For Filipinos, virtual assistant trumps doctor as ‘dream job’. But what’s the reality?

For Filipinos, virtual assistant trumps doctor as ‘dream job’. But what’s the reality?

Prized in English-speaking countries, Filipinos make up about 38 per cent of the global virtual assistant market, a placement agency says

When Mark Ifurung left his 18-year career as an IT professional in May, he was happy to ditch his two-hour commutes from his home in Cavite province south of Manila to his office in Makati City.

So for his fresh start, the 40-year-old father of four wanted something that would allow him to work from home. “After being unemployed for five months, I decided to explore freelancing,” he said. “With my background in IT operations and application support, I realised I already have transferable skills that I can offer to clients.”

While job hunting online, he came across information on the “virtual assistant” industry and was lured by the idea of flexibility and attractive pay.