A Message to All Aspiring VAs - and Struggling VAs
I just used the term VA's because it's a widely used generic term for people working from home or has existing client abroad. Regardless if you're a freelancer, VA, transitioning to VA etc.
-Sorry for the grammar, Im not that good at writing when expressing personal thoughts. This is not my job at the first place lmao. Anyways,
Lets get started.
Allow me to begin with my career story. I'm ,M , turning 28 this month.
I'm writing this because I'm exactly 3 years now when I was officially hired. June 1, 2023 to be exact. I write one before last year on 2nd anniversary, why not write again.
Before I was hired, I have some background on the technical skills I've chosen to offer as a service way back 2021 which is Facebook Ads. Yes, I'm a Meta Media Buyer.
Before jumping in and deciding to go into full VA. I was in debt, 300k from failed businesses. February 2023, when I started a refresher course. Took me 2 months to study everything from technicals and learning to search for a job in some famous VA platforms.
It was May 2023, I started applying and for 2 weeks. I'm on the risk of bankruptcy, can't catch up with OLA though Im earning some from managing our family business but not enough. I told God on May 21, 2023 around 9PM, as a man I feel scattered inside cause I know I can do better and secretly cry in front of my LIP (she does know bout the debts but I don't wanna share the burden with her) that I've had enough. I pushed her to apply some jobs because I can't get enough, thankfully she's willing.
Hinatid ko si LIP on her first day of work. On my way home, I received an email of job offer for training. I cried inside my freaking helmet while driving on my way home, while on my headphones listening to worship song, "I surrender" specifically.
Fast forward to June 1, my training just ended fast. My onboarding gave confidence to the Founder to fire their existing agency. I was promoted to Growth Director immediately with $1,800 salary.
Was promoted to Marketing Director on September 2024, for $2,200 salary.
Quit on June 2025 due to burnout, after 2 years with the company.
In between those 2 years, 3 businesses failed, 1 successful. 1 Macbook Pro M3 company sponsored, 1 trip to Bohol for 5 days all expense paid - fly with PAL and beach front accomodation, 13th month pay twice, eating at some expensive restaurants - expensive na saken yung P3k for two lmao. Quarterly staycations with my LIP.
So what happens after June 2025?
I was left with almost P150k in savings. 6 months to find another job in my mind during that time. I have my coffee shop helping with the bills, earning around P20-30k net.
I spend almost 3 months to relax, sleep, and travel. No long hours in laptop, and oh, lost P40k trading Forex.
When my savings got around P50k, I started applying for jobs in the first week of September.
I was hired after 2 weeks.
I was an agency hire, but the company wants me direct hire immediately bypassing ultimately the agency. They don't care.
It was an 8-figure startup, when I first got in. It was a suddenly became a 9-figure brand. And I'm one of the first killer hires.
Fast forward to today, as of writing.
Almost 9 months in. 2nd branch of coffee shop is coming, our coffee shop got invited to be part of a sports facility with 5 pickleball courts. Million invested. 6-digits savings. Debts? Gone.
3 years IN. No multiple client. 1 focused niche. 1 skill. Deep expertise.
The good part for me is just getting started.
Now.
The message to all aspiring VA's, and Va's as a whole.
My advice is just what works/worked for me that might work for you. This is not the only thing that works. So, please be responsible.
Aspiring VAs, VA's who's struggling. VA that lost a client and trying to find one.
- This kind of work is a self-educating, self-motivating, self-pushing type of sht. So, if you're here asking how sht works, you're really missing the 1 important thing of being a VA per se. Being resourceful. It's 2026, come on guys.
- Slightly fake it, till you make it. This works for me, I've got a screenshot of data from other portfolio that I can explain very well. We've got a unique ways of interpreting data, this separates beginners to skilled, skilled to experts. BUT, be confident about it and yourself. In the interview, it's not being asked whether it's yours or not. It's always how you deliver yourself to the interviewer. Again, confidence is the key.
