Bianca (VA)

Why did you decide to apply and work with us?

I decided to apply for Young Publisher’s open VA position because of the role’s responsibilities that were aligned with my skills at the time. During the application phase, I thoroughly enjoyed the trial task of proofreading excerpts of articles that were all focused on niches that I’m interested in, such as plants, knitting, etc. Besides that, Young Publisher has done a great job in introducing their image and purpose when I looked them up after seeing their job post. I was primarily hooked on how the company was described on its website. To me, Young Publisher came off as cool and trendy yet formal at the same time.

Did the job meet or exceed your expectations (and in what way)?

The job exceeded my initial expectations because I gained a lot of learnings from tasks that I thought I was already capable of. It was really an enlightening experience to be able to improve my skills and work ethic at my own pace because of the flexible environment Young Publisher introduced me to.

What are the most valuable things you’ve learned since you started?

There’s always room for improvement and growth. From communicating with Young Publisher, to working with fellow employees, there’s always something to pick up and improve on. I’m really grateful that I’m given the chance to work with brilliant minds who continuously motivate me to work just as hard and more. Another valuable thing I learned is that I’m not going to be naturally good at anything I do. There were moments at work where I had to admit I was not fit for that task, and it was received by Young Publisher with full understanding. From then on, I realized that trying is really the answer to most things. We’ll just have to see what comes from it in the end.

How did this job help you develop your skills?

I’m able to work with people who I can learn a lot from. Aside from that, the fact that the remote set-up challenges me to keep up with technological advancements is another reason why I think I’m continuously growing with Young Publisher. Lastly, a VA has to have an efficient communication style, and I think my time working as one has pushed me to be more open and outgoing, even if I’m a massive introvert.

How would you describe the work environment? 

The work environment can easily be described as flexible and progressive. It’s flexible in terms of how many things can easily be communicated with Young Publisher. On the other hand, it’s also progressive because being an employee of Young Publisher doesn’t box and limit you to a normal office set-up where rules don’t really benefit employees. Speaking from my own experience with Young Publisher, I was given countless chances to express myself and have a voice of my own which is really something I can describe as rare in fields of remote work.

What do you like best about this job? 

Getting a free pass to stay at home and work from the comforts of my own personal area is definitely a big factor I value. Despite that, there are no constant “meetings” or “video calls” that take up my time at work since Young Publisher really made it clear how communication is important, but that can come in different mediums aside from constant calls. For context, we use Loom (short video clips that are sped up), we also have our EODs (where we can put our reports and queries), plus we’re even encouraged to use WhatsApp as one of our primary communication tools. All these add up to the idea that Young Publisher values communication, but it also values allowing employees to work at their own pace.

What would you improve and why?

Personally, I’d like to be more accountable and reliable. I know I have my shortcomings, and one of the main flaws I’d like to let go of is reasoning out of my way in instances wherein I know I’m supposed to be in charge. That said, I’m constantly letting myself understand that as much as I don’t have control over every single thing at work, I have to be firm in what I do have control over. Basically, I want to show up and do my best for what I’m tasked to do.

Is there anything you miss and if so, what is it? 

As much as I’m an introvert, I’m also a proclaimed softie who values friendship in all forms. We all know that work isn’t primarily a place where you make friends, but throughout my time at Young Publisher, I’ve met and spent time with a lot of employees that have definitely made a mark on how I think, act, and work. The reality is, we can’t control who chooses to come and go, but I definitely do miss the people I’ve worked with. It still amazes me how we can make life-changing connections with people that we haven’t met physically, but with how I see their writing, art, or working style, I feel like I’ve known them on a deeper level. Young Publisher really knows how to choose people to work with because many of the people I’ve worked with are all amazing in their own ways.

Which is your favorite part of the work process?

As of the moment, I’m enjoying doing Customer Support, even if it’s tedious in its own way. I’ve had a varied experience of tasks under Young Publisher as their VA, but so far, I do think interacting with customers and resolving matters with them primarily caters to my skill of providing guidance and help for those who need it. Aside from that, I’ve also noticed my communication and internet etiquette go up by a notch from handling emails and queries. That’s a definite plus for me!

What do you think are the most important abilities for this job? 

Aside from being diligent and resourceful, I definitely think it’s important to fully grasp the ability to be adaptable that comes with being a VA. This role isn’t meant to focus on a single, recurring task everyday, and I think that is where the excitement really stems from in this line of work. With that, it’s essential to be open-minded when handling new tasks because aside from being organized in your work, it’s commendable as well to be able to take on tasks that might seem initially tricky or difficult. Lastly, have lots and lots of patience. I never got anything right on the first try. Despite that, Young Publisher has given me opportunities time and time again to prove that I can better myself.

If you ever start getting bored, what new challenge would you be up for?

I guess I’d be up for doing tasks that are out of my comfort zone. That might be the typical answer, but how else are we going to know what we’re capable of if we don’t even attempt to try? If the new challenge is in terms of Young Publisher’s context, I guess I’d like to know how to draw like our Illustrator, or create landing pages like our Webpage Builder. That’d be crazy to try.