Starting a family is a fantastic journey to embark on, but it doesn’t come without its challenges. These are most keenly felt when it comes to employment. After all, balancing the demands of looking after a family, while also holding down a job, can be tough. Luckily, many international firms are now hiring through work from home Philippines setups, allowing local Philippines talent to compete globally. And this shift towards a remote work Philippines model could help transform your lifestyle.
What Is the Work from Home Philippines Setup?
The work from home Philippines setup has emerged from the rise in popularity of remote working. First gaining traction in the early 2010s, virtual assistants have become a popular ally of businesses all over the world. Naturally, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the world’s rapid adoption of remote working, only served to strengthen the popularity of virtual assistants. And the Philippines is proving to be one of the number one destinations for sourcing remote work Philippines opportunities.
But what is a virtual assistant? And how do you become one? The term ‘virtual assistant’ sounds technical, so does it mean you need to invest heavily in equipment? The good news is that a virtual assistant is a simple premise and becoming one costs you relatively little.
As long as you have access to the internet, there’s nothing stopping you from becoming a virtual assistant. Modern internet speeds are significantly faster than they were when you first started using the internet, and this means you can do so much more. The huge amounts of bandwidth on offer allow you to take advantage of high-quality telecommunications (including uninterrupted video calls), access cloud computing solutions, and collaborate with colleagues over platforms such as Teams and Slack.
Therefore, as a remote work Philippines employee, you can offer your services to international clients, no matter where they or you are based. And with the Filipino reputation of being hard working and reliable, it’s a perfect springboard for you to build a career and support your family.
The Benefits of Being a Remote Work Philippines Assistant
There has, of course, to be some amazing benefits in becoming a virtual assistant in the Philippines. Taking this new and innovative employment path needs to have payoffs you can’t find elsewhere. Otherwise, you may as well stay working for local Filipino businesses. Thankfully, the work from home Philippines model can offer you plenty of benefits:
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Work/Life Balance:
The beauty of remote work is that it gives you so much of your time back compared to a traditional, in-house assistant job. Firstly, the commute is completely eliminated and, secondly, you can pick and choose when you work. And this setup allows you to maximize your work/life balance, a surefire way to enhance your happiness, secure more family time, and gift you the opportunity to work around the needs of your children.
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Cost of Living Benefits:
The relatively lower cost of living in the Philippines means that your entire family is set to benefit from competitive international pay. Filipino virtual assistants, therefore, can not only provide for their families, but do this without having to spend long hours away from home. This income stability, combined with increased family time, enables you to afford quality education, healthcare, and other essential needs for your children.
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Skill Development:
As a virtual assistant builds their career, they will naturally expand their skill sets. This increases your ability to maximize your earning potential and, in turn, your career stability. The specialized skills and experience you develop will quickly lead to better paying jobs, enabling you to provide a securer future for your children, one where the work/life balance still delivers plenty of family time.
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Cultural Compatibility:
Virtual assistants from the Philippines are highly regarded for their proficiency with English and cultural compatibility with international clients. The main benefit here is a reduction in communication barriers. This allows you to build a smoother work environment where you don’t need to waste time resolving misunderstandings. From this beneficial position, you’ll find that you not only have more time to focus on your work, but it also frees up more time to concentrate on your family.
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Working from Home:
The flexibility to work from home is one of the most significant advantages for parents looking to enter the work from home Philippines model. It allows you to stay close to your children, while managing household chores, and, most importantly, being present for important moments in your children’s lives. This means there’s no need to miss school activities, mealtimes, or helping with homework. And you get to do all this while earning a healthy wage.
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Customizable Schedules:
As a virtual assistant, you stand to benefit from more flexible schedules. In particular, parents have the opportunity to choose working hours which suit their children’s routines. Accordingly, you could, for example, only select assignments where you don’t need to work during school drop-off or collection times. Alternatively, you could choose to only work after your children have gone to sleep, ensuring that you maintain your productivity and prioritize the needs of your family.
Tackling the Challenges of Being a Work from Home Philippines Assistant
Working as a virtual assistant sounds amazing, and the benefits for parents speak for themselves loud and clear. So, it’s all plain sailing, right? No, there are, as ever, a number of challenges. But these aren’t insurmountable challenges, they’re simply a test of your aptitude and initiative.
