Bizwoman urges Filipinos to try working as VA
WITH the traffic situation getting worse not only in Metro Manila but in other key cities as well in the Philippines, virtual company owner Linh Podetti encourages more Filipinos to consider working from home as a virtual assistant (VA).
Podetti, who is a Vietnamese-Italian, had been managing Outsourcing Angel for seven years.
The company has been assisting clients and business owners in digital marketing, administrative works, customer service, and web development. Ever since she started, she had worked with a Filipino VA who is still part of the company to this day. In the seven years of operation, her company already has about 50 to 60 Filipino virtual assistants.
She said the type of services the VAs usually provide include web developing, graphic designing, web content writing, and data analyzing. They are working with clients from Singapore, Australia, and America.
“The VAs can work at least two hours a day to eight hours a day. Sometimes they even work for 12 hours a day. I don’t require them but as long as they can still do it and they would want to, that’s okay,” said Podetti who is based in Australia and has two kids. She shared how working at home had helped her manage her time well with the family and with her career.
She estimates that these days, the average VA can earn US$300 to $400 per month. However, she said their VAs are able to earn as much as $600 to $700 a month.
Last month, a free VA seminar was held in a coffeeshop in Davao City by the Filipino VA themselves who are working under Outstanding Angel. Podetti said about 50 to 60 people attended.
“The goal of seminars such as this is to raise awareness about VA and hopefully to get employment for these Filipinos wherever because they already have a background of what a VA is and what they do,” said Podetti.
Outsourcing Angel does not have a physical office even in Australia. Everything about their transaction is virtual and Podetti said she plans to keep it that way. She especially hires people who are working at home in support of her own advocacy of helping mothers and small business owners who would want to earn extra while having the liberty to manage their time at home.