What Is A Virtual Assistant?
What is a Virtual Assistant and what exactly do they do? Here’s everything you need to know.
A virtual assistant is typically hired to complete tasks remotely on behalf of a business, including transcription, data entry, social media support, and providing customer care. These are very similar to tasks that an in-office administrative assistant would handle. Virtual Assistants usually work as independent contractors, although some are hired as full-time employees.
Keep reading to find out how much Virtual Assistants earn and how to become a Virtual Assistant! Learn how you can reap the rewards of working remotely in this lucrative, lesser-known field.
What Does A Virtual Assistant Do?
The internet has given way to a myriad of new-age job roles that allow employees to earn an income from home. A great example of one of these new-age job titles is a Virtual Assistant. But what exactly is a Virtual Assistant and what type work do they do? Keep reading and we’ll explore everything you need to know about Virtual Assistants, including qualifications, skills and pay.
Virtual assistants are tasked with completing a range of various tasks, usually administrative tasks remotely on behalf of a business or organization. These tasks tend to include:
- Scheduling appointments
- Formatting documents
- Sending emails
- Providing customer support
- Managing social media accounts
- Creating social media content
Virtual assistants work in a myriad of different industries and possess a variety of digital and non-digital skills that employers value highly. Virtual assistants who are able to adopt a hybrid skillset of traditional administrative skills and new-age digital skills are usually paid a higher wage and tend to ascend to higher-level roles within the company that they work for.
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As work-from-home opportunities continue to increase, a larger number of people are looking to digital and virtual roles like that of a virtual assistant. Virtual assistants are valued members of a business, they assist with time-consuming tasks that business owners, executives and other professionals need assistance with every single day.
Keep reading as we’ll discuss where to find a job as a virtual assistant as well as how much they are paid on average!
What Skills Do You Need To Become A Virtual Assistant?
In order to become a successful Virtual Assistant, you need to possess a number of digital and non-digital skills. You’ll need to be proficient on a computer, familiar with formatting documents and efficient with organizing schedules, emails and files. Here is a summary of the top skills that you need to become a successful virtual assistant:
Computer Literacy
Being able to operate a computer efficiently is a crucial skill set for any Virtual Assistant. From typing up emails and documents to formatting spreadsheets, as a Virtual Assistant, there are a number of tasks that will require you to possess efficient computer skills.
Organizational Skills
The tasks of a virtual assistant are very similar to those of a secretary or administrative assistant. Developing and maintaining strong organizational skills will set you up for a successful career as a Virtual Assistant.
Transcription
Virtual assistants are often tasked with transcribing audio into text documents. This can entail listening to online meetings, events, podcasts or videos and typing out the speech into written text. Online transcription is an excellent skill to add to your resume and will help improve your hourly wage, check out this transcription course here.
Detail Orientated
A virtual assistant will can be tasked with administrative tasks that require a high level of attention to detail. When completing a task, a virtual assistant should be able to spot any mistakes and grammar errors that arise before anybody else spots the mistake.
Communication
Communication is a key skill for becoming a successful virtual assistant. This is because Virtual Assistants are often tasked with sending emails, scheduling appointments and making phone calls. A virtual assistant that can efficiently communicate with others in a timely manner, will become a highly valued member of the organization/client that they work for.
How Do You Become A Virtual Assistant With No Experience?
The key to becoming a Virtual Assistant is developing a skill set that you are good at and that you enjoy. An excellent way to get started is to find training courses that will prepare you for a career as a Virtual Assistant and then develop your skills by completing tasks on freelance platforms like Fiverr, Upwork and Freelancer.
Once you have developed your skill set and portfolio as a Virtual Assistant, you can create a resume that is tailored towards Virtual Assistant jobs. Some of the best websites to search for Virtual Assistant jobs are:
Conclusion
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