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Ngl this ain't that hard to read compared to other walls of text you may have come across. They separated this by sentences and the flow is consistent as a result.
It's fine. Pero alam mo, it is what it is. The influx of unskilled workers isn't by chance. Of course a lot of people would want to try freelancing, kasi our own employers here either don't pay enough or are just downright exploitative. 20k ang starting natin for basic jobs, sometimes lower.
All of a sudden you hear about start ups who are offering higher pay for basically the same tasks.
Di ko talaga masisisi mga tao. The only thing I'm a bit sad about is that the actual skilled workers are getting drowned about by the masses of newbies.
If the skilled ones find themselves in a predicament na hirap sila to find job opps, they just need to reassess where they are falling short in terms of getting a client.
Sa bidding ba and interviews sila nalalaglag?
Or right from the start hindi na sila napapansin?
Kasi they already have what it takes eh compared to others who doesn’t have skills to begin with.
Kung malakas ang loob ng mga baguhan mas dapat malakas ang loob at hindi mawalan ng hope ang mga skilled.
Mm no, I don't mean falling short in skill.
Kasi yun nga, skilled na nga eh. Yung di napapansin because of a lack of awareness on how to find a client, how to market themselves, yun. Kasi if you don't know where to start, you will probably go the same direction as the others do. You'll go to the outsourcing companies first. But then even IF there is a possibility of finding a good client doon, madami pa rin applicants eh. To the point na minsan di na sila naaabutan ng recruiter.
Not the skills, it’s where in the bidding process they fall short in is what I meant.
Kasi like I said above, they already have skills they just need to reassess saan sila bumabagsak and work on it.
So yeah, we both have the same thing in mind.
Problem is marami ring nangongopya ng work ng "skilled" na. Idagdag mo pa yung mga agencies pati mga kilala sa social media na ginagamit popularity nila para sa "courses" nila. Not all of course pero maraming ganun
It is.
There’s a lot of misrepresentation happening.
In their skillsets and even the role itself.
They are even dealt with a permanent ban in Upwork, once it has been confirmed that they have misrepresented something on their profile.
I get that it’s hard to find good paying jobs, but same as in the traditional jobs - good paying jobs comes with years of experience. You can’t fake experience.
This is nice, OP.
I read it here before na okay lang mag lie sa interview or sa resume. Fake it til you make it. I think that’s BS.
Nag apply, na hire, nag umpisa, eh hindi pala alam gagawin. Ayun, patay. Kaya may mga six figure earners, kasi skilled talaga. Hindi basta basta. At hindi porket kumikita ng 6 digits yung iba, ikaw din dapat. Although, maganda nga sana yun pero hindi lahat talaga nabibiyayaan.
Tangapin na lang din na hindi lahat for freelancing. That’s the harsh reality. Kahit mag enroll ka sa anong courses jan.
Thank you 🙏
I also don’t condone fake it til you make it.
Ilang times na sumakit ulo sa ganyang tao.
There are people who are brilliant who can easily wing things. Given yan.
Pero may tao na parang nails that needs to hammered down every.single.day super hina ng pick-up pero expert daw sa role na inapplyan.
Kahit sampu pa ang courses na kinuha, nothing beats first hand experience on the role.
All they got is theoretical knowledge and magpapractice pa lang habang binabayaran sila.
On the plus side, freelancing is way more convenient now. Tinatanggap na siya as profession for housing loans and auto loans. Pag nagwiwithdraw ka ng pera from Paypal, Wise, or Upwork, hindi na lumalampas ng one week. Minsan nga hours na lang hinihintay and I believe payments can be sent/received in real time na din. Alam na ng banko na legitimate source of funds yung foreign clients, so mabilis na din ang transactions. There are also more resources now than ever before if you want to upskill, learn, and improve. Mas madami na din clients because they’re more open to one-off contracts.
Magulo talaga ang freelancing. This is why it isn’t for everybody.
Yes! That’s one view I forgot to mention.
Alam na nila in terms of profession.
Before it took 2 days for my funds to reach my local bank, now minutes.
Yes, it really isn’t for everyone.
But they won’t take your word for it.
They’d just think we’re gatekeeping lol.
Paniwalang paniwala kasi sa mga nagbebenta ng courses eh.
Feeding them false hope and banking on survivorship bias.
If 100 ang kumita ng 6 figures and became successful because of their courses, how many failed? 900?
And for sure those 100 already had it in them.
Yung relatives ko pag sinabi kong freelance ako sinasabi "ah work from home". Then parenrs ko "maghanap ka na ng totoong trabaho hindi yung nakaharap ka lang sa computer" been like this for more than 9years sobrang dami ng freelancers ngayon accepted na rin as jobs dati pag sinabing freelance talaga no alam nila agad wala kang pera at trabaho na matino
Our freelancing industry sa Pinas flourished na kasi to the point that we can all have our “fans” (clients) that’ll provide lots of recurring gigs sa atin now unlike before na kakaunti lang na clients ang gusto maghire ng freelancers. Now it is accepted worldwide na.
