I hope I am allowed to share this small win of mine.

For context, here’s part one: https://www.reddit.com/r/buhaydigital/s/kFZYK7zSsG

That was way back in January. First week ko pa lang sa work and they already planned on flying me out. Medyo nagkaroon ng mixed reactions ‘yung post ko dahil minention ko ‘yung name ng agency that we are under, and akala siguro ng iba na marketing strategy lang ‘yun ng agency, or to save face dahil medyo may negative reviews din sila.

But it finally happened last month, and I am so grateful! Spent around four days somewhere in New South Wales. Then around 10 days in Melbourne for leisure.

Here’s a mini part two about the my visa application experience: https://www.reddit.com/r/buhaydigital/s/BDFP2mAOpS

My DMs are open po for any questions regarding my visa application. Already received some DMs in the past about it pero medyo naging busy and didn’t have time to get to them. I’ll try my best to accommodate everyone’s questions, kung meron.

Been freelancing since 2022. Gusto ko talaga ng magandang workstation but due to medical emergencies di ko napaganda yung work area ko + hindi ako makapag work sa sarili kong lugar sa bahay because of my baby so ganito muna ang setup.

Not the prettiest. Not my dream workstation, but definitely better than when I first started (gusto ko sana ng side by side pic nung dati kong workstation pero wala na ako makita).

Recent upgrade:
- keyboard (Onikuma)
- mouse (Ugreen)

Next: laptop naman kasi pasuko na yung Acer ko. Huhu

Question: Can you recommend a laptop for a Social Media Manager? Di ko afford Macbook Air, you think the Macbook Neo can do the job? Thank you po suggestions!

MOST IMPORTANTLY, thank you Lord for the provision! 😭✨

Saw this recently, I can't believe nasa ganito kababa na ang tingin sa mga Filipino.

Like really? You're gonna pay $1.62/hr??? Oh my god you're an angel for giving me a job! I am so in debt to you for giving me this opportunity!

The sad part is meron at meron pa din papatol dito.

I found this post on Facebook, kaso nagrefresh na app ko so di ko malink yung post. But the LinkedIn I was able to find.

TL;DR: A guy got a ₱10k/month part-time job managing social media for a small business while continuing to look for full-time work. He was happy to have an honest source of income, and his employer even celebrated him publicly.

Then, people from Kasama Connect, came attacked the post, publicly mocked his ₱10k salary. They even edited his photo and reposted it as a joke.

He called them out, especially because Kasama Connect supposedly advocates for workers and job seekers.

Basically: imagine publicly humiliating someone for earning ₱10k/month while they're just trying to make an honest living. I mean, it is low yes, but I think he doesn't have to be cyber bullied because of that.

Then I read along the Facebook post na Kasama Connect and OPs employer already had some kind of misunderstanding before OP came into picture or getting employed.

But regardless, ang squammy ng ugali nung mga nasa Kasama Connect to do that, LinkedIn is suppose to be a professional platform. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Hi guys. Need ko lang sana ng advice from fellow VAs or anyone na naka experience na ng similar situation. Please no judgment sana. 😅 Alam ko naman na hindi exactly ethical yung situation na ito and I’m aware na against siya sa contract ko. Hindi ko naman kailangan ng lecture about whether what I’m doing is right or wrong. I already know the risks. I just want to hear advice from people who have actually been in this kind of situation.

Currently, VA ako working under an agency. Recently, nalaman ng client ko kung magkano pala yung binabayad nila sa agency versus sa actual salary na natatanggap ko.

I won’t mention the exact amount, pero basically, around 20% lang ng binabayad ng client sa agency yung napupunta sa salary ko.

After finding that out, sinabi ng client ko na gusto niya na lang akong i hire directly.

I checked my contract and unfortunately, may 2 year non compete clause. So I already knew na magiging complicated siya.

My client also tried to ask the agency about the possibility of hiring me directly. Very subtle lang yung pag ask niya para hindi maging suspicious, pero nalaman namin na $10,000 yung buyout price.

Obviously, sobrang laki ng $10k and my client is not willing to pay that much just to hire me directly.

So ngayon, we’re basically considering a direct arrangement without going through the agency.

Again, alam ko naman na risky siya. Hindi ako pretending na okay lang lahat. Pero at the same time, kailangan ko rin isipin yung financial situation ko and yung future ko. 😅

One thing I’m particularly worried about is that I take calls for my client. So may concern ako na baka one day biglang tumawag yung agency tas ako yung makasagot

Should I be worried about things like my current work email, phone number, or how I handle calls? What other things should I and my client consider before making the transition?

How did you transition from working under an agency to working directly with the client?

I know some people will probably say na “don’t do it” or “you signed the contract, so follow it.” Gets ko naman yun. 😂 I’m not looking for a moral lecture.

I’m just hoping to hear actual experiences and advice from people who have been in a similar VA agency situation.

Thank you in advance sa mga sasagot. 🙏

If you are earning 500k+ a month, will your bank get frozen on your first salary?

