Joy Salazar – General Virtual Assistant

Hi there, I’m Joy to add a unique touch and stand out from others with the same name I prefer to be called “Zscekh”. It’s pronounced like the abbreviation for second. Care to take a guess how I got this cool nickname? Feel free to share your thoughts, I’m sure you’ll figure it out easily!

I’ve always been into staying active. From being a basketball team captain in school to now doing things like biking, trail riding, practicing muay thai, jogging and even just going for walks, staying active is important especially as I’m not getting any younger. I also love traveling and doing adventures.

Exploring different places is something that brings me a lot of joy. I’ve been to beautiful beaches like Siargao and Cebu, where I tried surfing and even jumped from a 12-meter high waterfall even though I’m not a swimmer. Camping is another thing I enjoy. It’s a peaceful experience away from the noise of the city where you can hear birds chirping and leaves rustling in the wind. It’s a great way to reflect and be in nature. Meeting new people and learning about different cultures add a lot to my happiness.

Looking back at my work journey, I began in the BPO industry, specializing in customer service and technical support. My first role was in customer service for the US Airways account, handling tasks like processing US flight tickets, addressing customer queries and upselling hotel reservations. Despite the challenges such as memorising airport codes and dealing with numerous complaints the job was rewarding as I could assist people.

Moving to a financial company my responsibilities expanded to managing credit cards for Australian clients. This involved upselling credit card limit upgrades and addressing various card related concerns, requiring attention to detail with numbers but providing valuable learning experiences. My interest in transitioning to a technical career began with DirecTV. In that role I supported satellite television and digital entertainment services, troubleshooting issues with TVs, remotes and TV boxes. Solving their technical problems and explaining simple tasks made me feel like an expert.

A significant phase unfolded at Telstra, where I spent almost nine years in various technical roles, progressing from an agent to back-office support, team leader and subject matter expert. Managing broadband connections and addressing technical issues honed my leadership, adaptability and multitasking skills. I was nominated as a top agent multiple times and I’m grateful for the experiences and learnings.

After nine years, seeking new challenges led me to IBM, focusing on administrative work and supporting sales teams. Tasks included receiving order requests, handling customer projects, preparing necessary documents, communicating with third party departments, verifying details, checking service availability, scrubbing thousands of numbers and engaging in discovery calls with clients. My organisational skills, attention to detail and research skill improved significantly contributing to my real administrative job. Unfortunately, my tenure at IBM was cut short after nearly three years due to the account pulling out amidst the challenges of the pandemic.

During the global quarantine, I continued my work from home journey, initially supporting an online gaming account via email. Managing multiple emails simultaneously and conducting fraud investigations honed my skills. However, when we were required to return to onsite work, prioritising health and family, I decided to leave. This marked my transition into freelancing, where I secured my first direct client. In this role I focused on providing customer service and technical support for my client’s developed software solutions. This involved dealing with various devices such as modems, POS systems, tablets and computers. The primary focus was on supporting the software itself, providing assistance on integrating employee schedules, managing payouts and offering services. Additionally, we handled campaigns and promotions, utilising the software as a tool to streamline bookings, point-of-sale operations and automate marketing programs.

Now, I aspire to continue my journey working from home, seeking a better work-life balance. Eager to expand my knowledge as a virtual assistant. I’m on the lookout for clients who share the same values and a commitment to growth. I’m excited about contributing to diverse fields and aspects, aiming to find opportunities that align with mutual goals and allow me to leverage my knowledge and skills.

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