Featured on #JasSucces is a touching story of Jacquelyn Pulgo's successful achievement in freelancing.

Discover how she got started in freelancing as she reveals how hard life was for her, sleeping literally in a 'karton' and comfortably now in a 'kutson.'

Jacquelyn's story is definitely a must watch as she gives inspiration of how freelancing changed her life for the better.

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Notable Quotes:

• First as a newbie, parang nangangapa ka pa how to start and it doesn't really hurt to ask questions especially from those who are in the, in this industry.
• And I would say patience and prayers talaga. Patience, kase hindi naman kapag nag apply ka yun na, makukuha mo na yung job. There are a lot of people who are applying in the same job, hindi lang ikaw. So, just be patient and samahan mo na rin ng hard work at prayers. Prayers is really important. I truly believe na if it's not really for you, then it's not for you.
• When you have to find options, find options, research and at least be familiar with. Right now, especially sa ngayon, be familiar with mga e-commerce, especially dun sa mga videos ni Sir Jason it would really help. Kase yun din, dun ako nagsimula at yun ang nakatulong sakin talaga.
• I don't really worry much about that if I were you. Kase to tell you frankly, hindi rin ako tech savvy. In fact, I remember my first time even before, even after na nag call center ako. Hindi ako magaling talaga sa computer. In fact, I don't have any computer skills na super bongga. I just browse, just like a regular person. Nag fe-facebook ako, nag yu-YouTube, ganun lang talaga ang basic na alam ko sa computer. So, for those of you who does not have any computer skills, you don't really have to worry. Kase kung iha-hire kayo hindi naman ibibigay nang employer nyo yung trabaho nyo. Of course, you will have trainings, if you have questions do not hesitate to ask and it would be best if you're going to ask instead na mawala yung job.
• For first timers, I would suggest na try going to sites like Sir Jason's. Kase it really helps a lot of first timers. Andaming first timers na natulungan dahil dun sa site na yun. Also, please research more hindi yung, although may sites talaga na tumutulong kung paano mag start for a freelancing. But it would be best as well na mag research kayo and then try to find something na suitable sa inyo.
• If ever, cause most of them would complain na narereject talaga yung application niyo or walang nag rerespond. Just focus on your goal, yun lang. And then think of this as a challenge and just don't give up on that challenge kasi lahat naman tayo nagkakaroon ng problem, lahat naman tayo nagkakaroon ng failures. Nobody's perfect but what you just need to remind yourself is its just part of your trials its part of the job kumbaga. It's part of your life and just don't give up on it and prayers will do really good.

Jacquelyn Pulgo’s Freelance Journey

• Started working in a BPO company in 2012
• The company she’s working for suddenly got dissolved for unknown reasons.
  • During this time, they have no proper place to stay and they don’t even know what they’ll be having for lunch and dinner. Everything went back to zero
  • After some time, they found a place to stay, the problem they can’t afford to pay their rent.
  • Uses free data to apply in Upwork. Got rejected multiple times
  • Although her proposals weren’t accepted, it did not stop her from trying to get an online job, she always sees to it to get tips from fellow WAHPpers
• Landed her first job as an online English Teacher
  • What she earns from teaching is not sufficient to support their needs.
  • She looked for other opportunities in Onlinejobs.ph
• Hired as a VA for a US-based company
  • She got fired because the trainer wasn’t satisfied with her work outputs
• After 8 days, she applied for another job and got hired.
• Currently, she’s still working as a VA Rockstar for the boss who hired her after getting fired.
  • Before she used grocery box as a bed, beer case as her table and she don’t have enough money to pay bills. Now, she bought a bed, a new computer table and she’s earning much more to support her family and can pay her bills.

Q&A Highlights

What of work do you do for your clients?

As a Virtual Assistant, what we have right now is we are doing Amazon, we find items and products that are saleable on Amazon. And then we have some, it’s like office work as well like filling out and typing a lot of data. Just regular Virtual Assistant work but it’s like no brainer. I can say it’s like no brainer but what you need to have is patience.

Can you share a range of how much you’re earning?

I’m ranging to at least 20,000 plus in a month.

What advice can you give newbies who want to start?

It doesn’t really hurt to ask questions especially from those who are in this industry. And I would say patience and prayers. Patience, kase hindi naman kapag nag apply ka yun na, makukuha mo na yung job. There are a lot of people who are applying in the same job, hindi lang ikaw. So, just be patient and samahan mo na rin ng hard work at prayers. Prayers are really important. I truly believe na if it’s not really for you, then it’s not for you. When you have to find options, find options, research and at least be familiar with. Be familiar with mga e-commerce, especially dun sa mga videos ni Sir Jason it would really help. Kase yun din, dun ako nagsimula at yun ang nakatulong sakin talaga.

 Would you say your call center experience has helped you as a freelancer?

