Harriet Uy – General Virtual Assistant, Social Media Management

I’m Harriet Anne Uy, but you can simply call me Ayet. I’m a wife and mother. I earned my bachelor’s degree in international studies at Xavier University, Ateneo de Cagayan. I’m a determined individual with a strong passion for continuous learning.

My journey toward work-life balance began when I became a virtual assistant, and it’s been a roller coaster ride but I managed to get a hang of it and currently enjoying the perks of working in the comfort of my home with my family.

My professional journey started as an assistant to a school registrar, where I developed my administrative, communication, and customer service skills. In this role, I had the privilege of interacting with a diverse group of individuals, ensuring a smooth and efficient registration process for students and their parents. I was also responsible for responding to enquiries about school records retrieval and compiling the annual inventory report of school materials.

Then, the pandemic struck, and the school had to close, resulting in layoffs, including mine. It was a mix of sadness and happiness. I thought it was a sign to embrace the role of a housewife and take a break. But, as they say, when one door closes, another one opens. I ventured into the world of online job sites and was fortunate to quickly secure a position as a virtual assistant.

My journey continued by working closely with the owner of a flooring installation company. I received three days of intensive guidance on their daily business operations. My responsibilities included handling work order scheduling, managing inventory, serving as the primary contact for warehouse deliveries, and providing customer service. One of my most significant challenges was creating and managing the company’s social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Despite my initial lack of experience in social media management, I successfully completed the task by using available resources as guides. I even designed our company’s logo for its brochure and initiated social media engagement. Unfortunately, our operations had to halt after four months due to the temporary impact of COVID-19 on the small-sized company, which consisted of the CEO, two flooring installers, and myself.

A good friend from college reached out to me and informed me about a VA opening in their company. Fortunately, I submitted my resume, got shortlisted quickly, and was matched with a client. I had the privilege of working closely with a finance director who specialised in bankruptcy and litigation. This role allowed me to develop data management skills through extensive research for the basis of claims in various cases, data mining of docket files, and lead generation by reaching out to the current attorneys assigned to cases.

Given the flexibility in my schedule with my client, I decided to explore other opportunities for personal growth, leading me to the real estate industry, specifically property management. Here, I mastered property management, which included client and property onboarding, overseeing the leasing process, managing owner and tenant relations, and coordinating maintenance activities. These skills proved invaluable in ensuring the smooth operation of the properties I managed while fostering strong relationships with clients and tenants.

“In summary, my path as a virtual assistant has been both enriching and dynamic. Each experience across different domains has contributed significantly to my personal growth, reminding me that the grass is greener where you water it and reinforcing the core reason behind all these endeavours: my family.”

For a copy of Harriet’s resume please click here.