Before 30-year-old Anna Lee Salas became an online freelancer on Freelancer.com, she worked as a design officer for a top mall chain in the Philippines.

She was always fascinated with beautiful houses and interiors and also had a passion for drawing. Becoming an architect seemed to be a natural choice for her.

Her passion though didn’t cloud her pragmatism. She knew that her chosen profession was not for the faint of heart, what with the industry being a male-dominated territory. “In the field of architecture, being old in the industry is an edge. You would probably gain respect if you’ve been practising for a very long time — especially if you are female,” she feels.

Despite the challenges, Anna was not about to give up. Even though she finally quit her job after seven years of employment, her careful decision was a result of her coming to terms that online freelancing would be a better path to hone her craft.

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