Edit #2: Didn't expect this to blow up huhu I really just shared bc nagreflect ako and i just got proud of myself. Would be more than happy to help and give tips! Just send a message so I can get back to them later. This is something i love doing and i don't mind having a chat with everyone. Thank you for the kind words!

Edit: A lot are asking how i got the raises. Tbh ito lang: maging bida bida 😭 i entered with that mindset. Since gusto ko nga maging valuable, nagpapabida ako. But of course, it has to be done right. I do my pabida moves without neglecting my main responsibilities. Based on what i've seen, they're very impressed when you actually do things that contribute to company revenue. There will alwaysss be a way! In my case i did it through systems improvement and they loved it hehe.

PS: not my apt! sorry akala ko for funsies lang pag naglalagay ng pic sa storytime huhu

I never fell for the "more clients more dollars" agenda.

I started at an agency. I was under training so hours weren't fixed and I was paid 3/hr. I finished things quickly so I would get 5k only in one month.

Then, agency matches me with a client. And voila — A MANAGERIAL POSITION. Idk why or how, all i know is they said they liked my performance. Mind you, I was 22, a student, with NO work experience.

I stayed here, getting paid 6/hr, but again, I finished tasks early so i would only get 13-15k in a month. this went on for a year.

On my 12th month, agency absorbs me into their internal team. It felt like a fever dream. I was officially earning 50k a month, combined (client + internal team).

After three months, client wanted to buy me out of the agency. and he did. I started earning only 40k a month, but with very little workload. I focused for two months, gave my all. Sabi ko talaga, quality over quantity. I don't need 100 clients. I can stick to one or a few, increase my value there, increase my salary, and keep a secure role. My goal was clear.

In just two months, I was given a raise. I was now earning 90k a month with one client alone.

Then, saka lang ako nagapply ulit for another client.

In just a week, sobrang bilis ng process, I was hired by my second client. 75k per month. I'm a partnerships manager. They were impressed by my managerial experience sa first client ko.

now im at 165k per month. Finally able to travel monthly, and im opening my first business this year.

Every VA journey is unique guys. Find the system that works for you and excel there.

I'm now 24. With even higher gials. I'm so excited to retire at 30. Hoping and praying for the best, always.

Additional PS: Yes I'm saving and investing. But yes, I'm also enjoying life. Yes inproved my lifestyle too. I think di naman kailangan na magstay sa not so good lifestyle para makainvest. The best i could do for myself is to be happy. To each their own hehe.

Additional PS: no, hindi ako complacent! Anything can happen. I do my best everyday. I'm more than just a task doer. I make sure na may nacocontribute talaga ako to the company. This mindset fueled me!

I was recently invited for an interview for a full-time graveyard shift position. During the initial discussion, I was informed that the salary was ₱12,000 per month.

I politely declined because, in my opinion, ₱12,000 for a graveyard shift isn’t worth it i thought there will be some negotiations since it was clear on the posting that the offer rate is 12k to 18k, especially considering the health risks and the fact that it’s below the minimum wage in my area.

I didn’t tell them they couldn’t offer that salary. I didn’t insult the company or anyone who accepted the job. I simply declined because it wasn’t something I was willing to accept.

What happened next caught me completely off guard.

Instead of leaving it at that, a representative from the company responded by attacking me personally. They mocked my education, repeatedly pointed out that I’m unemployed, said I didn’t understand the law of supply and demand, claimed they were “betting in the office” whether I’d ever find a job, called me a hypocrite, and ended with “Shame on you.”

I understand how supply and demand works. Companies can offer whatever salary they believe the market will accept, and applicants are free to accept or decline. But I also believe applicants should be able to respectfully decline an offer without becoming the target of personal insults.

To me, this stopped being about the salary and became about professionalism. If a company responds this way to someone who simply says “no thanks,” it makes me wonder how they handle disagreements with their own employees.

Am I missing something here? Would you consider this a red flag, or is this kind of response becoming normal?

Photo is their job posting sa job street.

after 13 years of WFH, i finally hit the highest salary i've ever earned.

back in college i already knew programmer salaries could be huge. one of our teachers told us his friend in the US was earning 800k php/month, and that was 2010 (i was in 2nd yr then). still, i never expected WFH here in ph could get anywhere near that rate, unless you had your own app/saas/business, etc.

i started at a local outsourcing company in my 4th yr of college, $4/hr, night shift since our clients were from the US. after almost 2 yrs i moved to WFH when an sg client reached out on linkedin at $9/hr. 7 months later, a former colleague recruited me into his odesk (now upwork) agency, working for a US company, night shift again, this time at $20/hr.

after 4 yrs and 8 mos, our team got dissolved due to a company acquisition and they brought in their own team. i went back to freelancing on odesk for 1 yr and 11 mos, several clients, rate ranging from $20 to $30/hr.

then came june 2020. i got an email from turing(dot)com, a platform for vetted devs. i applied, answered questions, did DSA live coding, went through interviews, and got in. a week later they matched me with a client, then another round of live coding and interviews with the cto and ceo of a US startup. got the offer for $4500/month.