- Don't step into VA half baked, you're already cooked kahit di kapa nakasalang. Deepen your knowledge about your services. Tips here is memorize all the technical words relevant to the job. If you sound good, you look smart, means the client will have assumption that you know what you're doing. Technical words will help you along the way. - Fundamentals
- When sending application points to OLJ, only send 3. Don't send 5, 10, 1. Why 3? Good enough to be interested, but not too much to miss other job posts. Why? Because I've been on the other side of OLJ, the employer side. It's just all the same wether how much application points you send. First come, first serve.
- Application timing. Don't send on weekends. Only send on Day shift EST. That means, 8PM-5AM PH time - weekdays only. Why naman puro OLJ, I've never used other platforms sorry.
- I'll drop the Golden Nugget on application.
- Portfolio is KING.
- When sending, don't make it long on the cover letter. Always drive them to your portfolio. It's your world, invite them in.
- Video shoot yourself. Explaining what you do, what you're good at and past results. Put it there.
- Put your goodsht there and everything documented.
- Client only looks for hires that can do the job, make their job easier by proving yourself from the portfolio itself.
- Do all of the above. You'll never see yourself explaining too much in an interview ever again. Either they like you or not. So, less application fatigue to you.
- Once you got in. Do all your best. Do yourself some saving, learn everything as much as you can. Experience > Fundamentals. But Experience + Fundamentals = Killer.
- If you find yourself, in a position. That you've got a good pay with a good boss. Now, do all sht and make yourself indispensable.
- Document everything.
- DO NOT GIVEUP. You're just 1 freaking premium client away from changing your life or having a life changing money. If you focus and locked in. I would apply 1,000 times to get that 1. So get that 1.
VA's who got client currently, or working multiple jobs.
- Save at least 50% of your salary. I know this is not applicable to all, but do not depend your everyday needs when you're in this kind of volatile workplace. There's no job tenure, unless you're highly skilled. My savings rate is 75-80%.
- Don't burn yourself. Don't be like me. I'm in my laptop for 12 hours per day, not necessarily working but available to work. I have flexible work hours and we're results based. Sometimes, I envy those who works for 8 hours only.
- If you want to have peace of mind, don't do loans. Pay in cash. Don't do amortization or cars. This is not a get rich quick scheme. Don't lifestyle inflate for godsake. I'm amazed by those who get things that payable for long term, you're doing great. But I don't advice that. Buy only what you can afford in cash.
- Upgrade your laptop - desktop before everything else. The best re-investment after working hard. Make sure you've got the fastest RAM, the wide storage like 2TB internal. Make sure you've got the best keyboard and mouse you can buy. You should gather the best hardware you can get. This is re-investing, not luho okay.
- Please, set yourself what's salary is enough. Do not overwork. Let me clarify this. You're only doing multiple clients if they got the same time. Not 9AM-5PM then 6PM-3AM. You'll kill yourself.
- Have an end game in mind. We don't work like this forever. So, having that in mind, I have to save big time. As my life goal is to live in every city we want to experience, at least travel and experience what world has to offer before I die. The goal is to generate my VA income through diversified business. That's my exit plan. I'm living in a P3,500 studio type apartment despite having P200k in salary, aside from business income.
- You don't have to tell everybody that you're a VA and you're earning a good pay check or a lot. There's a lot to be proud of being successful here, I know. But money hates noise. You'll end up being recognized again, as pwede utangan, as may kapatid pala ko, as anak kana pala ulit ng magulang mo. Set boundaries to everybody and keep your mouth shut.
- Travel quarterly. Regardless if long ride dates, or somewhere else. Make sure it's a staycation with minimum of 3 days. Believe me.
- Get insurance. Name it. Whatever, just get what you can get.
- Exercise at least 3 times a week, get proper nutrition. Baka mamaya bigtime ka nga napabayaan mo naman sarili mo. It's really good to cook at home while doing work, while earning big. The best lifestyle you can get.
- For the man, my colleagues. Fck, If you have the capacity, get a freaking bigbike with pipe that will make you eargasm. - Not for all ha. Dun lang sa may kaya. That's the best stress reliever you can get in a toxic but highpaying workplace.
- Do not quit VA to put up a business. Do it at the same time. Umiwas sa food business as much as possible, unless it's made to order at home.
If you like what you've read, maybe you can give this post an upvote. For everybody to see and read.
- God will make a way, if there's no way. Isiah 43:18-19