13 years as a bank employee.

Went to blogging to fight homesickness.

Until she found her way to freelancing.

She heard about it before but never really pursued it.

But her desire to earn on her own (and be able to buy what she wants without asking her husband)...

...makes her freelancing journey much much more meaningful.

And on this replay, meet Rachelle.

She shared with us her ups and downs.

Her struggles.

And her wins — on finding financial & time freedom.

SUMMARY TRANSCRIPT

INTRODUCTION:

Listen to Rachelle as she allows us an exclusive glimpse of her journey as a freelancer. From being a career woman to becoming a housewife and finally revitalizing her career through the help of freelancing while still accomplishing her duties as a wife and as a mom, right in the comforts of their home.

NOTABLE QUOTES:

• We followed my husband after one year. At first medyo masaya kasi we got reunited with my husband. Feeling namin bakasyon. Kung saan-saan nagpupunta. Papasyal-pasyal. And then a few months after, nagkaroon na ako ng realization, naramdaman ko na 'yong change. Imagine, from a career woman, naging full-time mom na ako.
• My life took a 360-degree turn. Nagkaroon ng ibang focus. Unlike do'n sa Pinas, mother din ako. Inaalagaan ko rin mga anak ko. Pero may iba akong pinagkakaabalahan, may career ako.
• Pagdating dito, naiba lahat, feeling ko tuloy nagkaroon ako ng depression.
• Kailangan kong may gawin na iba. Iyong gagana ang utak ko.
• Masaya ako no'n kasi kumikita. Primarily ang purpose ko noon aside from diversion, magkaroon ako ng earnings on my own.
• Sa part ko gusto ko 'yong meron din ako. Ayoko humingi na kung may bibilhin ako na want ko lang.
• Napansin ko na siguro pwede naman pala. Pwede ako kasi may skills naman ako, 'tsaka feeling ko wala pala akong passion sa writing, sa blogging.
• Tapos nakita ko 'tong VABootcamp, natawa pa ako kasi 'yong husband ko, sabi ko, Daddy mag-eenroll ako dito, sabi nya baka mascam ka na naman diyan.
• Sabi ko mukhang hindi naman, kasi may mga nakikita akong testimonials. So, tinuloy ko. Nalaman ko through the groups na iyon pala 'yong mga techniques ng mga scammers.
• Masasabi ko bang successful ako rito? Sa standard kasi natin pag sinabing successful talagang bongga. Eh iba-iba kasi ang level ng standard pag sinabi nating successful. So paano ko ba masasabing successful ako?
• Ang tinake advantage ko ay 'yong paggawa ng profile at cover letter, 'yun ang tinarget ko na aralin talaga. Kasi iyon lang ang talagang super makikinabang ako. Kumbaga 'yun ang favorite part ko do'n sa course.
• If hindi ko nakita ang course, aside sa basic skills, kung wala ang part na 'yon sa files on how to apply jobs online, 'yong part na ang feeling ko hindi ako makaka move forward to be a freelancer, kasi wala ako idea do'n sa mga ROPE at AIDA.
• Sabi ko sayang. Bakit bumagsak ako? Ang dali lang nitong work, bakit ko nabagsak? Tapos naalala ko no'n, I even sent a message to Miss A. Sabi ko, "Miss A, okay lang ba magtanong do'n sa prospect client kung what went wrong?"
• Naging happy ako although physically minsan pagod din. Pero na revive niya ang energy ko. As a career woman, happy ako, unang-una kasi gusto ko ang trabaho ko.
• Naisip ko, don’t contribute to the expense, contribute ka sa income.
• Oo pwede ka mag business. Pero make sure 'yong contribution mo or income is steady ang flow. Hindi 'yong meron ngayon, next month wala.
• May naisip nga ako sabi ko, we as parents, we work too much for our kids' future that we forget ours.