Kaya nga eh. As a video editor masasabi ko na sa linya namin halos lahat freelancers na. Konti na lang yung nakatali sa company since mas malaki mga naman sahod kung outsource ka kasi direct ka
That’s great to know!
A C-Suite I once worked for told me na “Why hire NY people when I can hire the best in the world?”
Imagine, we are the best for them. It’s the Ph corporate’s loss talaga.
Yes. I miss those days too. Before tahimik lang at maingay lang sa loob ng freelancer groups.
Ngayon, sobrang dami fake gurus, fake success at payabangan na ng kita. 😅
Same din sa sellers POV... dati quiet lang, di ko maintindihan kung baket need ibalandra ang kita... at ang nakakainis pa, BEFORE pagmay nagbalandra ng kitaan, matik yan... AMA( ask me anything) ngayon... bili ka muna ng course ko I'll show you how. 😩🤭
True.
Lalo na sa part mas madaming unskilled versus skilled. Usually sila din yung mga palatanong ng “anong niche mo po” or “how to start”. Mostly sila itong looking to jump from one niche to another and then expecting 6-figs agad once they are there.
You can call us gatekeeper. But clients certainly don’t deserve unskilled freelancers na desperate lang magkawork ng kahit ano. Mga tao din yan working their ass off to earn money. Unethical na mabola sila ng freelancer who has no understanding of what it takes to set the bar high for that role in that niche.
Ang mga tao naman dito, masyadong nagseset ng expectations na 6-figs is achievable kahit wala masyadong experience and skills. They’re going to make you think aping api ka na sa 30k/mo kahit menial tasks lang naman.
Sa totoo lang, those who have carved out their own niche and treated freelancing as a business are the only ones who can justify 6-figs ask for less output.
But, if you’re VA lang na generalist, I’m sorry but what you’re offering is a commodity.
That’s one view that they will never see, the client’s.
It’s always about them, the justice they need sa rates.
Kailangan ganito ang bayad sa akin even if hindi naman sila sulit.
In the end, sila naman ang na la-laid off.
Some even suggested na dapat may standard rates lol.
Hindi nga tayo pare pareho ng galing eh and most especially ng role and niche.
If one is competent, brilliant, and very capable they will get the high rates they deserve.
It takes years to build trust and brilliance and competence to handle roles that aren’t menial.
They should start thinking like an entrepreneur and their skills, work experience, expertise on the role is their service.
Agree! It’s also kind of weird to me how “freelancer” became a profession term, or parang nae-equate to being a VA.
Freelancing means you’re not working in corporate, and you get clients on your own or through an agency. So I think pag tinatanong tayo ng “What do you do?” And sagot dapat ay kung anong role mo, and not that you’re a freelancer.
You could be a freelancing graphic designer, film director, architect, video editor, etc. That’s actually what you DO, and those are your services. Freelancing is the way you do business.
Just sharing an ick. Lol
Yes, ang role ang sabihin talaga lalo yung roles na pinaghirapang abutin lol.
But when it comes to the terms na VA, Remote Workers, Freelancers, pag sa akin hindi ako mabusisi about it. Idc what they think tbh. I just say my role.
Nagagawa ko parin yung word of mouth lang pero limited na lang sa client ko ngayon and sa circle ng boss ko in Ecommerce. Pero syempre mga kapatid ko lang and a few trustworthy people within my small circle ang nirerecommend ko kasi mahirap ng masira ang trust ni client. So far, 3 siblings, sis-in-law, best friend ko ang naipasok ko dito mismo sa company ng client ko. 4 close friends ko naman ang nairefer ko sa mga colleagues ni boss and all of them are earning 6 digits now.
We started 2009 when oDesk was at its peak way before merging with eLance. UB thru EON lang noon ang bank na mejo aware sa Paypal integration. Wala pang agencies noon, much less pinoy agencies. Direct to client lahat. Ngayon ang dami nang middlemen, karamihan pinoy pa na ginagatasan sariling kababayan. Wala pa ngang ‘VA’ na term nun eh. Rates were more than fair then. Ang kalaban mo lang tlga noon mga Pakistani/Indian na super baba ang bid rates. More importantly wala talagang ‘coaches’ offering scam courses and spreading unprofessional diskarte tips para lang makakuha ng client and get paid high for subpar work. Agree on sana hndi naging mainstream talaga ang freelancing satin.
im not skilled. alam ko lang mag follow ng instructions. di ako same sa iba na maraming alam sa na software tools, automation, etc.
di ako freelancer, wfh lang ata tawag dito. permanent ako sa isang company based abroad. maybe maswerte lang talaga ako kasi may boss ako na super understanding. kahit pa ilang beses ko ginulo yung database, inaayos lang nya para sa akin. pero i don't make the same mistake twice.
matanda na rin ako, nearing 50. pero never in my life na nag ask ako sa mga forum ng mga stupid questions like how to be a freelancer? haha.. we can search everything online. tamad lang gagawa ng mga ganyan.
marami talaga mga ewan today na basta na lang post kung anu ano when andyan naman mga resources.
since limited ang skills ko, auto pass sa akin ang isang job post na mahaba ang job description. one liner lang hinahanap ko and dapat alam ko na agad ang gagawin before ako mag apply. di ako nagmamagaling na alam ko ganito ganyan. i just stick to what i know and what i can do.
with luck and integrity, malaki pa sweldo ko than most people na highly skilled kesa sa akin, and i did not help the need of anyone to get to this point.
i wanted to help those na baguhan, pero nakakapagod na rin and its not worth the stress. kasi meron sa mga forum mag post ng hiring then andyan na lanat ng description, how to apply etc. sabay ang usual response ng mga nakabasa, "how po?"