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Noisy Workspaces:
Work environments which are plagued by noise aren’t just unprofessional, they’re also bad for employee productivity. And, if you’re working from home as a parent, it’s a given that your children are going to make noise. This can affect your ability to be on calls and focus on tasks, so you need a solution to this noise. Therefore, taking the time to plan and design a designated workspace, in a quiet area, should be a priority. Alternatively, managing childcare during working hours should be thoroughly explored.
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Work and Family Responsibilities:
Parents entering the remote work Philippines setup often find their most pressing concern is balancing work and family responsibilities. Working from home has a tendency, due to both taking place in your home, to blur the lines between your work and family commitments. Having to manage client deadlines while being a parent can quickly become overwhelming. This is why it’s crucial that you develop strong time management strategies to balance your work and home responsibilities harmoniously.
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Social Interaction Impact:
When you start working from home, one of the most striking impacts you will first notice is the drop in social interactions you experience. Removed from a busy workplace, it’s easy to feel isolated, a scenario which can lead to burnout. For parents, this can be especially challenging as it often limits the time you socialize with other adults. But it doesn’t have to be like this. Instead, you can schedule in regular exercise, seek out coworking spaces, or chat online with your colleagues.
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Unreliable Internet and Power:
Parents working as virtual assistants, in certain areas of the Philippines, may face challenges with unreliable internet or power outages. Naturally, with virtual assistants relying heavily on internet connections, such outages can compromise their performance and lead to delays. To mitigate this, you should make sure you have a contingency plan. So, for example, having backup options such as mobile data and portable Wi-Fi devices can be real lifesaver. And, if possible, large yet portable power banks can help maintain your power supply.
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Time Zone Differences:
The work from home Philippines lifestyle often finds Filipino virtual assistants working with international clients, with many of those seeking services being based in the US. And these time differences can lead to Filipino virtual assistants having to work late and irregular shifts. This can make it difficult for you to maintain a healthy sleep pattern and balance your family commitments. Luckily, it’s possible for you to negotiate your hours with clients, and you can also adjust your child’s routine e.g. taking naps during work hours.
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Inconsistent Work:
One of the major challenges a virtual assistant faces is the inconsistent workload and accompanying fluctuation in income. With no solid guarantee that a contract or project will last forever, this can create a headache for parents who need to plan their household and family expenses carefully. But all is not lost. If you make a concerted effort to diversify your client base, you’ll reap the rewards of multiple clients who provide you with a steady flow of work. And by building up your savings when busy, you can create an emergency fund for your family to fall back on during quiet periods.
A Work from Home Philippines Success Story
While there are notable challenges in becoming a remote work Philippines assistant, these can all be overcome to preserve both your employment status and quality of family life. Counter these challenges successfully and you have the opportunity to secure steady work which can support your family.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, 52% of Filipino workers were working remotely, but the lessons learned from enforced remote working during the pandemic have made it more popular than ever. This is why now is such a good time for you to launch a new career through the remote work Philippines model. The main problem is knowing where to start.
With more and more Filipinos having their heads turned by remote work opportunities, competition is understandably fierce. Multiple VA agencies are battling for the very best virtual assistants, so it may feel as though it’s difficult to get a foothold in the industry. But you needn’t worry too much. If you have a PC and an internet connection, you’re halfway there, you just need to find yourself the perfect VA agency. And in Pineapple you’ve found it.
Thanks to our years of experience in the virtual assistant industry, we know potential when we see it. This enables us to identify talent, bring it onboard, and match it with the perfect client. And talking of clients, we’ve built up a substantial roster of amazing businesses to work with. Therefore, with Pineapple, you can look forward to repeat work which allows you to support your family financially.
If you want to be part of the Pineapple family, just click here and we can start discussing your future.
Be Part of The Pineapple Family
Start Your Virtual Assistant Career with Pineapple. We are always in the look out for the best Filipino virtual assistant. Join us in a mission to ensure that startups, small business owners, and entrepreneurs achieve the sweet taste of success!
