Among the best virtual assistant companies in the Philippines, Athena Executive Assistant is known in online job communities for having a very stringent hiring process. Of course, getting accepted does have a pretty good payoff. They provide a higher-than-usual salary plus benefits package compared to other VA agencies.
Athena Virtual Assistant legitimately connects top Filipino VA talents with international companies eager to tap into their exceptional skills and expertise. But what are the requirements for aspiring individuals aiming to be a part of such a reputable company?
In this article, we’ll delve into the Athena hiring process, job openings, and other useful facts that can help you decide whether you want to apply to Athena or not.
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Is Athena Virtual Assistant Legit?
Yes, Athena Executive Assistant is a legitimate company founded in 2019 by Jonathan Swanson, co-founder of Thumbtack, a USA-based service marketplace with over $1B in market volume. Thumbtack has been outsourcing to Filipinos for over a decade now and it would come as no surprise if the idea to create Athena also came from Jonathan’s previous experience in working with Filipinos.
Athena’s leadership team even has some well-known names in the startup and BPO industries. For instance, the company’s CEO, Robert Hayes, formerly served as the COO of TaskUs, a company with a significant BPO presence in the Philippines.
Athena also has a registered Philippine entity, meaning they have all their essential Philippine government documents in order.
Official Athena Careers Website: jobs.athenago.com
Official Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn
List of Jobs & Salaries in Athena Executive Assistant
To view all the positions currently open at Athena, you can visit their official website, Athena Careers PH. There is a wide range of roles available, including both voice and non-voice positions. Below, we’ve highlighted some of the job listings we’ve seen on their website and job platforms:
1. Executive Partner
Job Overview: In Athena, virtual assistants are ‘Executive Partners’ or as they shorten it to ‘XPs’. Some of the day-to-day requirements include: optimizing the client’s time and priorities to help them reach their goals; managing calendars and scheduling; and building rapport with your client’s network and team and helping to manage these important relationships.
Salary: Up to Php 46,000 monthly (but only after being matched with a client)
Benefits: HMO coverage, Maximum benefit limit of Php 100,000 per year for dependents, Optical benefits, Medicine reimbursement, and Pet support program, among others.
Training: Yes with Php 30,000 training allowance package for a maximum of 6 weeks
Equipment: You need to use your own equipment during training. But after completion of training, an Athena MacBook will be provided.
2. Digital Marketing Assistant
Job Overview: Primarily focused on improving Athena’s referral and influencer programs. Responsibilities may include: Managing the tracking and payout of referral program rewards; finding and reaching out to influencers; and experimenting with marketing initiatives and checking what works and what doesn’t, among others.
Salary & Benefits: Not indicated but it should be safe to assume a compensation package comparable to the Executive Partner position with a possible higher base salary if a higher skill level is required
Training: None
Equipment: Not Indicated
3. Data Engineer
Job Overview: The Data Engineer supports various business teams on data initiatives. Responsibilities include: Building the infrastructure required for optimally extracting, transforming, and loading data from a wide variety of data sources; and assembling large, complex data sets that meet functional and non-functional business requirements; among others.
Salary & Benefits: Not indicated but it should be safe to assume a compensation package comparable to the Executive Partner position with a possible higher base salary if a higher skill level is required
Training: None
Equipment: Not Indicated
4. Learning Experience Analyst
Job Overview: A learning experience analyst is in charge of training the company’s employees, particularly the Executive Partners. Their responsibilities include: Identifying training needs by evaluating the Athena XPs’ strengths and weaknesses; planning, designing, and developing comprehensive training plans, curriculum, and materials, and determining appropriate delivery mechanisms; among others.
Salary & Benefits: Not indicated but it should be safe to assume a compensation package comparable to the Executive Partner position with a possible higher base salary if a higher skill level is required
Training: None
Equipment: Not Indicated
5. Specialist, Analytics & Data Science
Job Overview: The analytics and data science specialist works directly with the Director of Data & Business Operations to make Athena run and grow more efficiently. Day-to-day responsibilities may include: Performing complex data analyses and presenting key takeaways and insights; and Building executive-level and detailed team-based operational KPI dashboards using SQL/Python and BI/analytics tools, among others.
Salary & Benefits: Not indicated but it should be safe to assume a compensation package comparable to the Executive Partner position with a possible higher base salary if a higher skill level is required
Training: None
Equipment: Not Indicated
Does Athena provide equipment?
Specifically for the virtual assistant position, Executive Partner, you need to have your own equipment ready for the training period. These include a computer, either a desktop or a laptop, a minimum 30 Mbps wired internet connection, a high-definition webcam, and a noise-canceling headset.
But after completion of the training, you will be provided with an Athena MacBook. Other Athena job openings may have different protocols in regard to equipment.
Does Athena accept students?