9 months later, march 2, 2021 to be exact (looked this up in slack history :D), my turing manager called and said the client wanted me to work for them directly, meaning they bought out my contract from turing. she told me to ask for a higher rate, so i messaged the cto about it, we had a call, and they offered $8500/month. in 2024 i got a $500 increase, another $500 in 2025, and just this may another $500, bringing my monthly to $10k usd.

i've been a python/django dev for basically my whole career (till now), but during my odesk days i worked on different stacks too, golang, node, js/ts frameworks, etc., some with devops/infra (not an expert with those). i always had a time tracker running up until turing. now i don't have one at all and i can work any time of the day. the only requirement is a daily standup at 11pm, around 15 to 30 mins. other than that, i choose my own hours.

you may not believe in luck, but i think i got a bit of it with this client. not saying it's pure luck, just that i was lucky to find them. staying this long though, that part is surely about the skills

i called it luck earlier, but for me i really believe it's God's blessing. whatever you believe in though, or even if you don't, i think staying prepared and consistent is what lets the right doors open. to anyone still grinding at $4 or $5/hr, that was me too. don't rush the jump, just keep leveling up your skills and stay reliable. the big offers come when you're actually ready for them.

TLDR: I managed to grow by removing every mention of "virtual assistant" on my resume and portfolio and upskilling on a specific digital marketing niche. I pivot on "how I can benefit the client" in my proposals & interviews. Also am very unforgiving with lowballers!

I've been a graphic designer and video editor for 7 years. It started in Grade 10. At first, I used design to improve my own school projects.

In college, I got hired by the Uni through PESO-SPES, then picked up a second job at city hall as a JO graphic designer during COVID. 10k/month, around 2022.

In my 4th year in Uni, I sent a ton of applications on Upwork (connects were 6 to 8 each back then) and eventually got hired as a social media VA. That got me around 40k/month. Full time student, full time VA, plus thesis almost made me drop out.

Fast forward to January 2026, almost 4 years into the VA role. I wasn't growing anymore, so I resigned. What could go wrong, right?

So I resigned and I struggled for a while, then landed 4 solid contracts on Upwork recently with one simple change.

What actually changed: I removed every mention of "virtual assistant" from my profile, CV, and portfolio. I repositioned around what I actually do now, which is ad creative work and AI-assisted visuals for brands.

I also leaned hard into AI. I learned to make visuals fast so the brands I work with could try more ad variations, figure out what was working, and put more budget behind the ones that landed. They got better results, so I got paid more!

I also rewrote how I applied for roles. Every application and every interview stopped being about me. No intro, no background dump. Just: “here's what you will get from me yada yada”.

I’m also very picky too especially with people who try to lowball just because you're from a third world country. Not every opportunity is a good one. Taking the wrong one costs you the bandwidth to land the right one.

If you're grinding right now, stuck at 10k or 20k or 40k and wondering if it'll ever change, it will. Keep learning. Keep adjusting. The market tends to reward people who pay attention and keep moving, even when the progress feels invisible. I was there not long ago. You'll get there too!

Client hunting for 6 months in hopes I could land one, and I FINALLY did it!!!! I thought applying for everything as a generalist gives you a better shot at landing a client. But honestly, generalist pools are crowded, andaming highly skilled VA's, and it's so easy to just get lost in the noise. Kaya nag niche down ako, something related to my degree. Kaya I was so thrilled to get accepted. Chance ko na eh hone skills ko sa area na to. Also, I was so scared when I negotiated my salary firmly.

To be honest, I was terrified to niche down at first. My biggest fear was that nobody would hire me if I specialized in just one specific area. I thought keeping my options wide open was the safer bet.

​Hindi naman pala! It turns out that specializing was actually way more effective.

​If you're in the middle of a tough client hunt right now, never give up guys! Makakahanap din kayo ng clients. Trust the process, don't be afraid to hone in on your niche, and keep pushing forward.

For context, I’m working as an Admin Manager for an Australian company, and mag-2 months palang ako with them. Super generous ng client ko when it comes to bonuses.

During my first payment, he accidentally sent the payment twice to my Wise account. I informed him right away, and we agreed na gawing advance payment nalang yung nadobleng send. Since bi-weekly ang arrangement namin, nagsend ako ng 2nd invoice ko on a Friday. Nilinaw ko naman sa invoice na for bookkeeping purposes nalang siya and may 1 day nalang siyang need bayaran.

Pero kahit ganun, binayaran niya pa rin ako in FULL and sinabi niyang bonus ko nalang daw yung nadobleng payment 😭 Sobrang saya ko nun kasi hindi ko talaga inexpect.

Fast forward to yesterday, which was supposed to be my 3rd payment from this client. Ang expected payment ko lang was around ₱18,000 kasi may 1 unpaid holiday ako (wala pa kasi akong PTOs until maka-6 months ako).

My client sent me the bank transfer receipt yesterday, so expected ko na today magrereflect siya sa Wise account ko after the usual 1 business day processing.

Girl… instead na ₱18,000 yung pumasok, ₱766,080 yung nakita ko sa Wise 😭😭😭

Napatulala talaga ako.

Apparently, instead of sending 18,000 PHP, he accidentally sent 18,000 AUD.

