The Virtual Assistant field is becoming more and more popular. Businesses realize that it saves them time (they don’t have to do the work themselves) and money (no benefits to pay) to hire Virtual Assistants.
And more and more people are wanting to work out of their homes rather than have to commute to a job, pay for child care, pay for gas, pay for parking, and all of the other expenses that come with working in an office.
Of course, on the other side of the coin, you will have to pay for your office supplies, you must have your own equipment, and you’ll be pretty isolated by yourself with no other people around you.
So the first thing you have to decide is – Is this for me? Am I ready to stay home every day for work and have no day-to-day interactions with people?
But if you have decided, Yes, this is for me, I want to be a Virtual Assistant, then here’s what you need to know to get you started – some steps you should take and also where to start looking.
Initial Steps To Take For Becoming a Virtual Assistant
What Skills Do You Have?
You have to determine what your strengths are that you can offer to potential clients. You want your resume to highlight everything you can do in the administrative field that will show you are capable of getting the job done.
- Computer Skills – Are you proficient on the computer – such as managing email inboxes and responding to emails. Can you create documents, spreadsheets, manage file sharing using cloud-based software?
- Communication Skills – Do you have excellent communication skills, written and verbal, which are vital in the Virtual Assistant role. That’s because you will be responsible for contacting clients, keeping them up-to-date on what is going on, receiving your assignments and responding – just to name a few.
- Typing/Grammatical Skills – Any documents you turn in have to be error free with the proper grammar so it’s important you are proficient in this area. If you want to practice your typing skills you can take practice tests at RataType. It’s free and a great way to increase your speed and accuracy.
- Organization and Time Management – Not only are you going to be responsible for keeping yourself organized and manage your time properly, you are also going to have to keep your clients organized. You may be responsible for their calendars, schedules, and appointments – and you may also be juggling multiple clients. So organizational skills are vital.
What Services Will You Offer and How Will You Price Them?
Doing a bit of research for this will be your best bet. There’s a ton of information online that can help you determine what services to offer.
Here’s a list of services to help you get started. Once you determine what you want to offer, put packages together with the services listed and at a set price.
The above step may be unnecessary if you choose to go with a Virtual Assistant Company that hires Virtual Assistants and will connect you with potential clients. There’s a list of these companies below.
Have An Updated Resume
Your resume is the first thing a hiring manager is going to see. If it looks like crap, well then more than likely it will end up in the trash.
Learning how to design an effective resume should be something you will want to know how to do, and start with yours!
Your resume should include your contact information, job summary or objectives (if you don’t have experience), your educational background, your related skills, and any awards you may have received that’s related to your field of interest.
Have The Necessary Equipment
Most VA’s will only need a laptop, dependable high speed internet connection and your cell phone. But this is all dependent upon what type of services you are offering as a Virtual Assistant.
As you grow as a VA you may also want to add a printer/copier/scanner. And depending on your cell service, you may have to add a landline.
Do You Need A Website?
This question is answered in many different ways in the online world, depending on what you are looking for.
So this is just my two cents on whether you should have a website or not.
When you are just starting out and IF you are going to go through websites that hire Virtual Assistants – most of them find the clients and then assign them to whatever VA meets their requirements. You would have gone through a hiring process with this company and submitted your resume.
So in this instance you don’t really need a website – at least at the very beginning.
Once you get more experience under your belt as a Virtual Assistant, you may decide you want to start your own Virtual Assistant business.
If that happens, then, yes, you do need a website. Most definitely.
However, if you decide right from the start that you want to have your own Virtual Assistant business but the thought of setting up your own website is what’s holding you back, you can try the following:
- You Can Create a Facebook Business Page – You can add your services to your page, design a cover page, and invite people to like your page. Business pages are easy to set up and look professional.
- Make a LinkedIn Profile – LinkedIn is known more as a business tool than a social media platform. You can set up a business profile and they walk you through all of the steps. And you can also list all of the services you are offering as a Virtual Assistant.
You will need a website eventually but this will get you started so you aren’t holding yourself back because you don’t have a website.
Starting Off Is Never Easy
Yes, starting off is never easy, but just don’t let it hold you back – take one step at a time and keep moving forward. And remember – If it was easy then everyone would be doing it.
Many VA’s will start out as a generalist, where they offer a variety of services just to get their foot in the door and get their name out there.
However, you don’t want to stay a generalist (the pay is much lower). As you get more and more comfortable working as a Virtual Assistant, you will find things that you love doing, and things you really don’t enjoy at all.