Not in a bit. Other than speaking well in English, the rest wala. For those of you na hindi masyadong magaling sa English, please don’t get discouraged kase, hindi talaga yun ang basehan, and hindi yun ang makaka-hire sayo.

Any tips if paano masusure na legit yung client?

I tried searching for the company. Most of the companies is ma-sesearch mo talaga sa Google. And then if na-fifeel mo na hinihingan ka ng charge or fee, just get to the company like backout ka na.Huwag mo nang ituloy. And also, if ever na nag aapply kayo, I know there are a lot of scams as well even for Upwork and other legit na sites. It would be best kung, kumo-communicate talaga kayo sa client.  Kase ma-fifeel mo naman kung sincere at kung legit yung company nanagha-hire sayo.

What about for those that don’t have computer skills? Any advice?

I don’t really worry much about that if I were you. Kase to tell you frankly, hindi rin ako tech-savvy. I browse just like a regular person. So, for those of you who do not have any computer skills, you don’t really have to worry. Kase kung iha-hire kayo, you will have trainings, if you have questions do not hesitate to ask.

Where do you get clients?

At first, I tried Upwork kase yon yung sikat na site. And then what I did was I looked for other sites, nag gu-Google. And then dun din sa forum sa WAHP, dun ko nakita yang client ko kase Sir Jason mentioned about Hubstaff before. Then after I tried Hubstaff, dun na ko nakakuha ng client. Also, Onlinejobs.ph, nakakuha rin ako ng client dun.

How did the process of getting hired worked?

That time, nag re-research talaga ako. I tried before na sariling gawa ko yung sina-submit ko. And then, na feel ng client na hindi pang pro yung letter ko kaya narereject. What I did was, I looked for example sa Upwork. If you notice sa profile nila meron silang mga introduction sa sarili nila, of what they can do, what they’re good at. I would also suggest na magtanong, we have the forum open talaga sa lahat. May mga email na sinesend si Sir Jason na yun yung tinitignan ko at fina-follow ko on how to write good cover letter.

I would like to add, please be honest if may ginagawa kayong cover letter. Be honest on what are the things that you can do. Hindi yung kahit hindi alam ang ginagawa, ina-add. Avoid that.

How many clients do you have right now?

Right now, I only have one employer but I’m working on different businesses nahina-handle niya.

Mas ideal po ba na magdirect apply sa mga clients instead of mag sign up sa mga sites like Upwork, etc?

I’m not quite sure. Kase hindi ko pa na-try na mag apply direct sa mga clients. What I did was, I signed up for Upwork and there’s a reason for that kase negosyante, business niya hinahandle nila. They want to make sure na hindi sila nasa-scam. Hindi lang tayo ang nasascam, pati mga business owners din. They want to make sure hindi sila luge sa business na yon.

Is it okay to upload my resume on Hubstaff?

I would say, Yes, I tried that. I uploaded my resume on Hubstaff. Although hindi ko na take, it’s a Canadian company na nag offer sa akin nung nakita nila yung resume ko sa Hubstaff.

What was the hardest experience you had becoming a freelancer?

For me, it’s really about survival. Lahat mahirap. Lagi kang na rereject sa pagsusubmit mo ng proposals and application.

What was your motivation to keep going even when you got rejected?

It’s a matter of survival. I have a three-year-old kid. Okay lang kung ako, kaya lang I have my daughter. She stands as my motivation when it comes to working online and for not giving up. I have this saying “You’re allowed to get tired, you’re allowed to complain and you’re allowed to get mad. But you’re not really allowed to give up.”

Anong ma-aadvise mo for first timer? Where can we start?

For first-timers, I would suggest try going to sites like Sir Jason’s. It really helped a lot of first-timers. Also, it would be best na mag research kayo and then try to find something na suitable sa inyo.

What is your ultimate goal?

Ang ultimate goal ko talaga is makapundar and to have at my own house to live in. Hindi yung nag rerenta lang kami. I have mini goals like, when I wake up in the morning, may nakaplano na kung ano yun gagawin ko. In fact, naka plano rin kung ilang oras ako mag tatrabaho. Para ma-manage ko yung time ko.

What do you do to receive payments? Paypal, Payoneer or both?

I tried Paypal. I tried Paypal for receiving payments. I’m still using Paypal until now.

What made you decide po to do home-based?

I decided for home-based kase I remember when I was in BPO, pag umuuwi ako sa bahay, kapag nilalapitan ko yung baby ko hindi lumalapit, natatakot. Kase hindi niya ako kilala. Because of the schedule,gabi ka na pumapasok. Pag-uwi mo sa bahay parang pagod na pagod ka na. Drain na drain nayung energy mo. Traffic pa, hindi ko na na-aasikaso yung baby ko. Eventually, hindi niya ako nakilala. Akala niya nanay niya yung yaya niya noon. Kaya sabi ko, I have to find a way to be hands on na nanay. Yun yung nag push sakin to do homebase.