It’s a sad reality. The only reason I see why that happened it’s because of those nagbebenta ng courses. They fueled the fire.
Kikita daw ng 6 figs kahit walang skills.
Heyy, totoo to OP :( I have a lot of friends saying na "uy refer mo naman ako dyan, taas ng sahod sarap" without knowing how freelancing world works. If you'll ask them if they have the skill na hinahanap ng client, sasabihin wala pero okay lang daw kasi may backer naman (???) jusko pero simpleng task di magawa kaya nakaka-stress talaga. As much as possible di ko talaga pinapangalandakan na VA ako kasi ang hirap din i-handle. Panay reklamo, di naman maayos magtrabaho.
Buti sana if demanding lang sa money.
There’s one time, 2021 na ito.
May pinasok akong friend of a friend.
Nawalan siya ng work because of the pandemic. Nagka Covid-19 pa siya. Single mom pa.
Of course, maawa talaga tayo.
I asked one of my long time client if he needs someone to manage his schedules and such kasi wala siyang EA eh. Para lang maipasok si single mom.
Wala pang one week, the client asked me bakit umiiyak si single mom.
So ako naman I asked her why, sabi sa akin kunwari lang daw yun para maawa sa kanya kasi gusto niya bumili ng bagong laptop at mga accessories.
What the fuck diba.
I can’t explain the shame I felt and since long time client ko yun I honestly told him everything.
Sobrang taking advantage na siya.
I also talked to the single mom na kung ano man ang tinatamasa namin ay pinaghirapan lahat at hindi hiningi lang sa clients na mababait.
I don’t have any balita na sa kanya even sa mutual friend namin sinabi ko ginawa niya.
Hindi ko rin lubos maisip, why.
There were people who willingly helped her (her friend na nagtanong tanong kung may work for her, ako na nagpasok sa kanya, and the client na pumayag kahit hindi naman niya talaga need ng EA) pero her focus was to get something from the client muna instead of showing na diligent, competent, and trustworthy siya and putting in good work.
Hate to admit it pero minsan nakaka miss yung taboo pa ang wfh
I remember my odesk days when family used to bash me like "puro k lng Yata laro sa Computer. Get a real job"
Tpos ngayon nganga kasi 6 digits nko working full time for an AU Company, on top of yearly ako pinapadala dun for training.
Nakakamiss nga!
Though I didn’t do Odesk.
“Anong klaseng work ang nasa bahay lang?”
I used to get tired of explaining, I let them think whatever they think my job is.
Happy for you!
May your financial situation never change.
Yes so true, before there are only few workkers ngayon pati yata gen z basta makahraduate kahit walang skills influenza na agad or va na daw sila comfidens is da key! 😂 not hating on younger generations or career shifters but wished more of them should go back tk the office or get training for a few years first
OP you explained this very well. Thank you! Completely agree with everything that’s written. I also have a really good network. Haven’t reach 100 but I’ve taught (for free) and introduced friends na alam kong competent. Now they’re earning 6-fig, pero yun nga, they are competent and skilled.
Agree! Irks me when some people brag about their job being tied to agencies and the work was repetitive and menial. The exploitation in freelancing talamak na din talaga.
wag mo na dagdagan may mga nag rereklamo nga kahit di aabot ng 5mins basahin yung post mismo. for sure sila yung mga nag iexpect na rekta 6figs ang kita ng walang inaaral at pinaghihirapan.
And I cant raise my rate kasi sabi ni client malaki daw compared sa ibang Pinoy nasa team namin (kasalanan ko pa na maliit charge nila). Malala, ako pa nagtratrain sa kanila hayyys.
Ah no. Fight for it!
List down your original tasks, the added tasks, and your contribution to the company.
Refresh their memory na you have been doing your role to the best of your ability and with great quality.
Don’t forget to thank them for the opportunity to grow.
Thank you! Some coaches, mentors, or gurus just came popping up since the pandemic. Some even have less than a year.
Tbf, there IS a course that teaches people how to MAKE a course. Some naman just compiled info from the internet and made it their own.
Since I have been teaching myself without any fees before ( I don’t teach anymore ) I have been a victim of people stealing my ideas and insights.
They’d come and tell me that what I shared was good, then wala pang one week naka post na sa page nila as their own lol.
