Virtual Assistant Shares Salary From Her Previous Job
A virtual assistant opened up about her journey, from working as a donut store crew member to eventually landing a better job.
Recently, Camille Sarate-VA, a Facebook user, shared her inspiring story from working long hours at a donut shop earning just P140 a day, to landing a stable and fulfilling job in the digital world. The post elicited comments from the online community.
Sarate started her first job at just 18 years old. She worked as a cashier and crew member at a well-known donut shop, where she memorized all the donut varieties and learned to handle customers during busy hours.
Working in a main branch taught her to move quickly and handle multiple tasks at once. Being late wasn’t an option, or she’d be penalized. Despite the long hours, she earned only around P6,000 to P7,000 a month, but she was thankful for the job.
Her role didn’t stop at the counter. She also experienced selling donuts directly to passengers in vans and bus terminals. With a practiced spiel and a hopeful smile, she would offer treats to strangers, never knowing if anyone would buy.
Facing rejection daily became normal for her, and this built her confidence over time. These tough early experiences helped her develop valuable skills like time management, multi-tasking, working under pressure, staying organized, and keeping a positive mindset skills that later became useful in her work as a virtual assistant.
Camille now sees her past as more than just a struggle. It was preparation for her future. What once seemed like simple hard work shaped her into someone resilient and capable.
In another post, a Pinoy virtual assistant earns praise after helping 75-year-old client for free
Here is the full post:
“Usapang REJECTION tayo. Irerelate ko lang kung paano ko naovercome yong rejection.
2010 yong sahod ko nito at P140 per day for 8hrs.
Naging Cashier crew din ako ng Dunkin Donuts.
Lahat ng variety ng donuts saulado ko yan at natutunan kong mabilis ka dapat gumalaw dahil kapag rush hour madaming customers. Lalo na kapag naka-assign ka sa main branch.
Dito nahasa ang pagiging multi-tasker ko at time management.
Bawal malate, dahil maiiwan ka ng service at di ka makakapag-open ng store ng maaga. Patay IR ka.
Imagine 140 pesos per day mo mababawasan pa kapag nalate ka. Sahod ko sa isang buwan mga 6k to 7k. Masaya na ako noon.
18 years old pala ako ng time nito at na experience ko din maglako ng donut sa Van at Bus Terminal kaya maaga kong naovercome ang rejection.
Bakit? Dahil literal na ilalako mo ang donut at mag-oopen ka ng pintuan ng Van at iaalook mo. May spiel pa ako nito.
“Hello Sir, Ma’am. Dunkin Donuts po pasalubong.
P99 pesos lang po. Mayroon naman po kaming munchkins 35 pcs na po 199 pesos lang. Bili na po.”
(Naiyak ako habang tinatype ko yong spiel na to! Alam mo kung bakit? Kasi grabe noh! Nakaya ko yon. Sa loob ng isang taon araw-araw mo gagawin. Di mo alam kung may bibili or may papansin sayo. Dito ko din natutunan na maging positive lagi.
Kaya nasanay na ako na mareject noon araw-araw. Kaya ang lakas na ng loob ko simula noon hanggang ngayon sa awa at tulong ng Dios kasi na experience ko siya ng paulit-ulit.
Kaya kung nagbabalak ka magVA. For sure, my experience at skills kana na magagamit. Kailangan mo lang i-analyze ano yong skills mo na yon.
Ako ito yong meron ako noong nagstart ako mag VA.
– Time Management
-Multi-tasking
– Work under Pressure
– Organization
-Reporting
-Presence of Mind
-Positive Mindset
– marami pang iba na alam kong nagagamit ko ngayon.
At alam mo narealize ko na itong experience na to preparation pala ng future ko. Kaya salamat sa Dios. Ito na ako ngayon.”
The online community expressed their reactions to the post:
