Former BPO Worker Enjoys Better Work Environment Through Online Freelancing

May 18, 2022
by Jason Dulay 
Jason is the founder and CEO of Work from Home Roadmap and VA Bootcamp. Aside from teaching Filipinos how to succeed working from home, he likes traveling, playing board games, and drinking coffee.
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Today, I want you to meet Jorell.

A former BPO worker.

Due to the pandemic, he was able to discover freelancing.

And he continues to pursue for money.

Because, why not?

Despite the back pain and lack of sleep he encountered as a freelancer, they’re nothing compared to the comfort he experienced when he transitioned to this whole new world.

Let’s get to know him more on this replay!

Introduction

Learn how a former BPO employee landed a freelance opportunity during a pandemic. Let us all learn how he transitioned from his full-time job to her high-paying freelancing career.

Notable Quotes

  • When all the BPO were being sent home and being sent with their equipment, I was thinking that while I'm at home and I have my own laptop or computer. I will find a job that at least pwede isabay sa BPO job ko. 
  • I have a network of friends out there, you know, finding some from social media to Upwork. What really helped me is my network of friends who are already freelancing. And my very first freelancing job was as a medical biller for braces and for CGM.
  • Everything was worth it. because I was paid more for freelancing than I was for my BPO salary.
  • I was a team lead and a trainer for that medical company. I was already earning almost two or three times the amount of money that I'm getting from my BPO job.
  • I was at the point where I really wanted to find out what I wanted to do. What's my niche, you know? So that's the first option. That's the first thing that you need to do. You need to find out what outcomes you want. What freelancing outcomes do you want? What do you really want to do? What's your focus? If you want to be customer service, If you want to be an admin task If you want to be an SEO or have an Amazon store, I've really decided that I'm into real property management.
  • There was a time when we did grocery shopping every week. I mean, sa BPO, if you're earning 30K, 35K, or 40K, you probably do groceries like twice a week. Once twice a week or once every two weeks, I mean. Or at least once a month.
  • Unfortunately, the medical company that I'm working with has to let me go because they need to be accredited. So we parted ways. So, I'm back to having just one client. I'm trying to find another client and I'm failing.
  • I have to force myself back to another BPO company. Then I got a client in Detroit, who was my client until now as the maintenance supervisor.
  • So, you don't say everything, you don't lay out all your cards in the interview. You make them, you know, you make them want for more, or, you know. Want for more. Make them curious. 
  • I have two freelance jobs now. And then, my other freelance company, the first, the one in Detroit. I had to furlough everybody. because they're not doing well. Their finances are not good. So they furloughed every offshore client or employee that they had, so I'm back to square one.
  • So, I looked at Upwork. I looked at every social media site. But it's always my network of friends. Who gets me the job? Again, I am working as an admin assistant for a really big Airbnb company in the UK. So, 12 hours or 14 hours of work hours. You know, but you know, I'm even. I was getting more than I was getting when I had two or three jobs altogether. So that's all in the money.
  • So I guess the idea that I want to point you towards is that first, you need to find what you really want to do in the freelancing industry. Second, you need to nail it in the interview.  And then third, look at that client. When you get that client, if you do the first two steps, then basically that is the thing that you really wanted to do. And then when you get the client, always be sure that you will do that job because that's what you wanted to do.
  • So, for me, it mostly depends on how badly you want it. And how well do you know how well you will do it when you get it? So that's my story. That's a beautiful story.

The Journey to Freelancing

  • A former BPO employee way back around 2009.
  • He has worked for different companies, including Wells Fargo, QBE, JPMorgan Chase, and most recently, Airbnb.
  • During the pandemic, he started freelancing while his current employer has a work-from-home setup.
  • His friends who already work as freelancers have been instrumental in getting him his first freelancing gig as medical billing for braces and CGM.
  • Eventually, he became a team lead and a trainer for that medical company.
  • Unfortunately, the medical company where he currently works must let him go in order to obtain accreditation.
  • He has no choice but to force himself to return to another BPO firm.
  • He continues to look for another job and never stops. 
  • He quit the BPO job again. 
  • Right now, he is working as an admin assistant for a big Airbnb company in the UK.
  • Currently, he is earning nearly three figures from two jobs.

Questions and Answers.

How were you able to juggle those jobs? How are you still alive? Right now? Ano ba ginawa mo?