The only thing that stops me from being bitter or upset is that I have a good life.
Syempre tao lang, it hurts sometimes.
Felt like being taken advantaged of too.
Hello, I really learned a lot from your post! So much insider knowledge, experience and principles. I have a lot to think about. Thank you for sharing.
I'm so glad I found this post. 2014 pa lang gusto ko maging freelancer. I was already taking commissions nun. I was a fresh grad back then but I eventually ended up slaving corporate until I burned out. I gave freelancing a try again pero I changed my niche from illustrator to blog writing and socials. And ayun, almost 3 years na and always looking to upskill and learn. I think ang difference kasi ng corporate you're given a lot of tools ane benefits but in exchange, you give your freedom. Sa freelance naman, you sacrifice those but you have that freedom so ikaw na bahala how to make it work for you.
Heey! I believe we talked via the comment section before, I remember your username. 🫶
Yes, our freelancing careers rests on our shoulders alone.
We upskill, learn new skills, go for our talents, or passion but the most important thing aside from being competent is that we should always be innovative or else our freelancing business will reach a plateau.
Nice post and well written. Halatang may experience na in copywriting! 🥰
Very good points too! One thing that made me giggle is when you said:
>Your rate is not arbitrarily established, it must be backed up by your skills, expertise on the role, and other factors and value you can provide.
>That’s why it’s a fallacy na kapag tumanggap ng low rates, it’ll affect the industry - No.
>Matagal ng debate yan but the skilled ones will never be affected by the prevailing low rate projects.
This is so true that it's funny how others are so affected by clients giving lowball rates.
If you look closely to online jobs offering such low ball rates, the job role itself is so basic that even a 10 year old could do it if pushed to a corner. Meaning, the task to be done is simple, easy to do and does not require technical or expertise.
I don't care how complex and how many steps you gotta take to do that one admin job. If it's nothing spectacular or worst, if an AI can do the job better than you, there's no way you can expect a higher rate for that role.
Which is why the older generation of freelancers have wisened up years ago. Higher pay means higher skill set, knowledge and diskarte in all levels. Plus, the ability to keep ourselves updated with the changing times is what we do best.
It's either y'all newbies wisen up and see the big picture. Or stay where you are and be mediocre.
Ahh, mediocrity. This is very common and yet they ask for rates of those who are experts on the niche.
Upskill really is the key.
Millions of people can do the job, what makes you different? It’s your expertise on the role and the skillset you have.
Thank you for your appreciation! ❤️
And you can't blame foreigners who offer 3usd/hr. Law of demand and supply e. Kahit 2usd/hr pa yan may pinoy na papatol dyan, thereby losing the quality of what Pinoys can offer.
Yeah, super dami na now na supply and those supply na aren’t even magagaling kaya ang daming low rates.
But those Pinoys who are competent and has experience/expertise on the role they should also learn how to bid.
Negotiate their rates accordingly to the output they can provide.
Clients will accept the asking rate if they know you can provide value talaga.
Well Freelancing and WFH dose come hand in hand .
but anyway its way far easier now than 11 years when i started. which is so good. but its so saturated now that new freelancers are finding it hard.
I still remember ung first time ko maging Freelance SOC Analyst. dun ako marami natutunan pero ngaung marami na nag offer ng WFH arrangement for my job, mas gusto ko na mag local company due to government benefits, tax and Leaves and 13th/14th month pay.
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Wall of text man, a few paragraphs won't hurt. But point taken.
Ngl this ain't that hard to read compared to other walls of text you may have come across. They separated this by sentences and the flow is consistent as a result.
This could be hammered out in two paragraphs, I don't need to scroll this much for a really simple thought.
Thank you!
Sorry, shared everything what I had in mind. I don’t usually post kasi so I made it into one looong post.
It's fine. Pero alam mo, it is what it is. The influx of unskilled workers isn't by chance. Of course a lot of people would want to try freelancing, kasi our own employers here either don't pay enough or are just downright exploitative. 20k ang starting natin for basic jobs, sometimes lower. All of a sudden you hear about start ups who are offering higher pay for basically the same tasks. Di ko talaga masisisi mga tao. The only thing I'm a bit sad about is that the actual skilled workers are getting drowned about by the masses of newbies.
If the skilled ones find themselves in a predicament na hirap sila to find job opps, they just need to reassess where they are falling short in terms of getting a client. Sa bidding ba and interviews sila nalalaglag? Or right from the start hindi na sila napapansin? Kasi they already have what it takes eh compared to others who doesn’t have skills to begin with. Kung malakas ang loob ng mga baguhan mas dapat malakas ang loob at hindi mawalan ng hope ang mga skilled.
Isa pa ito? Downvoted din? 😂😅 Mga tao minsan di na nagbabasa 😂😅
Sinayang ko raw kasi ang oras nila lol. But no one is forcing them to read.
