John Angelo (writer)

Why did you decide to apply and work with us?

It started with a New Year’s Resolution: I’m never going to borrow or ask my parents for money again. Especially not for my college tuition. So, I asked around for work. I initially had a job at a local coffee shop but I resigned because I couldn’t make it work with my university classes. Come April, I came across the website OnlineJobs. And, on my first day of looking, I came across Young Publisher’s job posting. I thought to myself, “great pay and flexible hours? Surely it’s a scam.” Thankfully I took a chance and you took a chance on me. And the rest, as they say, is history.

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

Far exceeded. The pay is great, especially compared to local Philippine jobs. But, more than that, this work exceeded my expectations because of the kindness and thoughtfulness I receive. As you know, I’m in a particularly bad time in my life. However, this job has provided for my family and plenty more. And, even though I sometimes miss hours, you’ve always been exceptionally considerate of my current circumstance. The same couldn’t be said for other employers out there.

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

I’d say that the most valuable lesson I’ve learned so far is how to manage my time. Between personal issues, college, and work; I struggled in my first month looking for personal time. I couldn’t enjoy my earnings as I couldn’t find time to do the things I wanted. But, after a month of adjustment, I finally found time to sit back after a long day and watch my favorite films. Other than that, I also learned how to deal with feedback anxiety. I always said that I’m great at taking constructive criticisms, but it was more difficult when it came from an employer. Thankfully, I’ve gotten through this hump and I’ve emerged a better writer for it.

How did this job help you develop your skills?

This job has helped me develop my skills by being honest about the things I could improve on. It may be a cliched saying but I do believe that I’m a work in progress. Because of the candor that I receive in this work, I learned how to make myself a better writer and a better employee.

How would you describe the work environment? 

The work environment is amazing. Young Publisher provides valid criticisms without being condescending, something that I’ve always been thankful for. Angelica responds quickly to my emails. And my co-workers that I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with have been kind and responsive, as well. Beyond that: great working hours, topics that are easily researched, also a big fan of the “one-email-a-day” rule. So far, no complaints whatsoever.

What do you like best about this job? 

The flexibility. As a college student, it’s difficult to find work that will let me do my work any time of day. Let alone something that pays well. With this work, I get the best of both worlds.

What would you improve and why?

Personally, I want to improve the speed at which I write my articles. You see, I’ve developed a system where I rest for exactly three minutes after each H3 section when I’m writing an article. I do this to avoid burnout or mental block. The downside, however, is that I often finish close to 3000 words a day when I know that I could push myself to 4000. Improvements in regards to the work, on the other hand, I’ll be honest and say I can’t think of anything. If I were to pick anything, it’s that I sometimes get feedback a day later but even that’s understandable considering that I know Angel sometimes has too much on her sleeve. So, all in all, not much in terms of work environment improvements, as I believe that everything runs efficiently already.

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

I miss having too much free time, to be honest. Between work and college, I only have about 2 hours of free time on weekdays. And those two hours I often spend studying web development or data science. I miss binge-watching shows and films every day. Oh, and I also miss having time to walk. I live in an area where the beach is accessible and there are a lot of walkable spaces. I miss waking up at 4 AM just to jog. But, that’s the price we pay for growing up. And I’d gladly work and study than have no money to support my college and my parents.

Which is your favorite part of the work process?

I love the part between knowing nothing and writing the article. In other words, I love learning the most. And I also love applying what I learn to my everyday life.

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

This is a question that a friend of mine, who was interested in applying for Young Publisher after I described to him my work, asked me a week ago. He was initially apprehensive about applying because he considered himself a mediocre writer (he isn’t) so I told him this: “Everyone can write an article. However, the most valuable skill in this work is listening.” And that’s something I truly believe. Good writers are a dime a dozen, but great writers separate themselves by being knowledgeable, self-efficient, diligent, and resourceful. Something that one gets in this job by means of reading the onboarding tools thoroughly. Oh, and also always be respectful of one’s employers and co-workers.

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

I believe I’ve said this once on a daily report but haven’t gotten to actually doing it yet, but I really want to make my own phrase bank. As someone who struggles with avoiding repetition, I believe that a phrase bank would help with the efficiency in which I write and the quality of articles that I submit.