JOURNEY TO FREELANCING:

• Rachelle was a career woman working in a prestigious savings bank here in the Philippines for 13 years.
• She was already in a supervisory position in a Trust Department in the said savings bank.
• At the height of her career, her husband migrated to and worked in Germany.
• A year after, she and her kids followed her husband to be together.
• When they were reunited, at first she felt extremely happy because finally they are together again, and they seem to be an endless vacation with their frequent travels around Europe.
• After a few months, the realization set in where she felt the change. It was a 360-degree turn from being a career woman to becoming a full-time mom and housewife.
• When depression set in, and at the suggestion of her best friend, Rachelle turned into writing blogs as an outlet and also a means to earn money for herself and to be able to contribute to the family expenses. But this personal epiphany was short-lived as she realized that writing is not for her.
• She then explored the world of freelancing by applying to jobs as a virtual assistant but was almost scammed by a fraudulent modus operandi. Luckily her bank was able to forewarn her and avoid a disastrous outcome.
• Then she came across VA Bootcamp and enrolled in the course despite her husband warned her that this one might just be another scam.
• When she finally learned all the essentials of being a virtual assistant she applied to different online jobs.
• She got rejected at one of the jobs she applied for but being a persistent woman, she followed-up on the client and asked for feedback. She was given a second chance and now is still happily employed with the said client.
• She does not want CS (Customer Support) related jobs and would definitely not accept if they were offered. She said what makes her truly happy and content with her current client, aside from his generosity, is the fact that her work is related to her passion job which is in the finance industry.
• Now Rachelle can provide for herself, contribute to the family expenses, care for her kids, and can give them things they need but the most important thing that may be considered a success for Rachelle now is the fact that she was able to regain her individuality as a career woman which in turn has empowered her to become the best version of herself.

QUESTION AND ANSWER:

That's good, kasi ang susunod na tatanungin ko sa 'yo sana is, "Was it worth it (VA Bootcamp)?".

Yes. For me, actually if hindi ko siya nakita, 'yong course, aside the basic skills, kung wala iyong part na 'yon sa how to apply jobs online, hindi rin ako makaka move forward to be a freelancer, kasi wala ako idea do'n sa mga ROPE at AIDA.

Is it different? Kasi may experience ka na sa corporate, you came from the bank. So when it comes to writing cover letters and applying for winning the projects that you target, is it different?

Sa panahon namin, kasi 'yong mga resume writing, hindi ko yata na encounter 'to na sa pag aapply gagawa ng application letter. Ngayon ang technique is  "What you can offer?" or “What you can do to help your client.” Dati kasi ang sa natatandaan ko ang application letter ko ang nakalagay is "What I can do." "What I am." kumbaga, masipag ako. Pero ngayon sa freelancing, ang cover letter natin is ano ang  ma cocontribute mo do'n sa client. Ano 'yong maitutulong mo sa kanya, magagawa mo sa kanya para mapagaan 'yong trabaho niya.

I am glad that you are happy with the course that you took. Ano'ng package ang kinuha mo? 

Accelerated na ako no'n.

Are you happy? Are you happy you're only working part-time?

For now oo, kasi wala rin talaga akong time to work for other clients. From time to time din nag titingin-tingin pa rin ako. Iyong mga short tasks lang.

Why is that? Were you happy when you were working at the bank? Was that your career really?

Oo. Nando'n 'yong fulfillment at happiness ko.

Rachelle, since you are back now, was freelancing able to provide you this itch, nakamot mo ba ang kati ng desk job?

Oo. Talagang naging happy ako. Although physically minsan pagod din. Pero na revive niya iyong energy ko. As a career woman, happy ako, unang-una gusto ko ang trabaho ko and kahit papaano generous si client.

Hi, Miss Rachelle question po, did you consider the minimum Deutsch rate while applying po?

Sa Upwork pag nag hahanap ako ng jobs, may filter ako, ang location Germany. Halimbawa, data entry jobs, pero ang location nya Germany, mapapansin mo rin medyo higher yung rate. Pag nag aapply ako pag based sa US, medyo tinataasan ko rin, 'yong medyo pantay dito kasi iba rin naman 'yong cost of living dito.