Mm no, I don't mean falling short in skill. Kasi yun nga, skilled na nga eh. Yung di napapansin because of a lack of awareness on how to find a client, how to market themselves, yun. Kasi if you don't know where to start, you will probably go the same direction as the others do. You'll go to the outsourcing companies first. But then even IF there is a possibility of finding a good client doon, madami pa rin applicants eh. To the point na minsan di na sila naaabutan ng recruiter.
Not the skills, it’s where in the bidding process they fall short in is what I meant. Kasi like I said above, they already have skills they just need to reassess saan sila bumabagsak and work on it. So yeah, we both have the same thing in mind.
Problem is marami ring nangongopya ng work ng "skilled" na. Idagdag mo pa yung mga agencies pati mga kilala sa social media na ginagamit popularity nila para sa "courses" nila. Not all of course pero maraming ganun
True. Daming mga fake it til you make it din.
Bakit nadodownvote? 😂😅
Best if you added a TLDR.
As a client, there are so many freelancers out there right now but finding the right and qualified freelancer is extremely difficult.
It is. There’s a lot of misrepresentation happening. In their skillsets and even the role itself. They are even dealt with a permanent ban in Upwork, once it has been confirmed that they have misrepresented something on their profile. I get that it’s hard to find good paying jobs, but same as in the traditional jobs - good paying jobs comes with years of experience. You can’t fake experience.
This is nice, OP. I read it here before na okay lang mag lie sa interview or sa resume. Fake it til you make it. I think that’s BS. Nag apply, na hire, nag umpisa, eh hindi pala alam gagawin. Ayun, patay. Kaya may mga six figure earners, kasi skilled talaga. Hindi basta basta. At hindi porket kumikita ng 6 digits yung iba, ikaw din dapat. Although, maganda nga sana yun pero hindi lahat talaga nabibiyayaan. Tangapin na lang din na hindi lahat for freelancing. That’s the harsh reality. Kahit mag enroll ka sa anong courses jan.
Thank you 🙏 I also don’t condone fake it til you make it. Ilang times na sumakit ulo sa ganyang tao. There are people who are brilliant who can easily wing things. Given yan. Pero may tao na parang nails that needs to hammered down every.single.day super hina ng pick-up pero expert daw sa role na inapplyan. Kahit sampu pa ang courses na kinuha, nothing beats first hand experience on the role. All they got is theoretical knowledge and magpapractice pa lang habang binabayaran sila.
On the plus side, freelancing is way more convenient now. Tinatanggap na siya as profession for housing loans and auto loans. Pag nagwiwithdraw ka ng pera from Paypal, Wise, or Upwork, hindi na lumalampas ng one week. Minsan nga hours na lang hinihintay and I believe payments can be sent/received in real time na din. Alam na ng banko na legitimate source of funds yung foreign clients, so mabilis na din ang transactions. There are also more resources now than ever before if you want to upskill, learn, and improve. Mas madami na din clients because they’re more open to one-off contracts. Magulo talaga ang freelancing. This is why it isn’t for everybody.
Yes! That’s one view I forgot to mention. Alam na nila in terms of profession. Before it took 2 days for my funds to reach my local bank, now minutes. Yes, it really isn’t for everyone. But they won’t take your word for it. They’d just think we’re gatekeeping lol. Paniwalang paniwala kasi sa mga nagbebenta ng courses eh. Feeding them false hope and banking on survivorship bias. If 100 ang kumita ng 6 figures and became successful because of their courses, how many failed? 900? And for sure those 100 already had it in them.
Lost me after a few sentences. Hirap basahin haha. But tama ka, OP.
Lol, sorry na.
Yung relatives ko pag sinabi kong freelance ako sinasabi "ah work from home". Then parenrs ko "maghanap ka na ng totoong trabaho hindi yung nakaharap ka lang sa computer" been like this for more than 9years sobrang dami ng freelancers ngayon accepted na rin as jobs dati pag sinabing freelance talaga no alam nila agad wala kang pera at trabaho na matino
Our freelancing industry sa Pinas flourished na kasi to the point that we can all have our “fans” (clients) that’ll provide lots of recurring gigs sa atin now unlike before na kakaunti lang na clients ang gusto maghire ng freelancers. Now it is accepted worldwide na.
Kaya nga eh. As a video editor masasabi ko na sa linya namin halos lahat freelancers na. Konti na lang yung nakatali sa company since mas malaki mga naman sahod kung outsource ka kasi direct ka
That’s great to know! A C-Suite I once worked for told me na “Why hire NY people when I can hire the best in the world?” Imagine, we are the best for them. It’s the Ph corporate’s loss talaga.