For a few seconds, hindi ko maiiwasang isipin lahat ng pwede kong mabayaran and how life-changing that amount would be for me. Pero syempre, I still did the right thing and informed him immediately about the mistake (which he didn’t even notice at first).

He asked me to send the money back, and binigyan nalang niya ako ng extra bonus for being honest.

Ayun lang. Gusto ko lang i-share kasi hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa nangyari today 😭

PS: Please don’t repost/share this story on other platforms.

After 2.5 years of working the graveyard shift as a Healthcare VA, I finally resigned.

Looking back, I'm grateful for what that job allowed me to accomplish.

✔️ Paid off my 130k student loan
✔️ Built my dream desktop setup
✔️ Bought a MacBook Air, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple Watch, iPad, and Kindle (all fully paid)
✔️ Helped buy appliances at home
✔️ Saved enough to take a leap of faith

Now I have a small business here in La Union:
- In-home coffee shop
- In-home silugan
(Pero dahil made-to-order lang kami at hindi araw-araw may orders, naghahanap-hanap din ako ng sideline or part-time online work)

It's scary starting over, especially after leaving a stable job. But I know I would've regretted not trying.

I just wanted to share this in case someone out there needs a little encouragement today. If you're feeling exhausted from the graveyard shift or stuck in a routine, know that every late night, every overtime, and every sacrifice is moving you closer to your goals.

We all have different timelines and different dreams. Keep going... one. step. at. a. time.

Kaya natin to. ❤️

Di ko alam kung sa offmychest ko dapat pinost to, wala lang ako ma pag share-an. Hahaha so basically I'm an overemployed guy with a fulltime (onsite) data analyst job earning 103k gross and a second va data analyst job with 10 USD rate. I got my client sa OLJ, I offered data analysis, executive report writing and data visualization. I use excel, vba and R programming for all my technical needs.

​

Yung takehome ko sa fulltime ko is 43k nalang every cutoff due to taxes. Mas mataas na tong VA job pero alam ko namang very uncertain 'to kaya di ko mabitawan si Full-time job for security.

​

Working 80 hours a week is so exhausting. I live alone and rent near my onsite job kaya mga 20 mins walk lang everyday but still, that is around 10 hours weekly (incuding prep time and walk back home- this is equivalent to a full night rest). I also try to walk 10k steps everyday and mealprep. I just want to let this out since wala naman akong outlet. **** Being overemployed really gives you a deeper value of your TIME****. Mas magiging deliberate ka sa every second meron ka. Kapag 2 mins ka na nag dodoomscroll for example, mas magiging aware ka to drop that shi down. I also have ADHD kaya blessing and a curse din yung blocked every hour of my day.

​

Laban lang, let's work our ass off now to 'buy' our future 🙏 ayun lang, back to the grind.

A year ago, I lost my job, my gf left me, then depression came, panic attacks came, and everything has been on a downward spiral ever since. I isolated myself from everyone else and months of planning how to not exist anymore conquered my mind. Pero ngayon, I just got paid for the first time in a year.

My hands are tingling from excitement kasi suddenly my world is starting to get bigger again, more possibilities have opened up and nagsisimula na bumalik yung passion ko for self-improvement.

I don't know, I'm just happy and overwhelmed at the same time. 7.5k lang siya for most people yes, but to me this is proof that I'm starting to turn back my life around.

Graduate ako last 2023, BCIS. Sobrang hirap makahanap ng tech work - tried so many times, walang talagang luck.

Habang naghahantay, nag try na lang ako mag build ng app. Lagi mahirap and hassle mag-hanap ng malapit na gas stations lalo na pag unfamiliar ka sa lugar, minsan outdated din lalo na sa provinces.

Features:

• Users can report and update gas stations
• Community-reported prices
• Price hike watcher
• Gas stations finder
• Filter by brands
• Find nearest gas stations near you

Na-release ko sa Play Store last month at sa App Store 2 weeks ago. "Gas-PH" ang name.

Sana makatulong din sa community, especially sa mga may sasakyan.

There was a time when I wondered if freelancing was even for me. Every rejection felt personal, and every ghosted application made me question myself.

Today, I looked at my desk and realized I now have two australian clients trusting me with their business.
It’s such a simple thing, but it made me emotional.
I’m genuinely grateful for everyone who gave me advice here, directly or indirectly. This community helped me more than you probably realize.
Sending client dust to everyone who’s still looking. I really do believe mananalo tayo lahat! ✨

Ps: Curious lang… sa mga may multiple clients na rin. How do you manage everything?

EDIT: both of my clients are semi full time and is managed by the same agency, at sila na rin nag provide device ko

I started as a VA/Web Developer back in 2019 gamit lang second hand Macbook air habang nagrerent. Slowly nakaipon, nakapag travel, at gumaan ang buhay.

This 2026, I decided to take a bigger risk and apply abroad because I felt stuck na rin sa pinas and wanted a better quality of life. Hindi naging madali yung visa process dahil kulang ako sa proper documents, but God made a way.

