To mark International Women’s Day, we’re championing the female Tasker community at Taskrabbit by launching the first virtual mentorship program to empower fellow female micro-entrepreneurs to join the platform. Meet Belinda and Lajla who have completed more than 250 jobs between them since they signed up, successfully making tasking work for them and their schedule.
We caught up with Belinda and Lajla to find out more about their day to day as a handywomen, and why they want to be a mentor for other women.
To book your personal 1:1 mentoring sessions held virtually on the 8th March 2022 from 9.30am, click the link at the bottom of the page.
Q: Tell us about yourself.
Belinda: I have had the luck to travel and work or volunteer since a very young age and that has allowed me to meet and collaborate with very different people on their own ground, where they are the experts. That has taught me a lot of practical skills, as well as adaptability, respect, but more than anything – humility. I know that however gifted, skilled or learned a person may be, none of this matters without the right people to recognise and employ these abilities.
The past few years in London I have been busy with painting, carpentry, interior decoration, furniture restoration, sewing, crafts and jewellery.
I love to be of service and useful, to be able to offer what I know and what I enjoy doing. It is essential for me to stay true to my nature, to learn from each encounter, to offer my best at any moment and to be surrounded by people who appreciate that.
Lajla: I’m a full time student and throughout the last year I have been doing tasks on Taskrabbit app full-time and part time. I’m an enthusiastic individual who always liked to assemble things in my spare time.
Q: How did you find out about Taskrabbit and why did you sign up?
Belinda: I heard about Taskrabbit from a friend, who was doing part time furniture assembly back then. It was January – not a very busy time for the self-employed people, so I signed up to see what opportunities may come up. I didn’t have any expectations whatsoever. I got hired for my first task the day when my profile was approved.
Lajla: My friend who is a carpenter told me about the app and I thought I can earn while doing what I like. Assembling furniture sounded fun!
Q:What do you enjoy most about tasking?
Belinda: I like to be as clear as possible about what’s needed, before I agree on a job. I also like to organise my schedule in a way that can accommodate all different aspects of my life – my hobbies, the people I love, the days I need for myself. For that Taskrabbit has been brilliant, providing excellent facilities to communicate with the customers and clarify all sorts of practical matters to do with the actual work.
Lajla: Flexibility the app gives. Completing the task and seeing clients happy as the problem is fixed and they can start to use their lovely furniture!
Q: Do you have a memorable tasking story you could share?
Belinda: I was on a task just before Christmas. It turned out that the customer had hired three of us to paint a big open plan living-room & kitchen. I wasn’t very excited to begin with, working along with other painters requires a lot of coordination (especially when we don’t know each other). By the end of the task we all had shared with each other all sorts of tips to do with decorating and dealing with customers, as well as heaps of hilarious stories. We’re still in touch.
Lajla: I have a few memorable tasks. I like when I come to task and there is for example a wardrobe which already has been taken out of the original package and you can see clients have tried to assemble it and they can’t believe how one person can do it so quickly. I often hear they are impressed that a women can get the task done so quickly as they have spent couple of hours trying to do it and couldn’t manage.
Q: What does an average day look like for you?
Belinda: The mornings I spend exercising, talking to customers and ordering materials. I usually head out for work at about 10:30am. Most of the time I work with people I’ve never met before. They take me around their house and show me what needs doing. I get my brushes and rollers out and they make me tea. Every now and then they pop in to check how it looks and if I need anything. Sometimes they ask for my opinion about other decorations in their home, about choosing colours or finding materials.. or just questions about my previous experiences.
I come back in the evening usually tired from the physical work, but content. I really enjoy the process of transforming peoples’ living space as per their liking and I like the new encounters every day.
Lajla: I wake up and have breakfast, go for a walk with my dog, prepare his meals then either go to complete some tasks or to university. In the evening I prepare dinner and revise for university, read a good book or do my workout. Before I go to sleep, I go to the park with my dog.
Q: Have you ever faced challenges as a female handyperson?
Belinda: As a female handyperson, I find the physical part of the work often quite tiring, I imagine men are a lot more enduring. Other than that, I think being a female has rather been an advantage. It makes it easier for people to approach me and that ease allows me to be comfortable in setting my own boundaries.
Lajla: One of the biggest challenges is that often clients choose a male over me when choosing a person on the app as they think something will be too heavy for me or too difficult but the key is in the technique.
Q: Outside work, what are your hobbies and interests?
Belinda: I love studying, I’m always on some sort of a course. I like ancient cultures and modern civilisations from around the world, with their arts, crafts and world views, their understanding of astrology, philosophy, psychology, health.
Lajla: Travel, science and books.
Q: Why do you want to be a mentor for other female handypeople?
Belinda: I think female handypeople are much needed out there. If by sharing my experience I could bring ease to those taking their first steps towards putting their skills in action, interacting with customers and becoming confident and comfortable, that’s a great chance to contribute.
Lajla: I would like to support other female Taskers as I know many of us have doubts in the beginning. I would like to give them more information on techniques that can be used and most importantly to make them believe they can use their skills and passion to earn money. This app is a great option for many ladies who have other commitments due to flexibility. I hope I can make someone more confident about this job.
Belinda will be available for personal 1:1 mentoring sessions held virtually on the 8th March 2023 from 9.30am. Book your 30 min slot via this link: https://calendar.app.google/9iJWksiyzeYukb1i6
Lajla will be available for personal 1:1 mentoring sessions held virtually on the 8th March 2023 from 9.30am. Book your 30 min slot via this link: https://calendar.app.google/ccC6eUQzkcz3G9EZ7
