A storage unit tenant had just lost nearly everything in a flood. Late one evening, after Kathlene “Claire” B’s shift had ended, the tenant encountered problems with their new unit. Claire logged back in, guided them through the issue, and didn’t sign off until everything was resolved. The next day, she followed up again to make sure they were okay. 

When the HireSmart Virtual Employee’s client later met the tenant in person, they heard how Claire’s kindness had transformed a devastating moment into one of support and relief. 

“She shared how kind, compassionate, and caring Claire had been during an extremely difficult time — this tenant had recently lost nearly everything in a flood,” the client said. “Claire’s responsiveness, empathy, and commitment to service transformed what could have been a stressful experience into a moment of support and relief. Her actions reflect not only exceptional customer service, but genuine humanity.” 

That humanity and attention to others’ needs earned Claire the 2025 “Mindfulness Core Value Award” at HireSmart’s annual Christmas celebration. 

“I was really glad that I was part of the nominees, and I was surprised as to why I was part of the core value awardee,” said Claire, who works as a customer service representative managing four storage facility locations for a U.S. property management client. 

Her client wasn’t surprised at all. 

“She always brings a smile to every conversation!” the client said. “She executes all tasks and completely exceeds expectations since day 1. Claire is a positive team member, and we are blessed to have her.” 

Mindful approach 

Claire’s mindful approach extends to every customer interaction. 

“I really am a person that wants to take a lot of things at once,” she said. “I am a very proactive person. I don’t want to let a tenant issue stay unresolved for a couple of hours, because it’s a waste of my time, and the tenant is already asking me to do this and that. I do not want to waste their time anymore, so I really want to resolve the issue as quick as possible.” 

That rapid response mindset has made a significant impression on her managers. 

“Claire consistently goes above and beyond in every interaction,” the client said. “She is exceptionally kind, patient, and attentive, and she makes every process easier simply by the way she handles it. Her professionalism is matched only by her warmth, and she genuinely improves the experience for everyone she helps. Claire is truly one of the best, and she deserves to be recognized for the value she brings.” 

From Call Centers to Virtual Excellence 

Claire started with HireSmart in July 2024, making this her first full-time work-from-home position. Previously, she spent three to four years working in call centers, including time with Amazon and Verizon. 

“I first worked with Amazon for about a year in Manila, and then I transferred to Cebu and I worked there for two years with Verizon,” she said. “Then I went back home, and that’s when I wanted to look for a work-from-home job.” 

She discovered HireSmart through TikTok and chose to work with an agency rather than seek clients independently. 

“I’m not sure if I can find a client myself, because this is the first time that I have a virtual assistant job,” she said. “I don’t want to do it alone. I want to be in a team and a community that will be helping me to reach my goal.” 

For Claire, working with HireSmart provides stability that freelancing can’t match. 

“With an agency, I have the assurance that if ever my client drops me, I still have HireSmart to find me another client,” she said. “I want consistency and stability that HireSmart is already giving me right now.” 

Building Trust Through Communication 

In her role managing customer calls for storage facilities in the U.S., Claire handles move-ins, reservations, move-outs, payments, and tenant inquiries. Her communication style with clients is thorough and transparent. 

“I clock in and I them when I go on break; I tell them when I go back from break. I tell them when I clock out,” she said. “I also tell them that I’m going to step away for a minute or two, because I am taking the phone calls, and when I cannot answer, they might think, ‘What’s happening with Claire? What is she doing?’ We’re just virtually communicating, so trust is really vital to the relationship that I have with my client.” 

This extends to keeping her managers informed about environmental factors that could affect her work. Claire checks the weather forecast at the start of each shift. If there’s rain or a storm approaching, she messages immediately: “Hey, it’s raining heavy here. I might experience an internet or power interruption. Just giving you a heads up.” 

“They’ve been very vocal that they like that attitude, because not everyone does that,” Claire said. 

Flexibility and Family 

Working from home has given Claire the flexibility to travel extensively. In 2024, she visited Taiwan for her birthday in February, Thailand in November, and Hong Kong to celebrate New Year’s Eve at Disneyland. 

“It was a really good New Year celebration. It’s the first time that we celebrated it outside of the home,” she said. “We celebrated it in Disneyland. We waited for the countdown. It was magical.” 

Her sister works as a cabin crew member for an airline, which allows the family to travel at discounted rates. In May, the entire family of seven plans to celebrate her mother’s birthday in Vietnam. 

The work-from-home arrangement also allows Claire to support her husband, who coaches basketball. 

“Because I’m working from home, I own my time. I have a lot of flexibility,” she said.  

When she’s not working or traveling, Claire loves dancing and tries to attend dance classes in Cebu whenever possible. 

“It’s one way of de-stressing,” she said. 

Claire’s message to other HireSmart virtual employees centers on the importance of building and maintaining trust. 

“I would really tell them to not break the client’s trust,” she said. “My clients have been very thankful that I am what I am.” 

She emphasizes the value of keeping clients informed about everything. 

Looking Ahead 

Looking ahead, Claire and her husband are working toward building a house in 2025, and she’s preparing to transition to a new role with her client. 

“I will be transitioning to customer service for their office,” she said. “I was really nervous because they told me the storage business will be handled by another person. So what am I doing now? But they told me, ‘You don’t have to worry, Claire. You’ll be transitioned to becoming the CSR for our residential side.'” 

Claire plans to continue with her current client long-term. 

“I want to stay with the team because it’s a very good environment,” she said. “I can ask help from anybody and everybody knows the answer. I just need to ask them the right questions.” 

The mindset of knowing when to ask for help, communicating clearly, and staying focused on quick resolutions is what makes Claire a model of mindfulness for her fellow HireSmart virtual employees. 

HireSmart Virtual Employees connects hundreds of U.S. businesses with mindful, hardworking, skilled virtual employees like Claire, who are valuable assets in the digital office world.  

If you’re interested in finding an employee like Claire for your team, click here to schedule a free consultation at your convenience. 

If this environment of personal development and genuine support sounds like the right place for you, click here to apply to HireSmart Virtual Employees.