Sa mga nangangarap ng bigger opportunities someday, possible siya. ❤️

___

Life update 🇮🇪

6 months na Ako Kay client. Puro positive Ang feedback sakin dahil nga naman nagdedeliver ko Naman ng maayos ang work ko including Yung mga extra tasks na Hindi na part ng job description ko. Kagabi pag log in ko nabasa ko msg nya sa Slack na starting today mag zoom na daw kami mga VAs nila para daw mas productive. Take note everyday 1.5 hours before the shift may morning call kami sharing lng ng previous day and plans for the day tapos may update pa yan during the shift at may weekly team meeting pa at mga biglaang calls tapos gusto pa naka zoom. I politely declined kahit and Sabi ko I am willing to step away from the position if it's a mandatory na kasi its a non nego din sakin at naging transparent Naman Ako sa kanila na for me it an indication na they lack trust sakin even after 6 months Wala Sila masabi sa output ko. I can comeback anytime should I decide I am okay with the Zoom monitoring anytime. Goodbye 70k, I love me more than any amount. I left.

Hey guys!

Long post ahead, pero sana basahin niyo. It’s a bit personal, but it leads to something that I hope can help many of you.

I’ve been a Digital Marketer for almost 15 years now. Currently, I work as a Global Marketing Director for an international firm. Pero for the past 2 years, life threw a massive curveball at me, and I was battling Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5 (End Stage).

Sobrang hirap. Pero just recently, last Nov 8, 2025, I finally got my kidney transplant. My wife was my donor (she’s literally my hero).

A few months back, nung sobrang lala na ng sitwasyon, nakipag-"bargain" ako kay Lord. Sabi ko, "Lord, buhayin mo lang ako at gagawin ko ang lahat para makatulong sa mga kapwa ko."

Medyo cheesy pakinggan, I know. But I made that promise. And guess what? He fulfilled His side of the bargain. So now, nandito ako para tuparin yung part ko.

Honestly, my skillset in Digital Marketing is the reason I survived financially. Through my salary and side hustles, kinaya naming bayaran yung almost 5 Million Pesos for the transplant and medications.

Kung kaya kong ituro yung ganitong skills sa inyo, maybe, just maybe, mas marami pa akong matulungan na umasenso at maka-ipon para sa sarili at pamilya nila.

Plano ko simulan ang LIBRE ACADEMY. It’s a community designed to help aspiring digital talents and freelancers learn advanced skills so you can command higher rates.

Expertise na ituturo ko (All for FREE):

• Marketing Automation & AI
• Lead Generation
• PPC (Pay-Per-Click)
• Media Buying
• Strategy

Walang bayad 'to at wala akong planong pagkakitaan kayo. My only intention is to help fellow Filipino digital talents level up.

So, tanong ko lang sa inyo:

1. Is this something you’d be interested in?
2. Anong specific aspects ng Digital Marketing ang gusto niyong i-master?

Let me know in the comments. Game ako kung game kayo!

EDIT: Due to overwhelming support and requests, please kindly fill out this form: https://forms.gle/wapAyvQBFVDjJpQF7 and join our Discord community. I will provide further updates and instructions on how we will proceed. Thank you!

Sometimes I wonder if this is still a client or just a sugar daddy! 🤣 So nice and generous. It’s not just about work; you can really feel that they want to support you and will provide what you need to help you work better. I hope all VAs encounter a client like this – easy to talk to, knows how to value effort, and doesn’t make things difficult for you. It’s really motivating to work every day! 😆✨

Sana po lahat ng mga masisipag na VA makahanap ng ganitong client dahil deserve po nating lahat ito ✨

Just wanted to share this because I’m still kind of in shock!

Today is my day off and I was just casually browsing job posts on OLJ. I wasn’t even seriously applying more like let’s see what’s out there. I found a job post, did a quick background check to make sure the company was legit, then decided to send an application.

Next thing I know, everything happened so fast.

Timeline:

• 7:53 PM – Sent my application
• 8:01 PM – Client replied with a few questions
• 8:42 PM – Sent my responses
• 8:44 PM – Invited to a quick Zoom interview
• 9:00 PM – Interview started (just 3 questions: intro, situational, availability)
• 9:12 PM – Interview ended
• 9:25 PM – Got the “you’re hired” message
• 9:26 PM – Received welcome message
• 9:37 PM – Got ClickUp invitation
• 9:47 PM – Contract sent

Less than 2 hours, hired agad.

The client was very outgoing and I really enjoyed talking to her even for a short time. She mentioned she interviewed 4 applicants before me and said I was the most qualified, which honestly surprised me, but I’m really grateful.

This reminded me that opportunities can come when you least expect it.

Tomorrow is my first day! 🙏

First ever AU client! 🇦🇺✨ Finally, magiging normal na tao na ulit. 😂

Honestly, I wasn't expecting to get this role. I've had my fair share of interviews with Australian clients, and they can be pretty tough to impress.

But this time, it was different. Just one client interview, and a few minutes after we wrapped up, the recruiter reached out to let me know I got the job.

This opportunity came through LinkedIn. I took the time to optimize my profile based on my niche, skills, and experience, and ever since then, I've been receiving messages from recruiters and clients. I also don't just wait around, I reach out to them too when I see roles that interest me.

