What Is A Virtual Assistant?

A lot of people have probably heard or read the term ‘virtual assistant’. No, it is not a computer-generated character that acts like your personal assistant. It is one of the many ways to make money online for those who are thinking about getting an online work.

According to Wikipedia, a virtual assistant is someone who “provides professional administrative, technical, or creative assistance to clients remotely from a home office”. In other words, instead of having a real, actual secretary, administrative assistant, or executive assistant, you can get a virtual assistant. This person is someone you hire online and who does the work that is usually done by a secretary, administrative assistant, or executive assistant.

Currently, this work area is growing and the exact number of those working as virtual assistants is hard to estimate because they are considered independent contractors so it can be quite hard to survey how many there are. If you are interested in finding out how to make money fast and you have excellent office skills, becoming a virtual assistant is quite easy. Below are two things you will need to consider before becoming one.

·         Independent or firm. The first thing you would have to think about is whether you want to be an independent virtual assistant or would you want to be working with a VA firm? The advantage with working under a VA firm is that you do not have to spend a lot of time looking for clients. Most VA firms have regular clients and it will be easier to get VA work if you are associated with one. However, the amount of money you can earn is potentially higher if you are working independently. Also, being an independent contractor means you will not have to answer to anyone except to your client.

·         Equipment. You will need some equipment whether you are working as a virtual assistant independently or under a VA firm. The basic things you will need are a telephone line, an internet connection, a desktop/laptop, and a set of headphones with microphone. It is very important that all of these basic things are highly reliable and in excellent quality because you do not want any of these to prevent you from delivering high quality work. Aside from these, you might also want to invest in a printer, a fax machine, and other office supplies, once you start getting clients. Sometimes a client may request for something specific so be ready to provide it if needed.

How To Become A Virtual Assistant

Nowadays, a lot of people are turning to the Internet and trying to find out how to earn money online. The World Wide Web has provided numerous ways to earn money at home and some of these have become a solid and reliable employment option.

Among the careers that you can pursue online is that of a virtual assistant. Virtual assistants are the online versions of secretaries and administration assistants. The job description is the same except that a virtual assistant does not have to go to the office everyday. Virtual assistants usually work from home and make use of various modes of communication with their employer such as through email, phone calls, video calls, chats, and fax messages.

Depending on the work hours, the experience, and the skill set of a particular virtual assistant, this online job pays reasonably good especially if you consider the fact that a virtual assistant has minimal expenses. Below is a guide for those who would like to become a virtual assistant.

·         Prepare your qualifications. Although many employers do not have any specific set of qualifications they are looking for, they will still ask you for your credentials. It will also be a huge advantage if you have experience doing clerical and office work. If you have none, consider taking a short course that runs only for a few weeks on skills that you will need to help make it easier for you to land a virtual assistant job. 

·         Get equipped. A serious, regular virtual assistant job requires you to have more than just your desktop. Even before you find a job as a virtual assistant, make sure that you have a reliable computer and internet connection. Aside from these, you will need a good pair of headset and microphone. Get a printer, a scanner, a fax machine, and a telephone.

·         Market yourself. If you are just starting as a virtual assistant, do not expect to easily find an employer who will consider hiring you. However, there is no reason why you cannot market yourself by posting your resume online in websites that connect employers to contractors. Some websites that might be good are oDesk.com, virtualassistants.com, virtual assistantjobs.com, and many more.

·         Build your network. The key to flourishing in the virtual assistant field is to build a network of connections that you can easily tap into if you need more. Sometimes you can find work from the people in your network.