Saturday, September 22, 2012

I am a Freelance Virtual Assistant

Virtual Assistant, does this ring a bell?

Virtual assistant is a professional independent business contractor working in a remote place and usually from home office. He may work with an agency or directly hired by the client.
Virtual assistant or VA is a fast growing business not only in the Philippines but all over the world where there is internet connection. This is eminent for stay home moms, dads or person who doesn’t want to endure the hassles of traffic, working with people and colleagues around, doesn’t want nag by superiors and is happy working alone and at the comfort of their home.

I have been doing this job full blast for almost a year now and so far so good. I have a full-time job in Saudi Arabia, and my being a VA is just a work on the side to ease my homesickness being a OFW, away from home sweet home and family. I decided to make use of my God-given talent rather than just chatting and be annoyed with psycho in chat rooms.

My VA job helped me a lot to improve my competence in terms of graphic design, web design, article writing, blogging, admin tasks and more as I am able to learn from my clients as well. Learning is a two-way process and I’m just glad that few clients that I have worked with were just so kind to share their knowledge about trade of their business or their skills. I learn new things too in this new era of technology. I research, read and learn to upgrade my knowledge so as not to be left behind and be competitive in this world of virtual assistance.

Being a virtual assistant is not for everybody. If you enjoy working with colleagues, dressing up like an executive everyday and doesn’t mind the pollution and traffic before and after work, rub elbows with top executives and clients, then work from home is definitely not for you.

I have worked with a pilot for sometime just to manage his schedule, an IT geek to help him with his business schedule and help him update his blog site, website, flyers and creating and converting videos, a hairstylist and salon owner for marketing and social media update, a home builder for his social media update, a fitness guru and innovator for CRM and graphic designs, a Doctor for her website and marketing materials, a Pastor for her online broadcast, social media, and research materials, article writer/blogger for a company and for a nurse (entrepreneur couple actually) who is opening an adult day care center to name a few.

A virtual assistant work is not a long-term as the work that you may have will depend on the need of the client. Some clients need you for just a project, so work is on a project basis. Some will need you for 2 weeks to a month to help on some paper works or schedules then after work is done, end of service. There are also clients who are into long term business meaning, if they are happy with you as their VA, you work with them as long as the business is doing great but not like as when you really have a stable job in a physical office with all the benefits of an office employee. VA job is a stable one if you have connections and referrals and will not run out of clients.

So far, I am paid by the hour and my income depends on the number of hours I worked for the client and the number of clients I have. The more project, clients and more hours mean more income. My rate is getting good now and is paid in US and Australian dollars by my clients straight to my bank account or through Paypal.

A virtual assistant needs to build reputation so for him or her to get referrals and get more work. Work means money and money means sustaining your daily needs.

Remember, not all work from home are legitimate, there are scams as well.

My virtual assistant job is a way of making use of my spare time in a productive way and in return augmenting my income while doing work I enjoy most.

You will know more about virtual assistant or work from home on my succeeding blogs. See yah!

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Awardee for an OBRA award of Exlink Events: Outstanding Filipino Blogger

Aug 29, 2012 – I woke up at around noon time, opened my laptop to check any emails and my Facebook before heading to the shower, my usual daily routine. There was a notification in my email for a comment on a blog in my Cebuanawithlove.worpdress.com website. And this is what it was:


another enqiury posted on my Who am I page.

Initial reaction as anybody would think is, “Hmmm is this true or some sort of spam?” I searched for the event company’s information and FB account to check on the authenticity of the enquiry and I may say possible “good news.” Exchange of emails then followed.


I phoned Emmanuel Rabulan, the man behind the story Adobong Mani: a story of survival and success (Emmanuel Rabulan) which caught the attention of the organizing committee of Exlinkevents and told him the good news. He was so excited that he himself can’t believe the opportunity to be recognized as an OFW.

I was sent the nomination form for my nomination as Outstanding Filipino Blogger.
After few exchange of emails, I was asked for my CV and 2×2 picture for marketing purposes as I am not now a nominee, I am already one of the OBRA awardee, Outstanding Filipino Blogger category.
 
Now on its 4th year, the annual event held in conjunction with the Megabalikbayan and OFW Expo (MBOX), OBRA aims to recognize OFWs and Balikbayans who are worth emulating by our countrymen because of their exemplary actions. This year Exlinkevents added a new category, the Outstanding Filipino Blogger, which, fortunately, I am one of the two first awardees.
 
 
 
“ We are doing this award to give OFWs and Balikbayans models to emulate in their quest to better their lives, their family and the country”, said Michelle Ballesteros, CEO of Exlinkevents.
 
Since I cannot be in Manila on December 7, 2012 at SM Mega Trade Hall to receive the award as I am working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, my daughter Krystal will be the one to accept the recognition on my behalf together with my brother Oliver, sister-in-law Aireen and my Tito Elson Ogario.
 
Indeed, big surprises come in small packages. Never in my wildest dream that my simple thoughts, my past time of writing is recognize even if I am not a pro-writer. I am so humbled of the opportunity even if I am thousands of miles away from home and expressing my thoughts at the comfort of my room.
 
This award is heartily dedicated to my daughter Krystal, late parents Mama Lily, Daddy Boy and my family.
 
Truly, God is good. To the Almighty Father be the glory.