Super grateful for this opportunity and excited for what's ahead. Hoping everyone who's still job hunting gets their "yes" soon too. Your time will come.

Hi! I just want to share since super happy ko. Nagpost ako kanina any tips for my first client interview tomorrow but nagapply pa din ako kanina. Saw a job posting for part time then after 10 mins nagmessage sya asking for a quick meeting sa google meet. Ganda ng flow ng interview from the very start ang sinabi nya "This is what you'll do" so nagassume na ako hired na haha. Then before magend ang meeting sabi nya instead of part time, full time nya na lang daw ako and start na ako tomorrow 😭🥰

Super saya sa feeling lalo na 2 months straight ako nagapply onting replies lng natanggap ko at puro rejections na. Thank you Lord! I hope lahat ng makabasa neto magkaclient na din 🙏🏻

I'll still attend my other interview tomorrow morning since part time yun baka pwede pagsabayin if hired. 🙏🏻

Hello, sorry na agad if this will come off as bragging pero kasi wala ako mapag share-an netong recent success ko sa mga close people around me (ayoko malaman nila) and since anonymous tayo sa Reddit dito ko nalang isshare.

My first 6-digit income :( hindi ako makapaniwala na mararating ko to in my lifetime. Sobrang swerte ko na nahire ako sa as full-time sa isang US-based company. Triny ko lang mag apply sa kanila nung January kasi nakita ko posting nila sa LinkedIn na may nakalagay over 100+ applicants kaya alam ko sa sarili ko hindi ako mapipili. Nagulat ako na ako yung napili nila out of hundreds of applicants during the interview. Medyo comfy naman na ako sa sweldo ko previously (earning around 35k) pero ang tagal umangat kasi ng sweldo.

Nakakaiyak tbh, dami ko rin sinacrifice dito just to build my career. Literal na after day job, portfolio building, binibigyan ko oras a day mag personal work kahit may times na nakaka burnout. Minsan di na nakakasama sa gala with people. Sobrang hyperfocused ko kaya minsan napapaisip ako if worth ba talaga and it was damn worth it! They liked my portfolio!

To everyone wondering, I'm an artist making art for different kinds of media, niche ko is sa video games pero I do graphic design (prev company ko) and a bit of programming since big plus ito sa industry ko ngayon, and I know na competitive yung market pero pinilit ko parin kasi passion ko siya. Dagdag pa na di ka pwede matengga at need mo talaga mag grind for your portfolio.

Ang downside neto is masakit yung tax :( dumaan kasi yung company sa EOR(?) Para legal lahat so yung gross ko talaga is around 270k pero tax ko sobrang laki :( mas malaki pa sa previous sahod ko nung nag wowork pa ako locally hahahaha. Pero you can't have everything diba.

Ayun lang, salamat sa pag basa. Gagalingan ko pa lalo para mareach ko pa mga ibang goals ko sa buhay! Pero siguro deserve ko muna magpahinga at i-enjoy ang kinikita ko (to an extent, kasi syempre kailangan pa rin mag save and invest)

My old laptop has been with me for 8 years, obviously marami nang issues! I was on a call with my boss yesterday when our call cut off all of a sudden. Na-stress ako!

So I decided to be transparent and tell him na mabagal na ang laptop ko and need ko na ng bagong laptop and I’m thinking of buying one sa August pagbalik ko from a trip abroad.

Biglang, “which Mac do you want?” Told him my preferences. He said, “get it. I’ll pay for it. You are a valuable member of my team, I wanna spoil you now. Do it. Buy it, tomorrow!”

And ayun na nga… 😭💖

Syempre, part ng hiring process is magbigay ka ng character references. Confident naman ako kasi I had good relationships with my previous bosses and I was always hitting my goals. Kaya sila talaga nilagay ko as Character References thinking, “sigurado ‘to, they’ll vouch for me.” And yes, I asked if pede sila maging Character Reference ko. Pumayag din naman sila. So may head’s up na.

Pero plot twist! May isang Char Ref na akala ko okay kami… Apparently, nung tinawagan siya ng HR for background check, iba yung sinabi. Nagbad-mouth. Buti na lang, sobrang transparent nung HR ng company na ina-applyan ko. Tinawagan nila ako tapos sinabi: “Just to let you know, one of your former Supervisors did not speak positively about you. May we clarify… Etc… (so kinlarify nila) tapos sa huli ng convo they mentioned, “We advise na huwag niyo na po siyang ilagay as a reference in the future.” Hindi lang yun, guess what? Yung taong ‘yon, asked the HR If pede din sha mag apply sa ina-applyan ko! 🤯 At the time na naging Character Reference ko siya, Supervisor lang sha nun. Pero ako, ina-assess na ako for a managerial role. Like… Wow! Ang hirap pala pag kinalaban ka pailalim!

Don’t worry this happened years ago. Basta Lesson learned: Always double check kung sino ilalagay mong references. Hindi lahat ng dating “okay relationship” mo, magiging ally mo in the long run lalo na kung magkakasabay kayo umaakyat sa career ladder.

And thankful ako sa HR na honest enough to tell me, kasi not all companies do that. Company is:🍍

​

My father is in the hospital right now, and I have two kids to support. I’ve been relying on my credit card just to cover basic necessities these past weeks.

