How to Start Your Remote Career as a Virtual Assistant in 2022
Becoming a virtual assistant is one of the most accessible paths to becoming a remote worker. Companies, small and large, are seeking individuals to complete simple tasks such as scheduling appointments, making phone calls, customer support, managing emails, and much more. Virtual assistants are extremely valuable to companies across the globe as they can perform and complete tasks that inherently help the company run smoothly.
What type of person is a Virtual Assistant?
Successful Virtual Assistants are, first and foremost - organized. To succeed in this role, these individuals must be meticulous and focus on attention to detail. Whether you accurately schedule travel arrangements or follow up on potential new customers, the attention to detail is critical to your success and reputation as a Virtual Assistant. These types of remote workers are also adaptable and forward-thinking. Virtual Assistants are always on their toes, ensuring that tasks are completed, projects are submitted on time, and changes are adjusted accordingly. The typical tasks of a Virtual Assistant may change slightly over time, and it is vital to remain flexible. And lastly, effective and timely communication is fundamental. Every supervisor appreciates a virtual assistant who can communicate, ask for clarifications, and provide feedback and updates.
So how do you become a Virtual Assistant?
1. Determine your niche
Now that you have decided that this role is perfect for your personality and work ethic, you must determine which virtual tasks you can perform the most effectively and efficiently. As mentioned above, Virtual Assistants can offer various services; therefore, it is wise to focus on a few tasks that you believe you will personally excel in.
How do you decide? Create a list of tasks you enjoy performing in your free time or from previous professional experiences. It can be as simple as:
‘I enjoy conversations with people to discover their needs and how I can assist them in finding the necessary resources.’
Or
‘I enjoy crafting emails that are enticing and thought-provoking.’
On the opposite end of the spectrum, it would be wise if you created a list of tasks that you don’t enjoy performing such as:
‘I find it really challenging to create social media posts that are esctatically pleasing.’
It will be helpful to avoid specific jobs that you know performing certain tasks will become stressful and daunting. Therefore, find your niche, discover your strengths, and pursue your natural talents.
2. Attend Training Courses
Depending on the area of virtual assistance you want to offer, try to find some courses that will advance your skills and credibility. There are free and paid resources available online. Youtube is one of the best free platforms to learn these new skills - they have creators from all different industries and categories of virtual assistants who share their experiences and how they became successful in their roles. Otherwise, there are also paid educational courses through companies like Coursera, which will have complete lesson plans with worksheets, quizzes, and study materials to help you acclimate to your career. Whichever direction you choose, you will feel more confident with a Virtual Assistant's expectations, jargon, and workload.
3. Create Your Professional Profile
Once you have determined which tasks and projects you prefer, you need to share your expertise with potential clients. There are many places where you can develop and showcase your portfolio of skills.
LinkedIn - LinkedIn is the social media network for working professionals. This platform is the best space to share your desire for a Virtual Assistant. Your profile will include professional work experiences, certifications, and unique skills. Networking opportunities are available and make sure to keep your profile updated.
Personal Website - If you want to step up your game and show future employers that you mean business, you can set up a website that will highlight why they want to hire you as their assistant. Nowadays, it is straightforward to create a one-page personal website.
Upwork - If you want to freelance your work, great websites to consider creating a profile would be Upwork, Fiverr or other websites offering freelancing services.
4. Set Your Price
Virtual Assistants charge anywhere from $5 to $100 per hour. This vast salary range depends on many factors, including the tasks you will perform, your credentials, and the level of value you bring to the company. So how do you know where to start?
At first, it is wise to charge a lower fee to gain experience and collect customer reviews. Over time, you can increase your prices to fit with the market rate for other assistants performing similar tasks. With that, never undervalue your own talents and value. Once you stand by your rates, you must believe that your skills and expertise will be advancing; therefore your rates must grow with you!
5. Put Yourself Out There AND Learn!
It is time to showcase your new skills online through posting and networking. You can showcase your desire to work as a Virtual Assistant in many different ways, and you need to find an effective method for clients to discover you. You can create a social media channel to advertise your materials and experience. You can post your services on freelancing websites. And in the process, start networking with people in your field. You can join a Facebook group to learn trade tricks and tips. And this will likely lead to connections with other Virtual Assistants in your area. Ask your friends and family if they know anyone looking for your services.
Most importantly, enjoy the process! Becoming a virtual assistant can be one of the most rewarding careers for people who are organized, self-motivated, and dependable. Finding a remote career that fits your personality is key. So find your niche, get the training, and put yourself out there; the rest will be your personal history.
