Unlike regular jobs, with virtual assistants jobs, you have the privilege of working remotely, whether from home or anywhere with a computer and internet.
The freedom that comes with it is unmatchable and it’s no wonder VA jobs are rated as one of the fastest-growing digital career choices.
Have you been eyeing a virtual assistant job but don’t know where to start? Great! You are just in time.
Read along to discover what it takes to be a virtual assistant, how to build your career portfolio, and hopefully make a full-time job out of it.
And just in case you have no idea what this niche is all about, we’ve got that covered too!
What is a VA job?
Simply put, a virtual assistant spearheads administrative tasks (and more) on behalf of a client, all from a remote location.
Yes, all you need is a computer, internet connection, and a handful of general skills to qualify as one. They easily double up as a personal assistant or executive assistant depending on the nature of tasks at hand.
Being a VA is quite flexible in that you get to choose whether to work for a company, business or render your services as an independent contractor.
It’s all up to you. Of course, the latter unlocks a whole new level of liberality as far as working hours and charges go.
However, if you’re still finding your way around this profession an already established platform would be a great start like this one.
What Does a VA do?
It’s hard to en masse all that a virtual assistant can do because the duties spread far and wide. It ultimately depends on what the client is outsourcing for.
Some exclusively specialize in personal management tasks while others extend into the commercial scene.
But if we were to try to summarize the basic general components, it would look something like this;
Administrative roles
- Calendar and schedule management
- Answering and directing calls
- File and document organization
- Basic data entry
- Email monitoring and organizing
- Billing and accounting activities
- Writing and maintaining records
- Vetting potential clients, projects, partnerships, etc.
Personal Tasks
- Organizing your to-do list and calendar.
- Booking travel arrangements for weekend trips or vacations.
- Helping you make purchases – gifts, books, stationery, hardware, etc!
Social Media Engagement
- Maintaining or updating a client’s social media or professional profile.
- Creating content to share on your social media accounts i.e., blogs.
- Scheduling posts
- Engaging with followers
- Boost search engine optimization and drive traffic to your website
- Analyzing statistics, reports, and feedback.
Apart from the fact that you would have to be comfortable spending a huge chunk of your day in front of a screen, a good number of these roles are pretty straightforward and need no special training to master.
This is what makes the career choice viable for anyone even if it’s on a part-time basis.
In special cases, however, such as social media and content creation, taking an online course would place you a shoulder taller than a freelancer with no certification in the same.
So if this is an area you intend to explore, take time to polish your resume with a few advanced skills so you can stand out.
How to Become a Virtual Assistant
Now that you have an idea of what it takes, the big question is where to start and how. Quick disclaimer, rising to the level where you can solely live off a VA job is no walk in the park.
Even with the advantage of time and flexibility, it takes patience and dedication just like with any other job or business.
On the flip side, once you get the ball rolling, it gets easier and plenty of people have done it.
Enough said. There are different ways to go about it. You could hop onto freelance sites where prospects can find you.
Start under a company hiring virtual assistants, or go the independent way. (offering your services on social media or on your website) Either way, you need a strong portfolio that will advertise your skills.
- Find a niche
Begin by deciding on what you will offer ahead of time. Your area of focus should preferably major in your strengths and passion. Sometimes generalizing too much could lose you points, so when creating your VA resume, strive to be specific.
- Get in front of clients
Because this is more of a virtual CV, create a website where prospects can find you. Boost this with your social media platforms and drive traffic there.
Also, having a demo(s) of the work you’ve done, to serve as evidence, could help rope in undecided buyers. If you don’t have a sample, offer a free trial instead and show what you can do.
- Connect with Facebook groups or blogs within your niche
The extra support helps in making the waters less murky. See how others are doing it and borrow a few tips here and there.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek advice, but be careful that the group is legit. There are plenty of cons out there waiting for the opportunity to scam beginners.
- Get to work!
Once your CV is out in the public eye, all that’s left to do is await hiring. If you were successful enough to get into a company leasing VA services, you’re off to a great start.
Freelance market spaces like UpWork, Fiverr, Freelance my Way, Flex jobs, etc, may also get you some willing clients even if you’re just starting. All you need is a catchy resume.
If these are not an option for you, try finding clients yourself. You could start with personal contacts or apply to companies you are interested in working with.
The groups you are in could equally unlock a large pool of customers. In other words, network and do it all the more!
After landing a job offer, don’t be afraid to ask for feedback and testimonials. These are crucial especially if you have no previous work experience to show.
Again, it’s from these testimonials that you get references and new clients.
Just to highlight a brief list of companies that offer virtual assistant jobs, consider;
If these do not fit into your niche, do some more research to find one that does or at least comes close as possible.
How much does a Virtual Assistant make ?
The pay depends on many factors including, location, experience level, as well as clientele.
A virtual assistant working from the Western world is more likely to fetch higher prices than one working from India for example.
Yet again the years of work as well as area of expertise is what really draws the line.
General admin tasks could average somewhere between $25 per hour, while more advanced skills such as Word Press, web design, graphics, social media strategies, and SEO articles will come with a steeper price tag, roughly $50 per hour.
The best part about it is that you can combine several part times jobs from different clients to create a full-time gig for yourself.
So even if you’re not making so much from one job, it can be compensated with a more generous buyer.
It`s advicable to look for long term clients, and this only comes with the quality of work you deliver, that simple $50 job could easily turn into thousands in the long term if you treat your works well as your clients with respect.
Conclusion
For anyone thinking of how to make some extra money on the side, remote help jobs are indeed a favorable hub. And while we are on the subject, blogging too can prove quite lucrative especially if you learn the art of affiliate marketing. What are you waiting for!
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