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Virtual Assistant jobs are red-hot popular for freelancers. Keep reading to see what all the craze is about and how to get started.
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What Is A Virtual Assistant?
A virtual assistant is usually a freelance worker whose purpose is to boost a business owner's productivity by completing daily tasks. This affords the business owner or entrepreneur the ability to allocate their energies to other potentially more important tasks. A virtual assistant can be responsible for completing administrative duties, business development, social media, marketing and other tasks. Virtual assistants have the ability to work remotely, be it a home office, coffee shop, or a beach in Aruba making this perfect for freelancers. Another perk comes from the ability to scale ones hours as necessary. 10 Hours? 20 Hours? 40 hours? If you have the time, there is a virtual assistant job available to fill it. Virtual assistants are often paid an hourly rate or a fixed fee per week or month.
Ok, Ok... So What Tasks Would I Be Responsible For Completing?
There are a wide variety of tasks you might be responsible for completing depending on the employer and career path. Here are some examples:
Scheduling
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Booking Travel and Event Planning
Organizing Files
Editing and Drafting emails and Other Documents
Email and Calendar Organization
Running Social Media Accounts
Replying to Comments on Blog Posts and Social Media Accounts
To find out more about the different career paths and how much they get paid, check out this article.
How Much Does A Virtual Assistant Get Paid?
The pay scale for a virtual assistant can vary depending on the field of work you are in, the amount of work you are responsible for, if you have a specialty, and a few other factors. The average pay for a virtual assistant in the United States according to Indeed is $19.41 at the time of writing this article. Many virtual assistant jobs are paid based off job completion versus hours worked. The more skill and experience you offer, the higher the wage you are likely to get paid.
Do I Need To Have Any Specific Equipment To Work As A Virtual Assistant?
Another perk of being a freelance virtual assistant is the minimal equipment necessary to do this job. As one would expect, a reliable and fast desktop and/or laptop computer accompanied by a speedy internet connection is a must. These will be your primary and most important pieces of technology. A reliable cell phone with a cellular phone plan that will support your work needs is also pretty crucial. Lastly, an email account will be used for a large majority of the way you communicate with your employer. A suggested piece of equipment is a webcam for your desktop if you do not have one. One might also find that a headset might be useful depending on what your responsibilities are.
Do I Need Any Special Skills Or Education?
While a degree from a university or any specialized certification or training isn't necessary, any particular specialized training you do have(or are willing to learn) can be leveraged to make you a more valuable client to a potential hiring business. Here are some personal skills that will help you be successful as a personal assistant:
Excellent Verbal and Written Skills
Good Organizational Skills
Excellent Computer Skills
Discipline to meet guidelines and work with little supervision
Knowledge of Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
Approachable
Reliable
How Do I Snag Me One Of These Virtual Assistant Gigs?
Well more than likely you will have to take part in a job interview. More than likely, the interview will also be online. Here are a few guidelines for putting yourself ahead of your competition:
Dress Appropriately: Just because the interview is conducted while you sit in your home, doesn't mean that you can attend the interview dressed in your pajamas. If you're too lazy to even get dressed and put your best foot forward, then what message do you think will come across to your potential future employer?
Check your Mic and Camera: Proper preparation before the interview is another sign of your ability to be a professional and can only reflect positively on your ability to plan ahead and be prepared. Make sure that the lighting is also appropriate to display a good picture of your likeness.
Sanitize/Professionalize your Background: Assure that your background is appropriately decorated for a professional setting. Also, assure that background noise is kept to a minimum by requesting roommates/partners/family members keep their noise to a minimum. This includes silencing your cellular phone notifications as well.
Research your Client Before the Interview: This will further make you look prepared and feel more confident. The more confident you feel, the more that will show in your interview.
Prepare for Incoming Questions: There are many questions that you should be ready to answer. A few of them are - What made you want to become a virtual assistant? What is your primary skill or expertise? When given unclear instructions on how to complete a project, what steps to you take to get clarification? Have you ever managed more than one client? How do you or would you manage competing priorities?
Have your Own Questions Written Out: Be prepared with your questions to ask your client by having them written out. No need to have them memorized. Remember that interviews are a 2 way street. You should be interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.
This Sounds Like The Perfect Job!
While there are many pros to working as a virtual assistant, just remember there is no such thing as a perfect job. Here are some of the cons of being a virtual assistant that you may run into:
Managing the expectations of another person can be very challenging
You have to clearly communicate how much you are willing to work
Sticking to your own guidelines as to how much you will work
Balancing personal life and the needs of the client or multiple clients
There are TONS of scams out there that will cost you your hard earned money...Don't Get Scammed!
So Where Do I Go To Find These Virtual Assistant Jobs?
There are many freelancing websites out there and no shortage of freelance virtual assistance jobs. Our recommendations for the 6 best freelance websites can be found here.
Conclusion
Virtual Assistant is a perfect freelance job for someone who has good discipline, can meet deadlines, and can work independently without being heavily supervised.
It's important to learn skills that will keep you standing out ahead of your competition.
While the work can be challenging, it can also be rewarding. Stay professional and put your best foot forward and you will thrive as a Virtual Assistant.
Lastly, keep your eye out for scams that can compromise your client or your pocket.