Knowing this will help you decide what services you want to offer and you can start to move in that direction.
You may also want to consider using a company that hires Virtual Assistants and then they assign you clients based on your resume. You will also have to go through a hiring process with them.
Going through a company will help you get more comfortable with the whole process of being a Virtual Assistant. Clients will get to know you and you will build up your resume.
Then when you are ready, you can always start your own business, which would bring in more money because you will be setting your own rates.
Websites That Hire Virtual Assistants As Freelancers
A Virtual Assistant company is simply a company that outsources their work. They will have a list of clients and what the clients need, and then they outsource that to Virtual Assistants who meet the requirements.
Belay
One of the services that Belay offers to their clients is Virtual Assistance. They also offer their clients Accounting, Social Media and Website Services. Belay does all of the client search for you, no need to track down clients. However, Belay does have an extensive recruiting process for their VA’s, to include video interviews and skills assessments.
Time Etc
Virtual Assistants is what their whole company is about. What they look for in the VA’s is:
- Key Traits – Are you a good problem solver? Are you reliable? How’s your accountability?
- Personality – Are you a positive person? How assertive are you? Are you an honest person with strong moral principles?
- Education – They carefully assess their VA’s education and prefer a college degree, but sometimes experience overrides education.
- Experience – They want at least 5 – 8 years of experience.
- English Skills – They require strong written english skills and they do an assessment of spelling and grammar.
- Communication – They look for strong verbal and written communication skills on both a formal and casual basis.
- Programs/Software – They look for specific software experience including Outlook, Gmail, Google Apps and Microsoft office.
- Environment – They require you to have a quiet work space.
- Long-Term Commitment – They want their VA’s to be there for the long-term.
Zirtual
“We only accept college-educated virtual assistants who live in the United States. Our hiring process is tough. Today, most of our newcomers are referred to us by assistants who our customers have loved for years.”
Currently Zirtual does not have many openings but they suggest you check their site often.
ClickWorker
“Clickworker is always looking for Internet users worldwide who can, for example, create or correct texts, participate in surveys or search and categorize data for us.
How it works: You can sign up as a Clickworker free of charge. You work independently, your schedule is flexible and all you need is a computer and/or mobile device with an Internet connection. You decide when and how much you want to work – on a freelance basis.”
VA Networking
VA Networking offers a lot of free information to get you started as a Virtual Assistant. Even if you choose not to apply with VA Networking, you should really check out their site for the free info.
As the name implies, this is a great way to network with other virtual assistants, along with their job board that you can search through.
“Whether you are…
A new, aspiring Virtual Assistant on a budget looking for FREE resources to help you get your first client?
A seasoned Virtual Assistant looking for further study, coaching & training programs to help your business make more money?
A busy business owner wanting to learn how to outsource to a Virtual Assistant or even hire a VA?
We’ve got you covered! We have every resource you’ll ever need on virtual assistance right here so dig in and start learning today.”
Assistant Match
This is another Virtual Assistant site that makes the connections for you. Depending on what your skills are, they’ll match you up with what their clients need. The only downside is the pay isn’t great for beginners but it is getting you experience as a VA.
“We strive to make the transition to virtual assistant easy, profitable, enjoyable and fast. Whether you are a Work at Home Mom (WAHM), recently laid off, wanting to reenter the workforce, or are looking for part time income, virtual assistance could be a great match for you.”
Fancy Hands
They’re another site that hires freelancers to provide services for their clients, everything from phone calls to data entry.
“We’re currently hiring people to work as assistants for thousands of very discerning users of this site. If you have a fast internet connection and the ability to use common websites and software, this could be a lot of fun. We’re looking for smart people who want to help others, and help build a great company. Are you good on the phone and great at internet research? This could be the perfect position for you.”
Conclusion
Only you can decide which route you want to take when you are starting out as a Virtual Assistant.
Because you are the one that knows what you are capable of doing, how much you want to work, how much you want to earn, and whether or not you want to be a business owner.
Check out some of the companies listed here that hire Virtual Assistants and see if that interests you.
You may also want to research successful Virtual Assistants that have their own business – check out their websites, read their About Me page, and also the services they offer.
What you DON’T want to do is sit around reading about becoming a Virtual Assistant and never take action. That’s just daydreaming – and you’re an action taker – so take some kind of action to get you started in the right direction!
Have a Wonderful Day!
