Journey to a Career in Virtual Office Work
Dare to Dream
After working in a stable full-time job, I want to start a new career path in virtual office work in my mid-50s. It's about time to choose remote part-time work because I am not getting any younger.
Let's get started with the job applications.
The Accidental Pivots
My ESL Teaching Dream Got Denied 🎧
As a former Training and Development Specialist, my English writing and speaking skills are my best assets. I could be accepted for this online teaching job.
I first applied to be a tutor at an online English Tutoring School based in Japan. I didn't pass the assessment exam; it was difficult, and a lack of preparation was the main reason I failed.
Next, I had a scheduled interview for a local English tutoring school. I was fortunate to have been interviewed by that company, but I was rejected due to the age limit. The sting of ageism struck, and I felt deflated.
After two failed attempts to be an ESL Tutor, I accepted my fate and redirected my focus. Little did I know that I would be given a chance to be an English Tutor.
You can read the complete blog in "The 12-Month Chapter: My Remote ESL Experience."
Testing the Waters of Virtual Assistance 💻
My next target application: Virtual Assistant. I applied on Upwork, OnlineJobs, and LinkedIn job boards.
I sent applications for Product Researcher, Outbound Sales Specialist, Virtual Assistant/Writer, and Social Media Manager.
Trying on different hats in the vast world of virtual assistance. Testing various micro-niches to see what sticks in the remote economy.
I wanted a remote part-time job, but being a Virtual Assistant is a full-time responsibility.
Call Center Training Graduate 📞
Stepping into a four-day free orientation for a Call Center Agent or Customer Service Representative sponsored by our municipality - not as an expert, but as a student.
I learned a lot from this training because Professor Arnel is an expert in teaching this type of work and shared his knowledge on how to be accepted as a call center agent. I earned a certificate of completion and graduated with my batchmates.
Unfortunately, this job requires at least one year of on-site work experience before I can work remotely. The call center graduates are scheduled for an on-site interview at a BPO agency in Pasay City. I didn't join my batchmates.
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| Call Center Graduation |
Building an Online Writing Path ✍
My next target niche is writing; I love to write, so maybe I have a chance with this type of work. Can this next job search be easy?
Online writing jobs are easy to start with and include various roles to choose from. I sent applications for Copywriter and Book Reviewer roles.
But mastering the craft and earning a steady income takes time, practice, and continuous learning.
I treated writing as a structured assembly line: research, draft, refine, and publish. This is the start of my blog writing journey on Blogger.com.
Here is my complete blog of "My Not-So-Glamorous Writing Journey."
Reality Check: Struggles and Challenges
Targeting too many different fields and constantly pivoting made my job search a failure because of the following:
- I wasn't focused on one niche or application at a time, and employers couldn't see my true skills.
- I had confused my personal branding by sending the same generic resume to different niches.
- I wrote vague pitches because I didn't understand the specific pain points of the industry I was applying to.
Recovery Plan
As an applicant, pick one profitable niche based on your current top skill.
Review and revamp your portfolio to target only that audience.
Focus on one niche or application at a time because it beats the volume of many applications every single time.
Landing a virtual role takes time, but your growth makes every single application worth the effort.
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