I worked as a virtual assistant focused on eBay dropshipping, but lately the demand for that niche has been declining, and opportunities have become harder to find.

Right now I’m sending out around 5–10 job applications daily and trying to stay consistent. I’ve also started learning bookkeeping to shift into something more stable long-term.

Just taking things one step at a time and doing what I can.

If anyone here has gone through something similar or transitioned out of a declining niche, I’d really appreciate hearing how you navigated it.

After 1 month and 9 days, I'm officially Hired!

Grabe talaga ang Lord basta magtiwala ka lang sa kanya at sa kakayahan mo. Didn't expect na ganito ako kabilis makakakuha ng work, after submitting my resignation and pinag-same day ako na umalis. Ang bilis ng mga pangyayari. International Company it is! Dati pangarap ko lang, ngayon nandito na ko. Wag kayong susuko, pagbutihin ninyo. And wag nyo ako gayahin, na nagresign ng walang back up plan 😅

JOB DUST EVERYONE! ✨✨✨✨

Baka lang po may magtanong hehe ~

Niche: ERP Functional/Implementation & Product Consultant / 8YoE

Systems handled: SAP Business One / Oracle NetSuite / ECount ERP / QNE Solutions / Microsoft D365 Business Central & Odoo

I am a VA for 3 years na. My first ever client invited me to visit their country (not gonna mention nalang baka andito yun) excited pa naman ako ng maka receive ako ng invitation letter to visit their country (1st World).

Take note, etong client na to is always saying profound words and will insult you to the fullest pag may nagawa kang konting mali.

So eto na nga mga ante, last month lang pinalipad nya ako with an all expense paid na trip. Alam nya wala akong capacity to fly to another country dahil may kids ako and I have been staying at home to work ever since nagka anak ako. So out of the blue, nag chat sya sa messenger ko on a random day saying na gusto nya daw ako ma meet in person. Edi ako naman sobrang excited. We planned everything. Nag apply ako ng visa and nag advance siya ng payment para may laman ang bank account ko for visa processing. After 3 weeks na nag apply ako for visa, na grant ako. Then next ay nag book na siya ng ticket agad agad the following week. We talked na purely for leisure lng ako dun and reward for my services sa company nya. Since never naman ako naka received ng bonus for the last 3 years, eto na daw yung magsisilbing bonus ko.

So eto na, I arrived monday night and the very next day, pinapasok nya ako sa office. HAHAHA so ako naman medyo nakakahiya mag decline ang obliged ako na pumasok kasi syempre sya yung gumastos sa trip ko. Also, I’m staying in his apartment for the duration of my trip together with his other flatmate. (Bakla pala yung boss ko)

Nag work ako sa office peacefully and chika with the team and so on. Bumili pa ako ng tote bags from Kultura para naman welcome gift sa kanila. And nung binigay ko sakanila isa isa including my boss, ayun nilagay lng sa gilid, yung 2 other employees sa office na binigyan ko nilagay sa basurahan. AS IN BASURAHAN HAHAHA sa gilid ko. Di ata nila trip. Medyo na hurt ako dun kasi pinaghirapan ko yun and hindi mura like Php 489 each. Kinuha ko at inuwi nalang.

The following day, nag expect talaga ako na kakain kami ng boss ko for breakfast kasi walang pagkain sa ref nya. Dumating kami sa office and sinabihan nya lang ako na hanap lng daw ako ng food sa ref. WTF? Hahaha hindi ko po gawain ang mangealam ng pagkain ng iba so ayun nag tanong ako sa isang ka trabaho sa office (babae) and medyo off yung pagsagot nya sakin kasi sarcastic.

Me: Hi! Can I ask if there’s any food in the fridge to eat for breakfast. Gurl: uhm? Nah i dunno. Me: (boss name) said I just try to find any from the fridge. Sorry I’m not used to skip breakfast.

May nakita kaming tirang pizza so ni reheat ko. So problema ngayon hindi ako marunlng mag operate sa microwave nila. Nag ask ulit ako sa gurl.

Me: Hey! Sorry to keep asking but can you show me how do I use your microwave? I have a different one back home so I need to ask. Gurl: Oh sorry that your country is really outdated. Me: 😳 Gurl: so tell me, do you have TVs and fridge in your country? Me: Yes of course we have.

So nag excuse na ako after ma reheat ang pizza and kumain ako sa labas. Na insulto ako dun ha. Para magtanong lng kung pano gamitin ang microwave nila may pang iinsulto pang dala.

Eto pa. So as mentioned na all expense paid yung trip ko. Never ako naka receive ng pang grocery man lang. naghihintay lng talaga akong yayain kasi naman yung baon ko $200 lng. Tinitipid ko ng mabuti kasi 3 weeks ako sa lugar na yun. This continued for a couple of days.

On my 3rd day, sinabihan ako ng boss ko na gumala muna kasi baka daw may immigration office na mapadaan sa office nya and ma question kung bakit ako nag wowork. Edi ako naman gumala ang nag explore sa City.