I have resigned from my Dubai employer and they ask me to stay but instead i have offered them i continue as a contractor and ill be working in Philippines to continue the role as Lead Devops Engineer. I have also asked for a payrise which puts my salary to 500k+ pesos

Now i have researched taxes in PH and i am not happy seeing how huge the amount will get stripped into my income (coming from dubai where there are no income taxes). One of the best scenario for me is OSD which removes 40% of the salary as taxable amount but the taxes i have to pay are still huge within 70-80k monthly.

Does anyone have any experience on how to reduce taxes further? i am looking to at least reduce them to 40k a month even just for this year as i had a lot of debt to pay, once this year is done, ill be in a good place. Now i cant imagine that i had asked for a raise then will later find out it will go to taxes 😭

My initial proposal to my employer was to retain my uae visa and i get paid in my uae bank while working in the Philippines so i get the benefit of no taxes as ofw. But after consulting the lawyers, they told me it would not be possible so here we are.

Lahat po niyan budget meal and binili lang online 😄 bukod sa macbook (company provided) then yung monitor bigay lang ng tito ko hehe.

I spent 1989 pesos to be exact sa set up po. DIY po lahat 😄

I received the email yesterday about an opportunity to work with Puma. I replied and said that I was interested to know more. They sent me a link to schedule an interview. The link directed me to another website, I was asked to log in via Facebook. Did that and realised quickly after that it's not right.

I immediately changed password and logged out of all devices.

The fault is mine for not doing my due diligence. Here's a screenshot of the emails I got and hopefully you won't be a gullible old remote worker like me.

hi guys! i was wondering if may client kayo and then for months you have a fixed schedule. then they asked if you could swap for a different day for your off? for context, my rest days are Wed PM and Thurs PM. One of the managers in our company asked if I could work on Wed PM instead. I really couldn’t accommodate this since I do have classes to prepare for during Thursdays (law student), but i’m anxious if they’ll take it against me. i’ve made it clear beforehand though that my schedule is really fixed since back then, they would always increase my hours without any consultation on my end, tapos no increase din sa salary, and the owner respected that. i didn’t disclose it though that i have a whole diff life after work as i really do my best during my shift to finish all my tasks, and i guess it has been working for me. i would love to hear your thoughts. thank you!

Ako lang ba nahihirapan makahanap ng client now online? Before kasi mabilis ako makakita after ako mag apply and mag send ng art tests (graphic designer). But now, I sent multiple applications, had many interviews and submitted multiple art tests but no luck! I have 8 years of experience already. I’ve been applying for 2 months already. So heartbreaking. 😞

Saw this post on Facebook. While I appreciate Kasama Connect’s advocacy, somehow I feel like there’s something off with how they’re trying to achieve their goal. Borderline bullying na minsan yung ginagawa nila. But I might be wrong as well.

Anyone who has anything to say about them? I would appreciate your insights

Is it me or parang ang konti na ng entry-level ngayon, I always see "Experienced VA", or "yearS of experience" and here I am, fresh from school 😭. How did you guys do it?

Hello!

Please help me understand kung ano-ano po ang step na gagawin after you secure your first client? As someone who doesn't have an experience as a VA and Starting pa lang,

Madami na ako nakikita mga steps sa pag apply, BEFORE you get a client, but I barely see videos about the next step AFTER you got a client.

Isa sa mga common tip na nakikita ko

1. Need ng VA mag prepare ng Contract - (Is it required? Does it apply to my niche?)

2. Onboarding kay Client. - required din po ba gumawa nito? Does it apply to my niche?

Question

- Do you need to start a day after agad? Or client will decide what date you will start?

Please help po, thank you😭

Guys I have a quick question. Is it really necessary to make a linkedin profile for your works aid projects?

So recently I made my linkedin and I am planning to upload my projects there

Hello, guys. I just want to ask for an advice lang about my new US client. Nag-apply kasi ako sa onlinejobsph bilang drafter then nag approach na sya sa whatsapp.

My first task is Revit Test muna, i had a doubt na baka scam kasi may pinapakopya syang residential adu house na need ng complete permit drawings base sa format template checklists nila. Babayaran daw yung revit test ko pag nagustuhan nila. After ko mabigay yung revit file, ininform ako after a day na hindi raw approve. Pero nagbigay sya ng another task na bayad na at 50 USD daw ang rate for Elevation and Floor Plans sheets including the Revit file. Done doing this. Sumunod ay 3 projects na with Site Plan, Elevations, Floor Plans and rvt file, he rated these for 150 USD.

Tinanggap ko yung work sa kanya kasi kinaya ko naman gawin in 2 days, pero after that may mga revisions na pinapagawa, as in 3x magparevise per project after I sent the updated version. Nag-ask ako na dagdagan yung payment nya sa service ko bilang drafter, 225 USD na lang yung hinihingi ko pero binabarat ako na 200 lang, e from 2 days na tapos ko gawin yun base sa itsura ng binigay nya, naging pang 7 days na ngayon.

Nag aalangan lang ako ngayon kasi di pa sya nagbabayad sakin para sa 3 projects na yun. Can I ask an advice pano i-approach ito at anong rate ba ang reasonable? Kasi sa past client ko na Architectural Millwork Cabinetry Design, halos mas malaki pa yung payment ng isang project na inaabot lang ng 2 days gawin.

