How long have you been working for RareJob Philippines, Inc.? 

It’s been 9 years since I first joined RareJob Philippines, Inc., back in June 2016. As a Junior Writer, I was one of the team members who transformed the company’s General English materials. I then participated in the research and development of many other programs and efforts. Thankfully, now I’m leading my team as we work on different R&D projects and continuous material production. 

You were promoted into a supervisory role back in 2022, almost 2 years into our work-from-home setup. How was the experience transitioning from a senior staff member to being a managerial employee? 

It wasn’t necessarily difficult to adjust to my new role because I have a supportive manager who’s helped me ease into the job by giving me ample training. He’s exposed me to challenges and tasks that have helped me develop the skills necessary for leading a team remotely. Moreover, I can say that I have a close relationship with my team members. And so, it’s been easy for us to communicate openly. Even before I became a supervisor, I had already been taking on project-leading roles, which helped me acquire people management skills aside from project management skills. 

What were the challenges and perks you experienced as a new supervisor handling a team remotely? 

One of the challenges I seriously thought about is having to handle people with motivations and values that are different from mine. Because of certain differences, in the beginning, it was difficult for the team to produce outputs that correspond to the department’s objectives and mandate. I had to remind myself to be patient as I’m quite sure they’re also being VERY patient with me. After careful thought, I tried to look at it as a perk in that I analyzed what I could learn from my colleagues’ different points of view and approaches to work. Doing so has prepared me to be ready to work with colleagues from other departments. Moreover, this experience continuously helps me realize what kind of leader I want to be: someone who inspires others to love their craft. 

Apart from handling your team and tasks, you also had to make sure that your home workspace is conducive to maintaining productivity. What were the challenges you encountered initially when you were settling into the work-from-home setup?

Honestly, there weren’t a lot of challenges in transitioning to the work-from-home setup. Noise isn’t necessarily a problem because I live alone. I think the only thing I had to adjust to was making time to make my own food. Back when we worked in the RJPH office, lunch was served on time. I didn’t have to pause to wash my dishes. I couldn’t be distracted from working on my task. 

What were the first things you worked on to improve your home workspace? Are there any more improvements you are planning to make in the near future?

I got myself a better office chair so I could sit more comfortably in front of my laptop. And because I sit for many hours in this job, I bought a back massager I could use while I work. As for improvements, I can’t think of any right now. I think I’m good. I can say I have an ideal work setup and workspace in which my furbabies can be with me. Having them around me when I work helps keep the stress level down. 

Now that you have created an ideal workspace at home, how has this helped in maintaining a good balance between work and personal life?

Aside from an ideal workspace, I think what truly helps me achieve work-life balance is being intentional about it. I am quite intentional with choosing an activity that I will do after work—baking, watercolor painting, exercising, or even watching a true crime podcast. I try to choose an activity that can help me get my mind off work when I am offline so that I can replenish my energy… and my brain cells. 

With more and more people showing interest in working from home, can you give 3 things about their workspace that they must consider before fully committing to a remote position? 

Ergonomic chairs, good ventilation—these things are a given. But I think what’s going to be really helpful is natural lighting. Actually, I purposely positioned my work desk right next to a window so that I have natural lighting… I don’t know, but there must be something about it that’s better than artificial lighting. Next, I recommend that you keep a pillow close by for back support. And if you’re a certified tita like me, your work-from-home setup isn’t complete unless you have aromatherapy oils and soy candles on your desk. 

There are also some who may be hesitant in considering working from home, given that the line between professional and personal life can blur from time to time in such a setup. What advice can you give regarding maintaining such a delicate balance?

Like I said, you have to be intentional about drawing the line between professional and personal life when you’re working from home. Have a list of to-dos for the day, prioritize what needs to be done before your shift ends, plan your meetings, and don’t hesitate to politely decline sudden meetings if you have good reason, such as your pending deliverables. And once you’re clocked out, try different activities that could help you get your mind off work. They don’t have to be high-energy activities all the time because, let’s face it, most of the time our jobs can take much of our energy and brain power.