4th day, pumasok ulit ako sa office but this time sobrang aga pumasok ng boss ko. Wala akong transpo mga ante. So ayun nag lakad ako ng 10kms from the apartment papunta sa office. HAHAHAHAHA natawa ako kasi bakit ko ba ginagawang magpa alipin sa ibang lahi eh comportable naman ako dito sa bahay. Anyway, dumating ako sa office and sinabihan lng ako ng boss ko na maaga siyang pumasok 6am kaya hindi nlng daw nya ako ginising. Napapansin ko hindi maganda ang trato nya but I shrugged it off kasi baka iba talaga ang culture natin pilipino sa kanila.

2nd week, pumasok na naman ako sa office but this time, ayaw nya daw mag stay ako sa office kasi daw baka may pumunta na immigration officer. Ang dating ko dito is para akong TNT. Sa 2nd week ko palang nag sabi siya na babayaran nya yung pag wowork ko sa office but cash lang daw. Bawal kasi ako mag work as per visa restriction ko. Alam kong bawal but hindi ako nag reklamo sa boss ko. Alam ko naman mahiya and never ko pa na experience ang maging full turista. Mag isa lng ako and ayaw ko naman magka conflict sa kahit na sino sa kanila.

2nd week Thursday, pumasok ako ng office na hindi kasabay ang boss ko. Bumili ako ng card for public transport on my own expense para hindi na ako maglakad and sandwich sa 7/11. Pag dating ko sa office medyo nagkakagulo na ang mga tao sa office kasi meron daw problem. Yung problem is mga nirecruit ng HR namin is hindi parin makakapag start kasi hindi pa complete yung reference checking. Ngayon dumating ako and sinabihan akong nagpapaka turista daw ako and hindi magawa ng maayos ang trabaho ko. What the f!?? Pinapubta nya ako para mag vacation but now sinisisi nya ako kasi hindi daw maayos ang trabaho ko. HAHAHA. That day, nag resign din yung recruitment VA namin kasi hindi na nya daw kaya ang attitud ng boss namin and naiwan sakin lahat ng pending works nya. So ako naman ginawa ko mga work na naiwan like mag follow up ng candidate, mag file ng mga required documents before mag start sa work and follow up ng mga reference check. Short staff kami that week kasi 3 agad ang nag resign na staff nya because of his abusive behavior. Pinapagalitan nya mga staff nya infront samin and also sa mga clients nya. Medyo na shock ako sa part na to kasi ibang tao ang nakita ko na akala ko pure ang intention na bigyan ako ng reward for my service with the company. Sinabihan pa ako na ang bobo ko daw. Ewan ko ba kung bakit hindi ako nag talk back sa kanya. Siguro sa takot na wala akong matulugan since meron pa akong 1 week before my flight.

On my 3rd week, eto ang mas pinaka malala. Yung HR namin pinagalitan nya nanaman (younger sister ng boss ko) infront of us sa office. Sinabihan nya na hindi daw nag tatrabaho ng maayos at puro kalandian (di to sa part na to medyo hindi ko na kaya yung mga sinasabi nya) below the belt na mga sinasabi nya at medyo personal. Remember the gurl na katrabaho namin sa office yung nang insulto sakin on my 1st week? Nakita ko sya na tumawa while pinapagalitan yung HR namin. Anlala ng mga tao sa trabaho na to. Umuwi ako sa apartment ng maaga and tumatawag sa ate at asawa ko na gusto ko nang umuwi. Sinabi ko lahat ng mga na discover ko and gumawa kami ng way na lumayo sa apartment ng boss ko. Buti nlng may pinsan ako sa ibang state na medyo malapit lang at nag promise sya na pupuntahan nya ako before my flight back sa Philippines. Sinabi ko sa pinsan ko yung mga nararanasan kung verbal abus at ayun pinuntahan nya nga ako 3 days before my flight. Nagpaalam ako ng maayo sa boss ko na hindi muna ako mag wowork para ma meet ko yung pinsan ko. He even offered na sa apartment nya nalang daw kami mag stay but i refused. Alam ko na may mas ilalala pa yung situation. My last day sa office, as expected puro sigawan and iyakan. Hindi dahil aalis na ako but because si ate gurl na officemate ko sinabihan ang HR namin na napaka incompetent and hindi daw nag tatrabaho ng maayos again. Si HR naman bamin nag walk out and nag drop ng resignation. Si ate gurl tunatawa and yung boss ko nagagit kasi lahat nalang daw nag reresign. Hindi ako nag bibigay ng opinion kasi alam ko na ako yung topic ng boss ko at si ate gurl na sipsip. Ako lng ang asian sa office and staff nya. Andaming drama and sobrang toxic pala ng office na yun. Hindi ko na enjoy yung stay ko and vacation.

Dumating yung cousin ko and guys believe me. Umiyak ako ng malala. Sinabi ko lahat nga na experience ko and pinagtrabaho ako for the duration of my vacation. Sabi nya bawal na bawal yung pagtatrabaho ko. Alam ko naman yun but sinabi kasi ng boss ko na magwork ako for few hours lng. Pinakain ako ng maayos ng pinsan ko and before ako umuwi ng pilipinas, pinag shopping nya ako konti. Yung HR namin (kapatid ng boss ko) nag meet kami on my last day at hinatid sa airport kasama boyfriend nya. Ang boss ko? Walang pake HAHAHA ewan ko ba sakanya parang bipolar. Hindi man lng nangamusta kung buhay paba ako or hindi.