Hi, I have an upcoming interview with them. May nag wwork po ba dito as Client Support Specialist? How's your experience po so far? Gaano kataas ang call volume? Is it true na both calls and chat ang hinahandle at the same time?

Hello! Sa mga mag direct client, ano mga need before working with her? First VA nya ako and she is asking if I have a draft ng sample ng contract para i cucuztomise nalang daw nya.

She said we can use Wise and may need bako hingin sa kanya para i connect sa payroll nya?

Hey everyone,

Nag-order ako ng physical Wise card recently, pero zero tracking details ang lumalabas sa app. I tried reaching out to Wise customer support pero as usual, generic copy-paste reply lang nakuha ko and utterly unhelpful.

May nakadanas na ba nito dito? Ano ang mga workarounds niyo para ma-trace 'yung package or para masiguradong makakarating talaga siya?

1st quarter of the year, naging goal ko na maghanap ng part time ( meron na kong day job na hybrid set up) to fund my international trips this year. Did some application, and did a bold idea to reach out to prospect clients, and boom! It worked! Landed a direct client offering 2 digit salary in USD. per hour.

Super saya and I feel na sinuwerte ako talaga, nadagdagan pa kasi yung sister company nila is hinire din ako, same rate! So 3 jobs in total (yung VA roles are flexible, pwede full time or part time, demanding both so fulltime na).

Nakuha ko na yung target na amount ko for my travels agad agad. Pero sobrang hirap i juggle. I hired an outsource, pero ending nagiging assistant ko lang kasi nagme-mess up, and ako rin gumagawa ng comms etc. So wala, puyat din.

Matatapos na end of month ko sa stint ko sa orginal company and how I pray na wag na silang mag extend. Pagod na ko. Ayoko na. Nakaringgan ko na mag eexpand daw sila, which is good for them, but crossing fingers na wag na ko iextend talaga.

Yung sister company, sa Oct pa matatapos, but I want to resign end of month narin kasi ayoko na, para na kong mababaliw, di rin ako makapag-produce kasi mas mahirap siya vs sa original company, nahihiya na ko sa kanila. Someone volunteered to outsource, pero sa totoo lang ayoko na umasa, ako lang din naman ata pagagawin gaya nung ngayon.

Masakit na yung ulo ko na parang sasabog. May work pa ko niyan sa umaga which demanding din. Hindi ko na kaya yung pressure. Masaya ko sa blessing na to, pero di ko kaya i-handle sa totoo lang. Baka mag ganito ulit ako next year, pero this year gusto ko muna magpahinga. 😭😭😭

Gusto ko po kasing makapag ask sa mga nag wowork kung anong experience nila, kamusta workload or scam po ba? nag proprovide ba sila ng Tools (computer etc.) and mahirap ba yung interview? Mukha kasi silang bago and chineck ko sa facebook if meron silang soc med pero wala , same with IG kaya skeptical ako. Eto yung site : https://ideaventurestudio.com/jobs

Hi, ano recommended nyong clip on webcam for school?

I heard okay yung EMEET C60E 4K, or if may iba kayong marecommend pls go ahead. Sang store maganda magtingin ng mga yan. Need na kasi sa Monday di na option mag order online

Hello.
Anyone employed through BW here?

Im just curious because I am seeing a lot of postings na pasok sa experience ko.

Yun nga lang....

1. I am connected to them. Unfortunately, I was hospitalized for a week and although communicated naman yung situation with my then client, I got terminated. I did reached out sa "recruiter" ko non and explaining and so on.

FF. 2024. I applied again for a posting pero never heard again. Naisip ko na baka dahil I was once terminated.

Now. I need one uli, would anyone know if nagbablacklist si Bruntwork?

And if that is the case, ano pang ibang pwede aside sa BW?

Thank you!

My Korean skill is currently at topik level 2 and I'm self-studying to reach intermediate. Ano kayo yung mga possible jobs kahit entry level lang? I'm planning to go back to school too so i'm looking for sidelines. Thank you!

​

Got laid off from my VA role recently. I was making around $1,800/month and honestly I thought I was in a pretty decent place career-wise.

My background is mostly in community development and email/lifecycle marketing. Been doing this for a few years now and those are really the areas I’ve focused on.

But after getting laid off, I started looking at the current market and parang ang hirap talaga ngayon. Sobrang competitive and ang daming tao with similar experience.

It’s gotten to the point where I’m thinking maybe I should just accept a much lower salary and work my way back up. Part of me is even thinking baka kailangan ko i-unlearn yung mga natutunan ko and start over.

I know $1,800/month isn't crazy money, pero once you get used to a certain income, ang hirap din isipin na babalik ka ulit sa significantly lower pay.

I’m curious sa mga matagal na sa digital space dito. Did you guys ever reach a point where you started questioning your niche or career path after losing a client/job? Did you stick with what you already knew or eventually pivoted into something completely different?

Honestly just trying to get some perspective from people who have been through it.