VA “Maria”
Hello Maria! Tell us a little about yourself first.
Hello, my name is Maria Ragasa, and I am a wife, mother of a ten-year-old, and fur mom to two dogs. I have so much on my plate and have to balance my career life, personal life, and self growth. I don't want to be limited to being a housewife, earning my own money gives me a sense of accomplishment while also increasing my self-esteem and worth as a woman. I believe that I am considered as a strong and independent woman in society. With that, I also contribute to the needs of my family.
What was your profession before you became a VA?
My undergraduate degree is in business economics and was ready to start working in that field. I was scheduled to be stationed in La Union with Land Bank. I couldn't afford to reside there and instead worked in the BPO industry. I was in collections, which was a tough start. I left my previous employer because we set up a business franchise, but it did not work out, so I returned to the BPO industry, this time I am in telecoms for six to seven years. I eventually left the BPO profession once the company relocated from Sta. Rosa Laguna all the way to the Mall of Asia, which was a really long commute. This was when I started to transition to freelancing.
How is your IVA PRO Experience?
Transitioning was difficult, and it is far more difficult now than working in a corporate environment. Clients usually expect you to know everything, and they don't provide much training; you need at least a basic understanding of what to do and the process itself.
I previously worked for another VA company and was looking for more clients. Miss Crysta introduced me to one, and things went so smoothly that I quit my former company and began my journey with IVA PRO. The reason is that IVA PRO was easy to work with. They also gave me the opportunity to work as Quality Assurance and provide one-on-one coaching as well as monitoring. The client I had for three years discontinued their services. I was left with only a part-time client, so I approached IVA, asking for a full-time client. After a week, they provided me with one. I understand that some people prefer to work with direct clients for various reasons, but the benefit of IVA is that you have job security, you get paid on time, and you are compensated if something happens to your client. Iva will cover for you, which allows you to relax and focus on your work.
Share with us some of your achievements.
Lifestyle and Luxury (Abstract and physical conveniences)
More time with the family.
As long as the internet is available, you can work anywhere.
Better income flow.
Wake up one minute before my shift.
Time spent bonding with my son and attending to his needs.
House duties are more stressful than my job.
Do not have to mingle with toxic colleagues.
Do you have any message for IVA PRO?
I'd like to thank IVA for the clients they've provided, who are generally pleasant to work with. You could feel the effort they made to provide security and comfort to the VAs. You can tell they have your back. They have an open door policy, and our recommendations and feedback are taken seriously. You can truly talk to them; unlike in other organizations where you can't talk to those in higher positions. If you need to communicate with someone at IVA, simply send them a Direct Message. There is mutualism; you both rely on one another to survive and work together to benefit everyone.
Any message to future aspiring VA’s?
It is a challenging profession that requires you to work harder, be more persistent, and be willing to change. You can't be stuck saying, "This is all I can do." The only thing that remains constant is change, which is especially true in this profession. To be competitive, you must continually learn. There are many competitors; try not to compete with others, especially those who offer better benefits than you. Always invest in yourself. Keep trying; there is always something or someone (a client) destined for you. Do not burn bridges; instead, treasure your network. Your network can provide you with more opportunities.