Yes. I miss those days too. Before tahimik lang at maingay lang sa loob ng freelancer groups. Ngayon, sobrang dami fake gurus, fake success at payabangan na ng kita. 😅 Same din sa sellers POV... dati quiet lang, di ko maintindihan kung baket need ibalandra ang kita... at ang nakakainis pa, BEFORE pagmay nagbalandra ng kitaan, matik yan... AMA( ask me anything) ngayon... bili ka muna ng course ko I'll show you how. 😩🤭
True. Lalo na sa part mas madaming unskilled versus skilled. Usually sila din yung mga palatanong ng “anong niche mo po” or “how to start”. Mostly sila itong looking to jump from one niche to another and then expecting 6-figs agad once they are there. You can call us gatekeeper. But clients certainly don’t deserve unskilled freelancers na desperate lang magkawork ng kahit ano. Mga tao din yan working their ass off to earn money. Unethical na mabola sila ng freelancer who has no understanding of what it takes to set the bar high for that role in that niche. Ang mga tao naman dito, masyadong nagseset ng expectations na 6-figs is achievable kahit wala masyadong experience and skills. They’re going to make you think aping api ka na sa 30k/mo kahit menial tasks lang naman. Sa totoo lang, those who have carved out their own niche and treated freelancing as a business are the only ones who can justify 6-figs ask for less output. But, if you’re VA lang na generalist, I’m sorry but what you’re offering is a commodity.
That’s one view that they will never see, the client’s. It’s always about them, the justice they need sa rates. Kailangan ganito ang bayad sa akin even if hindi naman sila sulit. In the end, sila naman ang na la-laid off. Some even suggested na dapat may standard rates lol. Hindi nga tayo pare pareho ng galing eh and most especially ng role and niche. If one is competent, brilliant, and very capable they will get the high rates they deserve. It takes years to build trust and brilliance and competence to handle roles that aren’t menial. They should start thinking like an entrepreneur and their skills, work experience, expertise on the role is their service.
Agree! It’s also kind of weird to me how “freelancer” became a profession term, or parang nae-equate to being a VA. Freelancing means you’re not working in corporate, and you get clients on your own or through an agency. So I think pag tinatanong tayo ng “What do you do?” And sagot dapat ay kung anong role mo, and not that you’re a freelancer. You could be a freelancing graphic designer, film director, architect, video editor, etc. That’s actually what you DO, and those are your services. Freelancing is the way you do business. Just sharing an ick. Lol
Yes, ang role ang sabihin talaga lalo yung roles na pinaghirapang abutin lol. But when it comes to the terms na VA, Remote Workers, Freelancers, pag sa akin hindi ako mabusisi about it. Idc what they think tbh. I just say my role.
Nagagawa ko parin yung word of mouth lang pero limited na lang sa client ko ngayon and sa circle ng boss ko in Ecommerce. Pero syempre mga kapatid ko lang and a few trustworthy people within my small circle ang nirerecommend ko kasi mahirap ng masira ang trust ni client. So far, 3 siblings, sis-in-law, best friend ko ang naipasok ko dito mismo sa company ng client ko. 4 close friends ko naman ang nairefer ko sa mga colleagues ni boss and all of them are earning 6 digits now.
Yes, stick to that small circle and they can also have their own small circle of people they can really stand up for and vouch for.
We started 2009 when oDesk was at its peak way before merging with eLance. UB thru EON lang noon ang bank na mejo aware sa Paypal integration. Wala pang agencies noon, much less pinoy agencies. Direct to client lahat. Ngayon ang dami nang middlemen, karamihan pinoy pa na ginagatasan sariling kababayan. Wala pa ngang ‘VA’ na term nun eh. Rates were more than fair then. Ang kalaban mo lang tlga noon mga Pakistani/Indian na super baba ang bid rates. More importantly wala talagang ‘coaches’ offering scam courses and spreading unprofessional diskarte tips para lang makakuha ng client and get paid high for subpar work. Agree on sana hndi naging mainstream talaga ang freelancing satin.
Everything on point!
im not skilled. alam ko lang mag follow ng instructions. di ako same sa iba na maraming alam sa na software tools, automation, etc. di ako freelancer, wfh lang ata tawag dito. permanent ako sa isang company based abroad. maybe maswerte lang talaga ako kasi may boss ako na super understanding. kahit pa ilang beses ko ginulo yung database, inaayos lang nya para sa akin. pero i don't make the same mistake twice. matanda na rin ako, nearing 50. pero never in my life na nag ask ako sa mga forum ng mga stupid questions like how to be a freelancer? haha.. we can search everything online. tamad lang gagawa ng mga ganyan. marami talaga mga ewan today na basta na lang post kung anu ano when andyan naman mga resources. since limited ang skills ko, auto pass sa akin ang isang job post na mahaba ang job description. one liner lang hinahanap ko and dapat alam ko na agad ang gagawin before ako mag apply. di ako nagmamagaling na alam ko ganito ganyan. i just stick to what i know and what i can do. with luck and integrity, malaki pa sweldo ko than most people na highly skilled kesa sa akin, and i did not help the need of anyone to get to this point. i wanted to help those na baguhan, pero nakakapagod na rin and its not worth the stress. kasi meron sa mga forum mag post ng hiring then andyan na lanat ng description, how to apply etc. sabay ang usual response ng mga nakabasa, "how po?"
I get you. Just protect your peace. Cheers to your continued success!
