Are you looking for a Virtual Assistant Job? Well, how does making upwards of £100 a day from the comfort of your home sound to you? If that seems like an exciting prospect, then you might want to consider becoming a virtual assistant. The demand for remote work has gone up to unprecedented levels, especially after the pandemic.
So, if you have the right skill set, there’s probably a job or even a career for you. Virtual assistants enjoy many benefits, including the ability to work from anywhere, flexible hours, and good wages. Basically, they perform virtually anything that can be done remotely. Including data entry, technical support, and general administrative duties, among others.
Important to realize, that the type of work to do is highly dependent on the client’s needs. Typically, virtual assistants carry out one or even a combination of tasks as I’ll elaborate in this guide. So, follow my leads to know what it entails and how you can land that lucrative job. Whether you’re looking for a short-time, part-time, or even an incredible full-time deal.
Who Is A Virtual Assistant?
A virtual Assistant, commonly abbreviated to VA, is an independent contractor or a full-time employee. Particularly, that provides a range of administrative, secretarial, or creative services to clients or a company from a remote location. In addition, a virtual assistant may also offer services that can include transcription, email outreach, and lead generation.
Some can even provide personal assistance, such as shopping for a birthday gift online or planning a family holiday. In short, they are independent contractors who provide administrative services to clients. All this while operating outside of the client’s office. Typically, they operate from a home office. But, can access the necessary planning documents, such as calendars, remotely. Have a look at a remote working guide for essential skills to master virtual interviews and onboarding.
Oftentimes, virtual assistant employees have several years of experience as administrative assistants or office managers. Not to mention, there are new opportunities opening up every day for virtual assistants. Especially, those who are skilled in social media, content management, blog post writing, graphic design, and Internet marketing.
Their main VA job tasks are to:
- Respond to emails, phone calls, and inquiries
- Manage a calendar, schedule appointments, and arrange travel bookings
- Create web content, moderate comments, and manage social media accounts
- Perform customer service, payment processing, and website maintenance for online businesses and e-stores
- Source photos, create graphics, and edit pictures
- Handle bookkeeping, invoices, and payroll
In a study of over 100,000 job listings, FlexJobs found virtual administration was one of the top five fastest-growing remote career categories. Thus, it’s something worth investing both your time and efforts in. And, as we all know, working from home has become more accepted by both workers and employers. Thus, the demand for skilled VAs is rising.
How A Virtual Assistant Works
Virtual Assistants have become more prominent as small businesses and startups rely on virtual offices to keep costs down and businesses of all sizes increase their use of the Internet for daily operations. Because a virtual assistant is an independent contractor, a business does not have to provide the same benefits.
Or even pay the same taxes that it would for a full-time employee. Also, since the virtual assistant works offsite, there is no need for a desk or other workspace at the company’s office. A virtual assistant is expected to pay for and provide their own computer equipment, commonly used software programs, and high-speed Internet service.
The specific duties of a virtual assistant vary according to the needs of the client and the terms of the contract. Some virtual assistants handle clerical and bookkeeping tasks, while others may post regular updates to social media or write articles for a blog.
Learn More: 8 Virtual Assistant Courses That Will Skyrocket Your Income
A well-rounded virtual assistant may also handle travel arrangements, appointment scheduling, data entry, and online file storage. Nonetheless, potential clients look for varying skills in a virtual assistant depending on the type of work.
Truth be told, if you’re a quick learner with a decent computer and reliable internet connection, you may only need Google to perform a basic VA job. That said, you may not be able to charge as much for your services as a more highly trained VA.
Before hiring a virtual assistant, the client can ensure a smoother working relationship by creating detailed instructions about tasks they need to have performed. A written manual reduces the risk of misunderstandings that can occur in a remote working relationship.
The Main Virtual Assistant Benefits
For an employer, one advantage of hiring a virtual assistant is the flexibility to contract. For just the services they need. Depending on the terms of the agreement, some virtual assistants may be paid by the task rather than by the hour. In contrast, employees in a traditional office setting usually must be paid for a fixed number of hours per day.
For small business owners, hiring a virtual assistant can help them free up some valuable hours too. More so, in order to focus on growing the business and generating revenue. After all, it can be easier and more cost-effective to outsource tasks that are tedious and time-consuming to someone who is skilled at them.
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As of today, there’s an increasing number of freelance contractors who work from home. And, as such, the employment market has seen a proliferation of Web-based companies that serve as intermediaries between prospective employers and contractors. Not forgetting, a freelancer site such as Fiverr has enormous work pools made up of individuals.
