Menu
HireSmart Virtual Employees recently awarded Melrose Vito, a valued member of their training department, one of the company's 25 educational scholarships for the children of Filipino virtual employees.
The scholarship covers annual private school tuition for up to four years for Mel's 7-year-old son, Ike, and other scholarship recipients.
As part of HireSmart's training department, Mel plays a crucial role in preparing new virtual employees (VEs) for successful onboarding with clients. Her work involves conducting a rigorous one-week certification program that all HireSmart employees must pass before they can begin working with clients.
This certification process is a crucial differentiator for HireSmart in the virtual employment world.
Josephat, a HireSmart employee who serves a U.S. client, said the training program sets HireSmart apart: "It's very challenging. I also joined interviews and exams with other agencies, but not like HireSmart. They (HireSmart) really make you ready before you join your client. So it's really a big help."
Mel and her colleagues in the training department ensure that new VEs are well-versed in industry terminology and standards before they start working with clients, helping to create a smoother onboarding experience for U.S. clients.
This commitment to thorough preparation makes HireSmart a top destination for Filipino virtual employees seeking stable, full-time careers with genuine work-life balance.
Mel's dedication to HireSmart's "SMARTER" core values resulted in a significant benefit for her family through the educational scholarship awarded to her son, Ike. Mel beams with pride talking about Ike, who has a passion for basketball and dreams of becoming a scientist. He's particularly interested in the solar system and animals.
"He wants to get awards at school," she said. "He is very competitive. He always wants to study, to learn."
The scholarship comes at a crucial time for the family. Ike struggles with severe asthma, which has led to frequent hospitalizations. Mel's health insurance through HireSmart has been instrumental in getting Ike the treatments he needs.
Before joining HireSmart, Mel faced difficulties providing medical care for her son due to financial constraints.
"Before I got hired here at HireSmart, it was really difficult for me because I couldn't bring him to the hospital that can really take care of him, because we didn't have money," she said, adding that the scholarship and her salary from HireSmart now allow her to afford Ike's necessary medications.
The family has faced additional challenges, as Mel's husband, Neño, was diagnosed with cancer in 2021. At the time, Mel was teaching at a private school, and the family had to prioritize their son's health care over Neño's treatment. Now, thanks to Mel's position at HireSmart, both Ike and Neño can receive maintenance care for their conditions.
To supplement their income, the family runs a small food business, selling to students at a nearby school.
"That's our extra income to help pay our bills," she said.
Mel expressed her gratitude to HireSmart Co-founder Anne Lackey for providing her with an opportunity to support her family.
"For me, she is one of the instruments that God has given me to meet the needs of my family," she said. "So I'm very blessed."
Mel added that she loves the camaraderie at HireSmart.
"What I really love in HireSmart is we have a team," she said. "So every time I have a problem, I have someone I can talk to."
Mel said she finds great satisfaction in helping other Filipino VEs prepare for the roles with U.S. clients. She said VEs must focus on continued education, which is also a priority for Mel, who continues to take classes to boost her effectiveness as a trainer.
"Every day, I'm teaching the VEs about how to be successful with their client," she said. "It's a fulfilling thing for me because I want to be successful with my client, and that's the reason why I learned and tried to exceed her expectations. Don't just settle for what your client is telling you. If you can, upskill in other ways, and you can help your client with other things. So it's fulfilling for me to talk to them and share what I have experienced and what I'm doing to succeed."
HireSmart's commitment to its employees extends beyond providing jobs. The company offers good wages, health and dental coverage, continued education opportunities, and educational scholarships for employees' children.
Through its comprehensive approach to employee support and development, exemplified by dedicated trainers like Mel, and family-friendly programs such as
educational scholarships for children, HireSmart continues to set itself apart in the virtual employment industry.
Mel said her faith in God helps her through her challenges. She adds that a purposeful life involves supporting each other.
"Life is too short, so we have to live life to the fullest," she said. "We really have to create memories and just help each other grow."
To apply to become part of the HireSmart team, click here.