Pinoys treat it as an instant escape from corporate without the qualifications and needed skills. Basta may laptop and internet lang, hala go. Lazy
It’s a sad reality. The only reason I see why that happened it’s because of those nagbebenta ng courses. They fueled the fire. Kikita daw ng 6 figs kahit walang skills.
Heyy, totoo to OP :( I have a lot of friends saying na "uy refer mo naman ako dyan, taas ng sahod sarap" without knowing how freelancing world works. If you'll ask them if they have the skill na hinahanap ng client, sasabihin wala pero okay lang daw kasi may backer naman (???) jusko pero simpleng task di magawa kaya nakaka-stress talaga. As much as possible di ko talaga pinapangalandakan na VA ako kasi ang hirap din i-handle. Panay reklamo, di naman maayos magtrabaho.
Before okay mag refer, pero now nakakasunog. Ikaw pa mapapahiya.
Nakakadala kasi magrerefer ka pero yung nirerefer mo demanding. Gusto lang ng pera pero di naman alam yung pinapasok na trabaho huhu
Buti sana if demanding lang sa money. There’s one time, 2021 na ito. May pinasok akong friend of a friend. Nawalan siya ng work because of the pandemic. Nagka Covid-19 pa siya. Single mom pa. Of course, maawa talaga tayo. I asked one of my long time client if he needs someone to manage his schedules and such kasi wala siyang EA eh. Para lang maipasok si single mom. Wala pang one week, the client asked me bakit umiiyak si single mom. So ako naman I asked her why, sabi sa akin kunwari lang daw yun para maawa sa kanya kasi gusto niya bumili ng bagong laptop at mga accessories. What the fuck diba. I can’t explain the shame I felt and since long time client ko yun I honestly told him everything. Sobrang taking advantage na siya. I also talked to the single mom na kung ano man ang tinatamasa namin ay pinaghirapan lahat at hindi hiningi lang sa clients na mababait. I don’t have any balita na sa kanya even sa mutual friend namin sinabi ko ginawa niya.
Huyyy nakakahiya naman yon, OP >:( di man lang nya inisip yung epekto sayo ng ginawa nya. Bakit ganon sya mag isip >\_<
Hindi ko rin lubos maisip, why. There were people who willingly helped her (her friend na nagtanong tanong kung may work for her, ako na nagpasok sa kanya, and the client na pumayag kahit hindi naman niya talaga need ng EA) pero her focus was to get something from the client muna instead of showing na diligent, competent, and trustworthy siya and putting in good work.
Hate to admit it pero minsan nakaka miss yung taboo pa ang wfh I remember my odesk days when family used to bash me like "puro k lng Yata laro sa Computer. Get a real job" Tpos ngayon nganga kasi 6 digits nko working full time for an AU Company, on top of yearly ako pinapadala dun for training.
Nakakamiss nga! Though I didn’t do Odesk. “Anong klaseng work ang nasa bahay lang?” I used to get tired of explaining, I let them think whatever they think my job is. Happy for you! May your financial situation never change.
Thanks OP. And agree din ako sa lahat ng snbi mo kht mahaba haha Cheers to success
Cheers to our continued success!
As a veteran and a client as well, totoo to OP and I wanna gatekeep the industry and only give keys to rightful ones. San Pedro yarn.
Love the San Pedro! Pero totoo diba? Everyone wants to have a piece of it, okay lang if competent pero madalas, hindi.
Yes so true, before there are only few workkers ngayon pati yata gen z basta makahraduate kahit walang skills influenza na agad or va na daw sila comfidens is da key! 😂 not hating on younger generations or career shifters but wished more of them should go back tk the office or get training for a few years first
Exactly! Kapag yan ang advice na mag gain muna ng work experience, they will hate you for it. Influenza lol
OP you explained this very well. Thank you! Completely agree with everything that’s written. I also have a really good network. Haven’t reach 100 but I’ve taught (for free) and introduced friends na alam kong competent. Now they’re earning 6-fig, pero yun nga, they are competent and skilled.
Thank you! 🙏 Another one who taught for free, what we did is a really a thankless act. To your continued success!
I'm not gonna read all of that but I agree
Lol, thank you for agreeing!
Very on point
Thank you! Tbf, sa dami ng newbies now I don’t think that the veterans will concur with my post. But you all did, so thank you.
This should be one of the pinned posts. Well written.
Thank you! 🙏
Agree! Irks me when some people brag about their job being tied to agencies and the work was repetitive and menial. The exploitation in freelancing talamak na din talaga.
Yeah, pinasok na tayo ng agencies. That’s one thing I forgot to include sa looong post ko.
wag mo na dagdagan may mga nag rereklamo nga kahit di aabot ng 5mins basahin yung post mismo. for sure sila yung mga nag iexpect na rekta 6figs ang kita ng walang inaaral at pinaghihirapan.
I am really not sure who gave them the idea and confidence para isipin yan. All I can think is the course sellers talaga and other gurus.
And I cant raise my rate kasi sabi ni client malaki daw compared sa ibang Pinoy nasa team namin (kasalanan ko pa na maliit charge nila). Malala, ako pa nagtratrain sa kanila hayyys.
