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Na-reject ka na ba?

Have you been turned down?

As a freelancer, you'll experience a LOT of this.

But this challenge can either make you or break you.

Like our JasSuccess guest tomorrow, Carshena.

She was turned down by most companies because she's just a vocational graduate.

"I already passed the interviews and exams but when they had checked my credentials that I was not a "Bachelor Degree holder" despite my experience as a Manager, all of those big companies turned me down and because of this experience, it made me cry a lot, sleepless nights, depressed and I pity myself."

But thanks to this because it pushed her to freelancing.

"As a single mother, I want to provide for my son and for his future. I also want to help my parents because they are getting old."

And tell you what.

This is what she's been doing after almost two years of doing freelancing.

If you're wondering how she did it — how she found her niche and how she went from $1/hour to her desired rate — join us on this replay of her JasSuccess interview.

Introduction

Carshena Pulido is a graduate of a vocational course at the University of Baguio. She jumped from one work to another until she was given opportunities to enter four big companies. She passed the exams and interviews but unfortunately she wasn’t given the position because as they said she doesn't have a bachelor's degree. She got to know freelancing through Jason Dulay’s VA Bootcamp. Now, she is a happy and successful 6-figure earner.

Notable Quotes

• Nag-search ako online kung paano ang work from home, kung legit ba or scam. Super happy ko po kasi pwede. Wala nang pagdadalawang-isip, nagresign ako. Walang plan A at plan B.

• Nag-start ako ng mababa. Ginawa ko itong stepping stone. I’m learning and at the same time I’m earning.

• May coach ako na nagsabi na dapat magfocus lang ako sa isang skill. Kasi ang pangit na maging jack-of-all-trades and master of none.

• Feeling ko noon, kapag alam mo lahat ng skills mas mataas ang rate, hindi pala.

• Super laking benefit sa akin ng work from home, kasi na-achieve ko ang goal ko na makasama ang baby ko at makita siyang lumaki.

• I can work anytime of the day tapos wala akong boss at walang politics. Hawak ko ang oras ko at hindi ko kailangan mag- commute at magsuot ng uniform and lastly nagkaroon ako ng peace of mind.

• Isang life-changing sa akin ang freelancing, kasi I get to introduce it to my friends.

• For aspiring freelancers, huwag niyong isipin na kapag work from home is boring, kasi super happy. Ang dami kong virtual friends out there who are very supportive at meron ang VA Bootcamp na support group.

• Ang ginawa ko lang ay give your best. Give your everything to your clients.

• Thank God kasi na-reach ko na yung 6-figure goal ko this year.

Journey to Freelancing

• A graduate of vocational course at the University of Baguio.
• She went to Singapore for a tour and tried her luck to apply there.
• Then, she was given an opportunity to work as a manager even without experience.
• After her working permit expired, she was forced to go back to the Philippines. Later on, she worked as a bartender and an ESL teacher.
• Afterward, she worked as a manager for 3 years when she encountered a problem that made her unemployed for 4 months.
• She looked for a managerial position again and fortunately, she was given an opportunity to apply to 4 big companies.
• She passed the exams and interviews but was rejected for not having a bachelor’s degree.
• Her family friend introduced her to a company and she was accepted to work far from her baby.
• After a few months, she decided to go back home to take care of her child and continue studying to finish her bachelor’s degree.
• In 2017, she got to know freelancing when she encountered Jason Dulay’s VA Bootcamp. 
• She finished her course in a week and started working for 4-8 hours a day for free.
• She joined the Guided Hustle Challenge and got a job paying her $1 per hour.
• Then, she was given an opportunity to work for Miss Holly as a Content Strategist. She also became a General Virtual Assistant.
• Now, she is focused as a Facebook Ads expert earning 6-figure income for only one client with flexible time. 
• She also continues her studies and will have her bachelor’s degree by 2021.

Question and Answer

Why did you agree to have an internship na walang bayad for one month?

Wala pa po kasing naghihire sa akin though optimized na yung profile ko sa Onlinejobs, Upwork and all. Ang kapalit po kasi ng internship ay 5 star sa Upwork. Since wala pang kalamanlaman yung Upwork ko, kinagat ko na siya. And to overcome fear na rin saka magkaroon ako ng confidence sa sarili. 

How did you reject your first client? How did you turn him/her down?

Sinabi ko, I’m very sorry but I could not extend working for you because I have a new client. Same time ng oras mo, so kailangan na kitang i-let go. Naibigay ko na yung best ko sayo, almost 8 hours a day na. Sabi ko kung bayad, sige why not pero kasi sabi ko hindi naman lahat free. Naging honest naman ako kay client. 

Ano ang negative feedback na ibinigay ni client?

