, even if your decisions might not be popular with others.
Integrity helps build trust among people because it shows that you do what you say and follow through on your commitments. This can help foster relationships among family members or coworkers back home while abroad as they know they can count on each other when things get tough or when problems arise.
Integrity is also a sign of strength and character: You don’t compromise who you are just because there’s pressure from society or friends/family members (and sometimes employers) for us not to be ourselves anymore once we find ourselves living abroad–the world won’t end if we’re honest about our feelings! This also means not compromising morals under any circumstances.”
3. Resilience
Resilience is the ability to bounce back from failure, rejection or injustice. It’s also the ability to recover quickly after a loss.
OFWs can be resilient in many ways, but they need to learn how to take a step back and think about things before they react impulsively. They need not be impulsive because this could negatively affect themselves and their loved ones. If you are emotionally unstable, you should find a way out of your job so that you don’t cause harm to anyone else – especially when it comes down to your family members!
4. Time Management
Planning your day and setting goals is a great way to manage your time. Everyone has 24 hours in a day, but not everyone uses it wisely. If you want to be able to do everything on time and complete them all perfectly, then you need to know how much each task will take to schedule the right amount of time for each activity.
This may sound easy at first glance, but it actually requires careful planning and organization skills. You have to ensure that everything is done according to plan or else there might be some problems along the way. Other factors influence how long it takes for an activity to finish, such as unexpected interruptions from others or natural disasters such as hurricanes or typhoons, which could delay the completion date of a project due its unpredictability nature where one never knows when these disasters would happen next since they’re unpredictable! So if one wants something done well, then this person must always remember not to waste any single moment with useless activities instead, dedicate only a specific amount of time every day, so none goes wasted.
5. Being a hardworking person
A hardworking person is someone who will go out of their way to make sure that they are doing the best job possible. This kind of employee will stay late, work on weekends and give 110% in everything they do. It doesn’t matter if they are at work or home because they will find a way of making it happen!
This type of employee has no problem telling others what needs to be done or how something should be done better. They understand that there are no shortcuts to success, making them an asset to any company since their hard work will pay off in the end. Being able to work under pressure also means achieving goals on time which gives them more opportunities for growth and advancement within the organization where you currently work as well as other companies looking for great talent like yours!
6. Having the drive to succeed
Before you say it, yes: we’re talking about having a goal and working towards it. There’s no denying that this is one of the most fundamental qualities any OFW must have. But being able to set goals that are realistic and achievable is also important. You don’t want to set yourself up for failure, after all!
It’s also crucial that you stay patient and don’t give up when things get tough—like when you take a wrong turn on your way home from work or run into an issue at work itself. Your support network will help keep you going through these times (and they’ll be there if/when things get rough). And above all else: never forget how much confidence you have in your abilities as an employee AND as a person!
7. Having courage and facing challenges head on
Having courage and facing challenges head on is a skill that can be learned. Challenges are inevitable, but you don’t have to let them defeat you. Don’t be afraid of what lies ahead because there will always be something waiting for you around the corner!
You may not know how to solve the problem right away. You may feel like giving up because it seems too overwhelming and impossible to overcome, but remember, everyone has faced these situations in their lives before—they were able to get through them, so why can’t we? There’s no shame in asking for help from someone who has been through this kind of situation before or even looking up articles online about how other people have gone through similar problems.
Challenges are opportunities for growth and learning: we all need some time alone every now and then because our minds get too cluttered with thoughts about all kinds of things happening around us at once – which can sometimes lead us astray from what truly matters most – family, friends and loved ones!
8. Being a learner, no matter what your age is
Learning new things has many benefits, whether for your career, personal life or your community. Learning new skills is one way to help you become more productive in whatever you do. It can also give you a sense of fulfillment knowing that you’ve learned something useful and applied it to improve yourself or the lives of others.
Learning new things can also help with self-confidence as well as improving relationships with family and friends because we all like to talk about what interests us.