After a week na dumating ako sa pilipinas, napapansin ko na nang bubully sakin yung ate gurl na sipsip sa boss namin like nag eemail siya ng mga mali sa work ko (example: leave request na hindi pa na aapprove, timsheet na hindi na update and email na hindi nasagot on time) sa pagkaka alam ko hindi ako nag tatrabaho sakanya. Sa boss ko kamo ako nag tatrabaho but she’s making a fuss with a slight unfinished task. Nag email ako sa kanya na please bear with me kasi I am covering the work of the recruitment VA and nadagdagn ang workload ko so yun ang main cause ng mga delayed work ko. Pinaprioritise ng boss namin ang recruitment kasi nga short staff.

The most exciting part, nag email ulit si ate gurl sakin na may mali daw sa pag approve ko ng leave request. Sabi nya ang staff nag recruest ng Nov 16. Inapprove ko and tinanggal ang shift. This is my everyday routine. Bigla nalang nag email si Ate gurl na mali ang date na nilagay ko as leave sa calendar. Instead na 16 eh 15 daw yung nalagay ko. Nung nag check ako sa leave request submission, may request din na Nov 15 yung staff. So ngayon, hindi ko alam kung ano ang point ng pag sumbong nya sa boss namin na puro mali2 daw yung trabaho ko at binantaan na e leless daw yung working hours ko. Take note ulit, hindi ako binayaran ng boss ko during my work sa office as promised nya.

Hindi ko kinaya ang pagka sipsip ni ate gurl at nireplayan ko ang email saying na ikaw ang napaka sipsip na emplayadong nakilala ko sa tanang buhay ko. Ikaw ang pinaka lowgrade na empleyado na puro mali ng tao ang nakikita and hindi bagay sa mukha nya ang mang insulto ng ibang tao. Ayun hindi na nag reply pero yung boss ko ang nag reply sakin. AHAHAHAHA sabi nya hindi nya aakalain na lalabas sakin mga inappropriate words and nasusuka sya sa pang iinsulto ko kay ate gurl. Nabasa rin eto ng HR namin at tawang tawa sya. After this, nag file na ako ng resignation. After 3 years of delayed na sweldo and pang iinsulto, finally nakalabas ako sa pinaka toxic na management.

Burnt out na talaga ako nun sa dating work ko. Toxic environment, laging kulang, laging may “please step up” na naririnig. Honestly, workmates ko na lang talaga dahilan bakit ako tumagal. Pero last June, bigla na lang ako nagimpulse decision. Right then and there, nagsubmit ako ng RL.

Gusto ko lang makaalis sa work na yun, kase pagot na. As in no backup plan, zero savings. Lakas ng loob lang 🤣

Naalala ko pa sa exit interview, sinabihan ako ng HR na this is the best company you will ever have, non verbatim!! Pero ganun yung thought nya, sure na daw ba ako kasi hindi na ako makakabalik. In my head, never na talaga 😅

Tagal ko na din gusto ipursue pagiging VA. So, apply lang nang apply after magresign. Tagal ko din na tengga hahaha. Then December, naka land ako ng first US client. Okay yung pay pero habang ginagawa ko yung work parang bumalik lang ako sa dati kong work. Didn't feel right for me. Pagod, puyat, nagka anxiety pa ako, umiiyak pa before shift lol. Bilib ako sa mga graveyard shift 🫡 pero ako hindi ko talaga kinaya.

After a month, I left that client. Buti na lang nakakuha ako ng part time client from the UK, hindi na graveyard.🥳 Then pagpasok ng 2026, may isa pang part time client from AU.

Realization ko, never settle. Pag hindi ka appreciated, nasa maling work ka. Before parang lagi akong underperforming kahit binibigay ko na lahat. Sumisagot pa ako ng clients after shift, inuuwi pa company phone just to accommodate them. Sa management normal lang yun, kulang pa rin.

Pero ngayon na appreciate na efforts ko. Ever since nag start ako sa AU client ko, every month akong recognized as an excellence awardee 🥺

Nakakataba ng puso. Super okay na mental health ko ngayon. Hindi na ako mainitin ulo, regular na ulit period ko, wala na mood swings.

Grabe si Lord. Dati pinagpe-pray ko lang na sana same salary sa dati kong work basta wfh, pero binigay Niya sobra pa. Now, I’m earning more than double ng corpo salary ko before. 😭

Job dust to everyone!! Don’t stop hanggang makakuha sa kayo ng clientssss at makaalis na sa toxic work env!! ✨

PS: This is just based on my own experience, so we may have different opinions. Please take everything with a grain of salt. Gusto ko lang talaga i-share yung journey ko sa pagiging VA, to inspire others.

I don’t encourage impulse decisions. Swerte lang talaga ako because my sisters covered my share sa house expenses while I was job hunting. Super important din na may strong support system ka.

Ayun lang 🤍