Since I work for free, I want to handle my time sana. Gusto niya kasi magwork ako from 9pm. Pero minsan kasi nagwowork ako ng 10-11pm, so sabi niya hindi daw ako punctual. May times kasi na kailangan niya ako ng hapon na oras, pero hindi ako available kasi focus ako kay baby ko. Sabi niya, kapag kailangan niya ako dapat available pa din daw ako.

Is it really because of your insecurity kaya tiniis mo siya?

Opo. And may contract kami na pinirmahan na "you have to finish 1 month", so tinapos ko.

So you did not feel bad about the negative feedback? Tinanggap mo lang?
Opo, kasi natuto po ako sa rejection. Yung nangyari sa akin sa corporate companies, naging foundation ko yun na kaya ko ito. Kung ano man ang negative feedback, sige go. I will learn from it. Sabi ko nga yun ang mga ways para mag-grow ako saka yun ang tumulong sa akin talaga. 

Why did you settle for $1 despite na meron ka ng experience?

Tinanong niya yung rate ko, sabi ko $5/hr. Sabi niya, hindi ko pa kaya kasi kakastart lang ng business. Pero kapag na-prove mo naman na kaya mo, ibibigay ko yung rate mo na $5. Nung sinabi niya kasi yun, nag-expect ako pero after several months, wala naman yung sabi niya na $5, so nagpaalam na ako. 

Anong sinagot mo sa mga nagalit sayo dahil tumanggap ka ng libre at mababang rate?

Sabi ko sorry, tapos hindi na mauulit. Then, after ng $1, sumunod po ay $5-$7. Nagpromise naman po ako sa kanila na hindi na mauulit kasi naging training ground ko lang yun dahil takot pa ako mag-apply. 

Why do you have a lack of confidence? Was it because of yung ginawa sayo ng company? Did it damage you that much o talaga bang mahiyain kang tao?

Actually, hindi po ako mahiyain. Sa una lang ako mahiyain, pero kapag I get to know you, nakasama na kita, hindi po ako mahiyain. Alam ng friends ko yan. Pero dahil nga po sa nangyari sa akin, yung apat na companies na gumawa sa akin nun, parang may effect po yun sa akin. Kaya po nung nag-freelancing na ako, takot akong ma-reject ulit.

What did it take for you to regain your confidence?

I’m happy to share with everybody na I'm currently enrolled. I’m finishing my bachelor’s degree and hopefully po makagraduate ako by next year, 2021. So pinursue ko po yung pag-aaral ko para ma-gain ko yung confidence na kaya ko at tiwala lang din po talaga sa sarili.  

Why are you pursuing your bachelor’s degree despite the fact that you are already receiving a 6-figure salary?

I want to make my family proud. Kasi sa aming magkakapatid, walang nakapagtapos, gusto ko na isa sa amin ay maka-graduate ng bachelor’s degree.  

Sa 6-digits na sahod mo, ano daw ba ang niche mo?

Facebook Ads and Chatbot

How fast did you improve from your 1 month free internship to reaching this level of freelancing?

Nag-work po ako ng $7/hour. Doon po ako tumagal ng almost a year. Ni-let go ako ni client kasi bumagsak yung business niya. Then, parang naswertehan ko si client at siya mismo ang kumontak sa akin tapos may trial work siya at ginawa ko, natanggap ako. Nag-start kami ng per hour. Then after 2 months, ibinigay na nila sa akin yung big news na, I will be a 6-figure earner. Full-time na ako pero I don’t have work 40 hours a week. 

What did you think did you do para maimpress ang client mo na minahal ka ng todo at ganyan ang trato sayo?

Nag-training po ako regarding Facebook Ads. Ginawa ko siyang focus tapos binuhos ko kay client yung natutunan ko.

Do you work for only one client now and do you do part-time?

I’m actively searching pero I have 1 client who pays me 6 digits and hawak ko ang restaurants niya so medyo madami. It’s around 10-15 restaurants. Kahit siya lang ang client ko mabigat na kasi I handle all the restaurants.

What is your advice to these people who feel like they have to go through what you have gone through?

Hindi ko siya nire-recommend. I recommend, yung internship ni VA Bootcamp kasi matututo ka dun and hindi pa barat yung client. 

Bakit nga ba hindi ka nag-internship?

Nag-internship po ako kay Ms. Mahar ng content writing last November. Maganda siya. It’s a good stepping stone specially sa mga takot na mag-apply. 

How do you compare your free internship to our internship?

Mas gusto ko po si VA Bootcamp. Mas privilege siya kasi I can work anytime. Dun kasi required ako magwork ng 4-8 hours. Sa VA Bootcamp hindi mo kailangan magwork ng ganon tapos sinusuportahan ka nila and they give everything na kailangan mong matutunan talaga especially if you want to be a content writer and social media. Super magandang stepping stone po yun.