9. Able to Adapt to Change
In a world where everything is always changing, it’s important to be able to adapt to change. Being able to adjust quickly to new situations, take on new challenges and learn from mistakes will help you be successful in your job as an OFW. In addition, accepting change as a way of life will also make you more adaptable.
10. Tolerance
Tolerance is the ability to accept people, situations and emotions that are different from your own. It’s also a sign of respect for other people and their beliefs.
Tolerance is a quality that helps people get along with others by accepting differences in opinion or behavior. For example, if someone has a different religious belief from you, you might be tolerant and respect their right to believe differently than you do.
11. Versatile and Flexible
Being able to do more than one thing is a must. Being able to adapt to change is also something that will come in handy when you’re abroad because things don’t always go as planned. You need to be able to take on new challenges, and being flexible and adaptable make this possible!
12. Dependable
Dependability means that you can be trusted to do what you say. It is important to be dependable because it shows that you have integrity, and people will trust you if they know that. This quality is important in many jobs because if someone does not know when their coworker or supervisor will come into work, it can cause problems with scheduling things out and planning ahead.
13. Self-Motivated
Self-motivated individuals are self-driven and have an inner drive to succeed. They are proactive, creative, and can independently come up with solutions to any problem. They don’t wait for others to give them a task or tell them what needs to be done; they just get on with it.
They take the initiative, which means that they are able to identify a problem and do something about it without being told or guided by others. Self-motivated individuals tend not take no for an answer (when someone says no, they try again).
14. Problem Solver
Problem-solving is a critical skill for every OFW. When you’re travelling abroad, you need to be able to solve problems on your own without depending on others. The best way to do this is by being prepared for any situation that may arise during your stay in another country.
Problem solving also helps you avoid further problems from occurring as well! For example, if you know how to solve basic issues like running out of money or falling sick without having access to healthcare services, then these instances won’t occur so often and become major problems themselves.
Solving problems will allow an OFW more freedom and flexibility while abroad because they’ll have fewer worries about what might happen next (which ultimately reduces anxiety). It can also help them feel more confident about their situation overall since they know that even if something goes wrong today, there’s still tomorrow when I can try again!
15. Confident
Confidence is a must-have quality for every OFW. It’s one thing to be confident in yourself and your abilities, but it’s another to show that confidence to others. The most successful expats can stand up for what they believe in and keep their cool when things don’t go according to plan.
Confident people are able to face challenges head on and not let them get the better of them. They’re comfortable speaking up when they have something important to say, whether it’s voicing their ideas at work or speaking up at a party where everyone else is quiet. Confident people can work with others, listen well and take criticism without getting defensive or offended; this means these folks often get promoted faster than those who lack these qualities! Lastly, confident people know when they’re wrong—or at least will admit when they’re wrong—and learn from their mistakes instead of making excuses for why everything went wrong in the first place (which could help prevent future mishaps).
Being an OFW is not Easy
Being an OFW is not as easy as it seems, for it requires a lot of sacrifices. You need to leave your family and friends behind, which can make you feel lonely and homesick. On the other hand, living as an overseas Filipino worker also has its perks. You can earn more money and experience new things that you might not have been able to do if you had stayed in the Philippines. And although living as an OFW can be tough, it’s important to remember that there are many, many other people who are in your shoes—and they manage just fine!
Final Thoughts
If your goal is to become an OFW, then ample reflection and preparation are a must. As they say, knowing yourself is half the battle. It will help you determine whether or not your dream job is right for you, as well as if you are ready to work abroad. You need to be honest with yourself and make sure that you have all the necessary skills and qualifications before applying for a job in another country.
There’s no point in forcing your way through if it means you’ll ultimately end up feeling unhappy and unfulfilled. Instead, take the time to prepare yourself for the challenges ahead so you can enjoy your experience as an OFW.
We hope that the qualities mentioned above will help you know yourself better and make the right decision when it comes to choosing a job abroad. If you want to learn more about working as an OFW and what it’s like on the other side, be sure to follow our blog so you can learn more about the ups and downs of working abroad. You’ll be surprised at how much you can gain from it!
READ NEXT: Are OFWs Rich? The Truth about OFW Salary and Finances