I guess it's all about time management. I’m a maintenance supervisor, so I don't really make phone calls. I don't answer inquiries. I just do admin tasks. Get workers paid. Check to see if the jobs are done to the quality that I wanted them to be. Dun naman sa isa is updating lang ako ng database. Then you know, focus on one job even more than the other. Don't just show me ideas. You need to plan it accordingly. Lalo na kapag may isa pa kayong trabaho. If you want that job security, you need to earn it. You need to burn a horrendous number of hours. And you need to show them that you're worth it. You are on your own.  It depends on how well you do at your job. It's not a walk in the park. It is not easy to make money.  You need to burn hours. You need to work hard. You need to evolve. You need to remind them every day. And hey, I'm your apex predator. I'm the best guy. Do whatever it is that you want. I can learn whatever it is that you want. And I'll do it for you. Maybe in the long run, they would be one or two or three weeks. It doesn't matter. But there will come a time when they will realize, you know, you need to erase it.

How can a person figure it out? Kung ano ang strength at Weakness nila?

Para sakin, that comes when you find out what you really want to do freelance. Freelancing outcome Niche mo. So basically, like for me property management. Nung na figure out ko dito. Property management, maintenance supervisor, and Co-hosting. Alam mo na yung mga you know I have a broad idea on ano yung mga admin jobs. Dapat alam mo kung ano gusto mo. Determine mo na yan. It would be easy, very easy for you. It depends on how you manage the task. Do that first. It is always good if you have a desktop, dual monitor, and laptop. Hindi siya mahirap na trabaho, sobrang dami lang task. Kapag nalaman na niche, take it one step at a time. Do not stop, because once you stop, you start getting lazy. 

What's the advice that you can give our audiences today?

For the beginners. Don't expect na malaki agad makukuha. You need to earn it. Parang siguro after you find out what you want to do. That's not how it works. It's a job that you really wanted to do. Kunin mo. And then work hard on it. Burn hours. And let them know that you deserve a rate to make them feel that you are worth more than this. If you do what you do at work, then you will never work a single day in your life. You will never ever work a single day. If you love what you do or work, I love what I'm doing. I don't feel like I'm working. I feel like I'm helping my own company, na mag earn ng pera. For me, para sakin. Burn hours. All right, tapos. Make sure that you do good and let them see. possible. Para sila na mismo ang mahihina. Make it a very exciting kasi. I don't outsource like an agency. What I do What my friends did to me If you know I will, I will introduce you to the client directly. So they're actually going to give you a chance to prove yourself and then get a raise from what they would initially give you. For me, it's a much better form of help sa mga startup freelancing or sa mga senior freelancing. Instead of locking them up at a very very low rate, or whatever rate it is, right? In outsources. Why don't you just introduce them? A client put up a good couple of words na hey. This guy knows this guy works well. The work ethic is phenomenal. Second, he can do the job. That's it. Imma go bahala na kayo mag usap. Now it's your time to shine. If you get accepted or not, then it's on you. It's not on me. I made it, I did my part. Yes. I introduced you to a good couple of good words. And then, it's your turn. There's nothing that I can do. I just introduced you to the client.

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by Jason Dulay 
Jason is the founder and CEO of Work from Home Roadmap and VA Bootcamp. Aside from teaching Filipinos how to succeed working from home, he likes traveling, playing board games, and drinking coffee.

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71 comments on “Former BPO Worker Enjoys Better Work Environment Through Online Freelancing”

  1. "You need to be always on top on your game. You need to let the clients know that you are worth it. They should even think about of giving you a raise." - Jorell

  2. "Time Management. Property Management Job ko sa Detroit, I just do admin tasks. Dun naman sa isa, updating lang ako ng database as a co-admin, and update ng mga listing. Di ko masasabi na hindi siya stressful pero ang daming tasks." - Jorell

  3. "It's within the arrangement. When you get to the interview, pwede mong sabihin 'I can do more than that. Pero I'm looking at this schedule.'" - Jorell

  4. "Para sa akin, that comes in when you find out what you want to do sa freelancing. When I figured out na dito ako magfofocus sa Property Management, and I have broad ideas on what the tasks are." - Jorell

  5. Nice you shared to us your BPO experience Sir. Keep up the good work I ‘d share this too to my friends and relatives hoping they could have an idea on online job if they need an online job at home. Thanks .

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