How to become a virtual assistant

Virtual assistant jobs are a well-known and sought-after form of remote work. Read on if you’re interested in learning how to become a virtual assistant or where to look for virtual assistant jobs.

What Is a Virtual Assistant and How Does It Work?

There are certain common elements to each VA position, even though each one is largely unique.  Most virtual assistants assist their employer or clients by handling administrative tasks, making travel arrangements, coordinating calendars and schedules, organizing files, and many other tasks so that they can focus on other aspects of their jobs (or personal lives).

The good news for everyone interested in working as a virtual assistant from home? According to FlexJobs data, virtual administration is one of the fastest-growing remote professional sectors.

What Does a Virtual Assistant Do?

Virtual assistant working

Depending on the client, virtual assistants might function as personal, administrative, or executive assistants. Any of the following tasks can be assigned to a virtual assistant:

  • Activities related to billing and accounting
  • Maintaining and writing records
  • Taking and directing phone calls
  • Email tracking and management
  • Organization of files and documents
  • Reservations for travel
  • Management of the calendar and schedule

What Are the Steps to Becoming a Virtual Assistant?

Here are some ways to get started if you have no prior experience or are seeking for virtual assistant jobs for beginners.

Have you scheduled appointments, made travel arrangements, maintained someone’s calendar or email, blogged, or used social media to promote something? A virtual assistant may take care of all of these obligations. Even if you think you don’t have any experience, you might have transferable talents that might help you stand out on a CV.

You may already possess some of these abilities without realizing their value. These should be stated in your virtual assistant cover letter to provide them the right perspective. Skills and certifications can be earned through self-study or online classes.

As a virtual assistant, you can work directly for employers, for an agency that provides administrative support to other businesses, or you can contract your own services. If you want to establish your own business, plan ahead of time which services you’ll offer, polish your resume, and begin networking.

Consider keeping an online portfolio with examples of your work if you offer social media, web design, or content development services. After you’ve completed work for your initial clients, work on getting favourable testimonials that will impress potential new clients.

Check out our post on how to prepare your brand for voice search as well.

Virtual Assistants and the Companies That Employ Them

The companies listed below commonly hire virtual assistants, according to the FlexJobs database:

  • BELAY
  • Boldly
  • Equivity
  • BTLR
  • Profit Center
  • Randstad

There are a slew of other companies that recruit virtual assistants on a regular basis. Look for job titles like executive assistant, personal assistant, administrative, coordinator, virtual administrative assistant and similar job titles.

What Makes Someone a Good Virtual Assistant?

Woman talking on a phone

Great virtual assistant job applicants have exceptional writing and verbal communication skills, as well as open and transparent communication methods that allow their clients to see them as a trustworthy, reachable partner. A natural capacity to take charge of a situation and organize it for the benefit of a customer, as well as time management and organizing skills, are required.

It’s also beneficial to have prior experience with or knowledge of cloud-based communication platforms such as file sharing, password managers, and phone and video conferencing.

Finally, virtual assistants are hired by people who want to reduce stress and disarray in their life. Don’t wait to be asked to perform certain activities; if you notice a client is having difficulty, offer to assist them with something you’re not currently doing. This offers you more job to perform and allows them to rely on you even more.

What Does a Virtual Assistant Earn?

How much virtual assistants earn depends on their skill level, years of experience, industry, and clients.

The annual rate ranges from $21,000 to $56,000, with a median of $36,272. Virtual assistant hourly rates range from $10.16 to $29.49 per hour, with a median rate of around $16.

Virtual Assistants’ Working Environment

To operate as a virtual assistant, you’ll need a dedicated home office, just like any other remote employee. You’ll also need a printer, copier/scanner, and fax machine in addition to a computer with high-speed Internet access. You’ll almost certainly require a dedicated landline (or two).

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