On such a site, clients can post details about the type of tasks they need the virtual assistant to perform for them. As well as the maximum rate they are willing to pay. Freelance workers may then bid on the job and give the client samples of their work for review. In some cases, the client can set up a video conference to interview the applicants.
As well as to more thoroughly assess their qualifications. Overall, before hiring a VA, it’s good for the client to ensure a smoother working relationship first. Particularly, by creating detailed instructions about tasks performance.
Steps To Become A Virtual Assistant
Interestingly, becoming a virtual assistant doesn’t require specific qualifications or training. However, virtual assistants need to have relevant background or experience that matches their clients’ needs. So, while there are no hard-and-fast educational requirements to become a virtual assistant, every client will have their own expectations.
For instance, they’ll look for virtual assistants who have some higher-level education or specialized training. Bearing in mind, a few online companies (like Udemy) and community colleges (like Pitman Training Kenya) offer courses and certifications for virtual assistant skills.
Pitman Training is great, independent, and flexible training provider. It offers over 250 training courses in qualifications for virtual assistants and other careers. With over 100 years of experience, its premium courses are your best bet. More so, to get the education you need to jumpstart your career today (contact them for more info).
That aside, it takes between no time and a few weeks to become a virtual assistant. Suffice to say, depending on your previous work experience and background. For example, a secretary can transition seamlessly into a VA. While a fresh school-leaver would need some time to acquire the basic skills of the profession.
The most common VA skills include:
- Reliability, resourcefulness, and diligence
- Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and time management skills
- Familiarity with communication and project management tools, such as Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Trello
- Expertise with productivity and image editing software, including Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop
- Ability to touch type with good speed and accuracy (60 words per minute with 99-100% accuracy)
In nutshell, a virtual assistant should be tech-savvy! Whilst, having a wide range of computer skills. And a high level of proficiency with commonly used software and business programs. Equally important, those who specialize in bookkeeping should be adept at basic accounting tasks too.
Such as account reconciliations and double-entry bookkeeping. A few of the most sought-after competencies are social media management, administrative support, and financial administration. On that note, a well-written VA manual reduces the risk of misunderstandings. Mostly, that can occur in a remote working relationship.
Some ways to get started as a virtual assistant include:
- A change in career from a secretary, administrative assistant, or office manager
- Learning the necessary skills through free courses, videos, and resources
- Earning a certificate by completing an online or in-person Virtual Assistant Training Course
A background in administrative support is most helpful because it gives you many transferable skills when transitioning into virtual assistance. If you’re in another line of work or just left school, though, you could still learn.
In particular, what it takes to become a VA through a relatively short course. And, once you’ve learned the ropes, you can explore several options to find work. As you market yourself as an expert rather than a general VA.
You may choose between the following:
- Become a self-employed freelancer and look for clients through your network, family, and friends
- Join a virtual assistant agency or freelancing platforms such as Upwork or Fiverr
- Set up your own business and website and start marketing your services
- Apply to full-time virtual assistant jobs on career websites and job boards
A good resource for aspiring and seasoned virtual assistants in the UK is the Society of Virtual Assistants. The platform provides information, tools, and even access to job openings. With a wide range of experience and expertise.
Generally, a few factors influence your earning potential as a virtual assistant, including years of experience, hours worked, and sector. As an example, virtual assistants in the UK earn an hourly wage of £12 to £25. And, with the average being around £15 per hour. The annual salary ranges between £20,000 and £47,000 but averages £27,000 per year.
Jour Our Virtual Assistants Team
As mentioned earlier, the desired skill set largely depends on the client’s needs and the sector. Some jobs require a financial background, while others entail proficiency in certain software. Therefore, it’s a good idea to specialize in a refine niche. And then, master the tools and tricks of the trade alongside.
At jmexclusives (aka Web Tech Experts), we are looking for a full-time dedicated Virtual Assistant. Someone who’s a self-motivated professional that thrives on innovation and overcomes challenges. Whilst, learning new skills and encouraging growth. If you think you are the one, then please feel free to Get In Touch with us for more job details.
But, if all you’ll need is more support guidance, you can always Consult Us any time and let us know how we can sort you out. Likewise, you can share your additional opinion thoughts, suggestions, recommendations, contributions, or even questions in our comments section. Also, don’t forget to share this guide with other web readers like you.
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