Athena prefers hiring those with experience, even for their executive partner (virtual assistant) job openings. Typically, they want people with at least 2+ years of full-time work experience. There may be rare cases where a student gets hired, but that is the exception and not the norm. After all, they’re pairing you with high-value clients abroad, so they want people who can do the job well.
Does Athena accept part-time applicants?
After browsing through their numerous job openings, there is currently no indication that they hire part-time applicants. Their job opportunities are mostly for full-time employees only. We will update this if we encounter a job post from them that is open for part-time applicants.
Does Athena provide training?
Yes, Athena does provide training, particularly for the Executive Partner or virtual assistant positions. And for their existing employees, they also offer ongoing education as well.
The initial training for executive partners includes a Php 30,000 allowance package (paid weekly) for a maximum of 6 weeks of training. After that, you’ll need to be matched with a client for any further compensation.
Is Athena Worth It?
Deciding whether joining Athena is worth it or not depends on your unique circumstances. On one hand, you have a very lucrative compensation package. On the other hand, you have a very stringent hiring process and a long training period. So, it’s totally up to you – what you need right now and what you are willing to go through.
Joining Athena is just one way to become a virtual assistant or a remote worker. And even if you don’t get into Athena, there are numerous other virtual assistant companies that exist in the Philippines.
Joining a VA company like Athena is an excellent way to start your online career. Nevertheless, it isn’t the sole path to secure an online job. In fact, you have the option to explore the non-agency route.
You can start your journey as a remote worker independently by directly finding clients on platforms like Onlinejobs.ph, Virtualstaff.ph, Upwork, and similar job websites.
Still unsure? There may be other considerations that you can only find out by researching the company further. It might be a good idea for you to search for reviews about Athena and life in a VA agency on social media platforms such as Facebook and Reddit.
Where to Find Athena Virtual Assistant Reviews
Sample Athena Negative Review:
It’s also a good idea to explore social media platforms for some more candid reviews of Athena. People often share their experience with these VA companies on online job and freelancing communities in Facebook Groups and Reddit.
1) How to Find Athena Reviews on Facebook
Facebook communities about freelancing and online jobs can be a valuable resource for finding reviews of Athena and other virtual assistant companies. Here are the top Facebook groups that you can check:
Facebook Groups: Online Filipino Freelancers | Freelancers In the Philippines (FLIP) | The Freelance Movement | Filipino Freelancer Online Home Based Job
It’s quite simple to search for Athena reviews on Facebook Groups.
The first thing you need to do is to visit the page of the Facebook Group you want to check. Join it if it’s a private group, but for public groups, you can skip to searching for reviews.
To start your search, you just need to click on the search icon like so:
After clicking on the search icon, a pop-up window will display on your screen.
Just type the word “Athena” on the textbox to search for reviews about the company.
2) How to Find Athena Reviews on Reddit
While Reddit may not enjoy the same level of popularity in the Philippines as Facebook, it remains a valuable platform for insightful reviews. On Reddit, users maintain anonymity, allowing them to share unfiltered and distinct perspectives. Here are a few subreddits worth exploring:
Subreddits: r/buhaydigital | r/phcareers | r/philippines
Searching for Athena reviews on Reddit is pretty simple. Start by visiting the subreddit you want to check, I recommend r/buhaydigital. On the search bar, just type “Athena”.
You’ll get a bunch of results from old posts about Athena as you can see below.
Just read through the posts that you’re curious about – whether that be about Athena virtual assistant reviews or the Athena virtual assistant hiring process.
4 Tips to Pass the Athena Virtual Assistant Hiring Process
Tip 1: Read the Job Requirements Carefully & Customize Your Application
One of the biggest reasons why job applicants fail is because they don’t customize their resume or portfolio to match the job’s specific requirements. If you’re applying as a virtual assistant in Athena, don’t use a generic resume or cover letter. Emphasize your VA-related skills and experience to set yourself apart from other candidates.
It’s doubly important to keep in mind that the first people who will review your application are the recruitment staff at Athena. Consider them your target audience when customizing your resume, and doing so will increase your chances of success.
And what would the Athena recruitment staff want from an applicant? Someone who meets the job requirements as indicated by their clients.
Tip 2: Learn as Much as You Can about the Athena Hiring Process
Reminder: Please follow the recruitment staff’s instructions carefully to avoid being disqualified.
Summarized below is what people commonly share as their experience with the Athena hiring process.
1) Application Form: This is where it all starts. You need to complete the application form on the job post that you are applying for. You can find the list of jobs and their corresponding application form at the Athena Careers website.
2) Initial Assessment: You can think of this as something like a school entrance exam. It’s a 76-item multiple choice test covering English vocabulary and grammar, as well as, analytical math. It’s not a timed test, but there is a deadline. You’re free to look up English lessons and math formulas online if you need a refresher.
