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Become a virtual assistant: freedom and flexibility for professionals working from home
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Photo courtesy of Shlomit Wolf (sxc.hu)
A virtual assistant, also commonly referred to as a virtual office assistant, is a person who provides support to businesses or individuals virtually over the internet, usually from a home office. Virtual assistants provide technical, administrative, personal or creative assistance to their clients. Duties will vary from job to job, but may include things like email and telephone conferencing, appointment setting, bookkeeping, marketing, handling correspondences and email, transcribing, organizing meetings, and taking/making phone calls.
Anything that can be done as an office or administrative assistant can be done as a virtual assistant, and this is good news for the aspiring telecommuter with experience in an office environment. Competition is often fierce for virtual assistant jobs, but with the right skills and training, you might be able to land the job of your dreams. Typical pay is anywhere from $20-$60 per hour, and in most cases the hours are extremely flexible.
Virtual Assistant Training
There is no formal training or certification required to become an internet virtual assistant, but it can help to take some refresher classes to sharpen your skill set and ensure you’re ahead of the competition. Office administration classes offered by your local community college can be of immense value, but if this isn’t an option, there are numerous online classes that can provide the training you need.
1.) Virtual Assistance U – This Company is one of the most highly respected in the virtual assistant training field. They are known for setting the benchmark for VA training, and provide expert training and coaching for anyone desiring a VA career. The program is expensive, but its money well spent if you really want to work at home and give yourself an edge over your competitors. They also offer scholarships so that most anyone can take advantage of the program.
2.) International Virtual Assistants Association – The IVAA is a wonderful starting point for aspiring virtual assistants. They are a non-profit organization dedicated to the professional education and training of their members. They offer a ton of resources for new and experienced assistants that can’t be found anywhere else on the web. They also offer their own certification at a very affordable price and a mentorship program.
How to Become a Virtual Assistant
Once you’re confident in your skills as a virtual assistant, there are two paths open to you. You can promote yourself and work as an independent contractor, or find a company that hires virtual assistants as employees. Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you’ll need to find what works best for you and your lifestyle.
· Working as an independent contractor – This may be the most difficult road to take for a new virtual assistant and requires promotion of yourself and your services. Creation of your own website, social networking, attending job fairs, and posting ads on relevant websites such as Craigslist and Guru.com are just some of the many things you can do to promote yourself as a virtual assistant. It takes time and hard work, but it is possible to carve out a living as a freelance VA.
· Become a virtual assistant employee – There are several companies which hire virtual assistants, and this could save a lot of time and effort promoting your services, as well as provide steady, full-time work for a single company. VIPDesk is one such company, and they are known as the pioneer of home-based virtual contact solutions. They aren’t always hiring, as the turnover rate is very low. However, they sometimes offer independent contracting situations in addition to hiring employees.
Virtual Assistant Help and Support
For more information and support, there are numerous online communities and virtual assistant forums you can join. Here are some of the most highly recommended:
These are the basic guidelines to become a virtual assistant. Keep in mind that it is a job, and like any job hard work and time will be required. If you have determination and the ability to take the bull by the horns, you can work from home as a virtual assistant, no matter what your experience level. Those with applicable real life experience will have an edge, but don’t let that stop you if you think this is the career for you.
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