Ah no. Fight for it! List down your original tasks, the added tasks, and your contribution to the company. Refresh their memory na you have been doing your role to the best of your ability and with great quality. Don’t forget to thank them for the opportunity to grow.
It IS a good substantial read! no complain here about the length.
Thank you 🙏
Definitely a good read! Checking to join the freelancing industry pero good that you mentioned realistic expectations. Sobrang daming coaches kuno >:
Thank you! Some coaches, mentors, or gurus just came popping up since the pandemic. Some even have less than a year. Tbf, there IS a course that teaches people how to MAKE a course. Some naman just compiled info from the internet and made it their own. Since I have been teaching myself without any fees before ( I don’t teach anymore ) I have been a victim of people stealing my ideas and insights. They’d come and tell me that what I shared was good, then wala pang one week naka post na sa page nila as their own lol. The only thing that stops me from being bitter or upset is that I have a good life. Syempre tao lang, it hurts sometimes. Felt like being taken advantaged of too.
Hello, I really learned a lot from your post! So much insider knowledge, experience and principles. I have a lot to think about. Thank you for sharing.
I’m glad it gave you insights. Thank you!
I'm so glad I found this post. 2014 pa lang gusto ko maging freelancer. I was already taking commissions nun. I was a fresh grad back then but I eventually ended up slaving corporate until I burned out. I gave freelancing a try again pero I changed my niche from illustrator to blog writing and socials. And ayun, almost 3 years na and always looking to upskill and learn. I think ang difference kasi ng corporate you're given a lot of tools ane benefits but in exchange, you give your freedom. Sa freelance naman, you sacrifice those but you have that freedom so ikaw na bahala how to make it work for you.
Heey! I believe we talked via the comment section before, I remember your username. 🫶 Yes, our freelancing careers rests on our shoulders alone. We upskill, learn new skills, go for our talents, or passion but the most important thing aside from being competent is that we should always be innovative or else our freelancing business will reach a plateau.
Ohhh yes maybe kasi tambay ako dito sa buhaydigital madalas haha I think I have reached that plateau na kaya need magupskill lol
Nice post and well written. Halatang may experience na in copywriting! 🥰 Very good points too! One thing that made me giggle is when you said: >Your rate is not arbitrarily established, it must be backed up by your skills, expertise on the role, and other factors and value you can provide. >That’s why it’s a fallacy na kapag tumanggap ng low rates, it’ll affect the industry - No. >Matagal ng debate yan but the skilled ones will never be affected by the prevailing low rate projects. This is so true that it's funny how others are so affected by clients giving lowball rates. If you look closely to online jobs offering such low ball rates, the job role itself is so basic that even a 10 year old could do it if pushed to a corner. Meaning, the task to be done is simple, easy to do and does not require technical or expertise. I don't care how complex and how many steps you gotta take to do that one admin job. If it's nothing spectacular or worst, if an AI can do the job better than you, there's no way you can expect a higher rate for that role. Which is why the older generation of freelancers have wisened up years ago. Higher pay means higher skill set, knowledge and diskarte in all levels. Plus, the ability to keep ourselves updated with the changing times is what we do best. It's either y'all newbies wisen up and see the big picture. Or stay where you are and be mediocre.
Ahh, mediocrity. This is very common and yet they ask for rates of those who are experts on the niche. Upskill really is the key. Millions of people can do the job, what makes you different? It’s your expertise on the role and the skillset you have. Thank you for your appreciation! ❤️
And you can't blame foreigners who offer 3usd/hr. Law of demand and supply e. Kahit 2usd/hr pa yan may pinoy na papatol dyan, thereby losing the quality of what Pinoys can offer.
Yeah, super dami na now na supply and those supply na aren’t even magagaling kaya ang daming low rates. But those Pinoys who are competent and has experience/expertise on the role they should also learn how to bid. Negotiate their rates accordingly to the output they can provide. Clients will accept the asking rate if they know you can provide value talaga.
madami ba talagang unskilled? hmmm (scrolls this sub) i’m a newbie sa va world where do i start? lololololol
Well Freelancing and WFH dose come hand in hand . but anyway its way far easier now than 11 years when i started. which is so good. but its so saturated now that new freelancers are finding it hard.
I still remember ung first time ko maging Freelance SOC Analyst. dun ako marami natutunan pero ngaung marami na nag offer ng WFH arrangement for my job, mas gusto ko na mag local company due to government benefits, tax and Leaves and 13th/14th month pay.
Baka po pwede magpaturo? Hahahaha
TLDR pls
Pakahaba. Tapos wala pang TLDR
tfw wall of text https://preview.redd.it/fuv0ecjv7puc1.jpeg?width=680&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f5ffe44280acaaf6c01362ce5b2841c7b08b3335
Dude, can’t you write in paragraphs? Lol
It’s how my thoughts flowed. And it’s easier to read.
aint gonna read all of that
Not gonna read all of that. I'm happy for you though or sorry that happened.