3) Athena Inbox Playbook: Most people find this as the most confusing part of the Athena hiring process. This is a 2-part assessment that tests how well you communicate through emails. However, the test emails will be sent to your email address (check your spam folder). IMPORTANT: Don’t directly reply to the test emails but instead, use the answer form.
4) Video Call Interview: This is your typical online job interview done through a video call. Remember to dress like a pro and use a well-lit, quiet, and clean area for the interview. Things like these are important for their clients so it’s important for Athena’s recruitment staff too.
5) Athena GRIT Assessment: After a few days, you’ll receive the results of your interview and if you pass, you’ll be invited to do the GRIT assessment. This is a 3-part test that assesses your personality, logic, and language skills. This is a timed test so make sure you are prepared.
After passing all of these, you should receive a text message or an email outlining the next steps. Usually, this is where they provide you with a job offer.
As a tip, make sure to ask every question you have about the company before you accept the offer. You want to know as much as possible about Athena, including their company culture or salary disbursement process. This is essential to confirm that working with Athena is indeed the right decision for your career.
Tip 3: Prepare & Test Your Equipment Before the Interview
Not having the right equipment is a sure-fire way to fail. So, make sure you get everything ready before your interview day. Here’s what you need:
1) Athena Computer or Laptop Requirements: For desktop computers, you need a Ryzen 5 3000 series and above or a Core i3, 10th generation or higher. For laptops, you need an 8th generation (8000 series) Core i5 or better; or alternatively, AMD Ryzen series processors. For both desktops and laptops, you need at least 8GB of RAM, but 16GB is recommended.
2) Athena Internet Requirements: You need an internet connection speed of 30 Mbps minimum in order to be accepted in Athena. You typically can’t get these speeds with non-wired connections like pocket WiFi. So, this means you need a wired connection like Fiber internet.
3) A Suitable Work-from-Home Space. You want to set up your computer in a well-lit, uncluttered room. The folks at Athena will be checking this because this is something important for their clients as well. They would most likely prefer your space to have as little noise as possible.
But if that’s not something you can arrange, you can always invest in noise-cancelling headsets for important meetings, like your upcoming Athena interview.
I highly recommend checking out the Logitech H340, one of the most popular headsets from one of my favorite electronics brands. You just plug it into a USB port and it’s already ready for your next video call. It’s light and comfy too – perfect for those long work-from-home sessions.
It’s currently sold for only ₱1,245 from Logitech’s official Lazada and Shopee stores.
Lastly, make sure to test your equipment and internet connection 1 day before the interview AND 1 hour before the interview. You never know when things will go wrong. So, it’s better to take the time to recheck everything than to have something fail at a crucial moment.
Tip 4: Don’t Forget to Practice for the Interview
After passing the initial assessment and the Athena Inbox Playbook assessment, you’ll be invited to a live interview with the Athena recruitment staff. This is your time to come in and put your best foot forward.
Here are some common interview questions that you may or may not encounter during your Athena interview.
- Tell me about yourself.
- Please walk me through your resume.
- What is your internet type and speed?
- What are the specs of your computer? Does it fit our requirements?
- What would you do in case your device breaks down?
- What would you do in case there’s a power outage in your area?
- Are you currently employed?
- Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
- Out of all the candidates, why should we hire you?
- What are your strengths?
- What are your weaknesses?
- What can you contribute to the company?
- What is your expected salary?
- Do you have travel plans within 6 months?
- Do you have any questions or concerns before we end this interview?
One of the best tips I can give you is this: “Don’t just internalize your answers, but actually verbalize them.” In order to pass the Athena hiring process, a strong command of the English language is a must. Just search “mock interview practice” on YouTube for a nice practice run.
Other Companies Like Athena
If you are looking for alternatives to Athena for whatever reason, I have good news for you. There’s an almost impossible-to-count amount of VA companies in the Philippines. Here are some examples:
So, if your application to Athena doesn’t work out, you have plenty of other VA companies you can consider. For an extensive list, please see “Best Virtual Assistant Companies to Work for in the Philippines”.
Final Word: Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket
Keep in mind that there are essentially two types of VA companies. The first category includes companies like Cyberbacker and Athena, where you functionally work under the VA agency’s umbrella.
And the other type, which is basically a headhunting agency for VAs. MultiplyMii and Support Shepherd fall into this category. Here, they match you with a client and you are considered to be directly working for the client and not the VA agency.
Finally, you can even opt not to apply to a VA agency and instead look for a direct client on your own instead. You can check the article “How to Get Clients Directly” for tips.
Whichever method you choose, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Meaning, try to exhaust all of your possible options when you apply to become a virtual assistant. Not only will it improve your chances of getting hired, but it will also broaden your views about the potential of the VA industry.
