I’ve been in the BPO industry for several years but I’ve always wanted to go freelancing and be my own boss, where I don’t have to answer to anyone, and I can just do what I think is best to produce quality products or services. I used to join a network marketing business before because I was attracted to their products and I want to sell to make profits. I thought it would be a stepping stone for me to become an entrepreneur someday. However, that didn’t last long because I realized it wasn’t the kind of business I want to be in where the main focus is to recruit more people instead of selling.
Sticking with My Job
Anyway, I moved on from that and stuck with my full-time job for a while. But eventually, I realized that being a corporate employee wasn’t something I wanted to do forever. I was making decent money, but I wanted more freedom. I appreciated having a well-paying job with good benefits, but I felt like there had to be more to life than spending most of my time in a job that didn’t fulfill me.
Losing Motivation
I got tired of constantly defending my low performance scores and promising to improve when I just didn’t have the motivation anymore. A friend of mine, who’s been freelancing for a while, suggested I try doing Virtual Assistant work. She gave me tips on where to self-study, what skills I needed, and where to find clients. But I was hesitant. It was all too new for me, and even though the perks sounded great, I still stayed in my corporate job anyway.
A Big Loss and Taking an Inspiration
My life took an unexpected turn when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. I lost my corporate job, felt stuck for a few months, and eventually found another BPO job, but I still wasn’t motivated. The real wake-up call came when my mom passed away from COVID-19 in April 2021. It was a huge shock for my family and me. That’s when I started to really think about my options. I realized that life is short and unpredictable. Our time is precious, and we need to make the most of each day, so why are we wasting it?
I realized I needed to make a change. Since work takes up so much of our daily lives, why spend that time on a job that no longer brings value or fulfillment?
While I was weighing my options, I couldn’t help but think about how happy my mom always seemed with her work. She was a self-employed seamstress and also taught catechism to children occasionally. She was very involved in the church, and I could see from her many friends how wonderful she was as a person. She’s truly an inspiration, and I hope to have the same passion in whatever I choose to do.
Making the Leap
When I returned to work after a long break, I realized I had to quit. So I sent in my resignation letter, and I wasn’t surprised that it got approved right away. Although I had doubts while writing that letter, I couldn’t keep doing the same old job anymore. I’ve been in the BPO industry for a while now, doing the same thing, and I’m just worn out.
I decided to quit my job even though I didn’t have another source of income and I had bills to pay. I was broke, with just a few pennies left in my bank account. I was feeling pretty lost. I remembered a friend who had suggested freelancing, so I started researching. I watched free tutorials on YouTube, read blogs, and joined freelancing groups. But the more I tried to learn, the more confused I became. And the longer I waited to feel ready, the more my bills piled up.
I was feeling frustrated so I applied to various companies even though I didn’t have the experience they wanted. It was also out of desperation that I even applied for customer support roles, similar to what I did before. But unfortunately, all my efforts were in vain. While I did hear back from hiring managers, it wasn’t because they were considering me for the job. It was actually the opposite.
Because I was too proud, I didn’t ask my friend for help. That was a mistake because it could have helped me gain some experience. She had offered me an internship before, but I kept putting it off.
Taking on a New Opportunity
One day, I saw an ad on social media offering VA training for freelancers. They promised to train us, help us start our freelancing careers, and even offered the chance to be hired internally. They also said they would refund the course fee after we completed it. It sounded like a great opportunity, so I used the last of my money to sign up.
I enrolled in the online course for a few weeks. I attended live coaching sessions, completed the assigned tasks to practice what I learned, and received my certification after graduation. By the way, it was my first time taking an online course, but it was definitely worth it.
Waiting is the Real Challenge
The hardest part is the waiting. I thought they’d hire me right after I finished the course, but no, I had to wait. In the past, when I tried to find clients on freelancing websites, I wasn’t successful because I was a bit of a mess. So, I decided to wait a bit longer and pray harder. I felt like I didn’t have any other choice. It was either wait or try my luck again, but who knows how long it would take to get my first client?
The freelancing market is super competitive, especially for someone like me who was just starting out. I don’t think I’ll be lucky enough to get hired in just a few days of course. I understand some freelancers took months to get their first client, but I wanted to find a faster way to gain experience.
First Freelancing Breakthrough
After a month of waiting and praying daily, I finally got hired by my first client. Interestingly, it was the same company where I had taken my training. I still had to go through their hiring process, but I was thrilled to be hired.
All that waiting paid off big time. I just needed a foot in the door with freelancing, and I got it! The pay might not be huge since the agency takes a cut, but that’s alright. I wasn’t really focused on how much I’d make anyway.
As of now, I’ve learned a lot in just a year as a VA. It’s really great when you find a client you work well with, and I feel lucky to have my first client who values my work. She’s shown me that I can achieve anything if I work with passion. I’m assisting more than two clients right now, and it makes me happy to support entrepreneurs who also help others.
Advice for Aspiring Freelancers
Being a freelancer isn’t easy. If you’re dreaming of becoming a VA and you’re reading this, be ready for challenges. No matter how you decide to chase your dreams, just go for it. Every successful freelancer has a unique journey. My transition from employee to freelancer wasn’t easy, at least for me, but it’s my story, and I’ll always carry it with me on my journey.
So just dive into freelancing if that’s what your heart wants! Stop overthinking it. Don’t be like me, hesitating at first. Change your mindset from being an employee to being your own CEO.
