Jennifer Cabilao

Few years ago, I was an Admin Assistant of a local family business. My main tasks and responsibilities every day includes:

• tracking employees’ attendance (store crews)

• tracking yesterday’s sales and if cash was remitted and/or deposited

• daily inventory of stocks (both store and warehouse)

• communicating to the main office for daily inventory and sales

• finding or posting for new prospect to be part of our team

• setting team meetings and minutes of the meeting

• making schedules for store employees

• communicating with resellers

• email and phone handling

• tracking expenses

• bookkeeping

• making month-end reports (paper and PowerPoint presentation 

My previous job was also in a BPO company. I was in a retention department. I received large number of calls from customers who want to cancel their service. My main task is to save the customer from cancelling their service by listening and understanding their reason from cancelling. I was trained how to read between the lines on what the customer really needs versus on what he/she is saying. I was trained to empathize, though honestly speaking, I still didn't master that skill. I was trained on how to handle different kinds of customers. I was also trained to have a happy and satisfied customer in every call.

I read an article once and it was stated there that a VA should have these three skills which are communication, able to work under pressure and with less supervision, and attention to details. I do agree to these but I think honesty is also important skill a VA should have. And I believe I do have these skills. I also believe that motivation and commitment will ensure that I become productive VA.