How To Become A Virtual Assistant
If you are looking to start working for yourself, be your own boss, and build your freedom. Then learning about how to become a virtual assistant will be an ideal career option for you. Becoming a virtual assistant will bring work-life balance, flexibility, and diversity.
If you have ever thought of starting a small business at home, then a virtual assistant job might work for you.
But before moving towards, how to become a virtual assistant, let’s take a look at,
What is A Virtual Assistant?
A virtual Assistant is a person that provides remote administrative and technical support services to businesses or business owners.
VA provides services from a remote location. A virtual assistant’s all tasks can be carried out online, from any location with a good internet connection.
A virtual assistant is highly demanded by online businesses, entrepreneurs, and professionals who need assistance. But, they want to hire a full-time employee or staff.
Thus, it gives an advantage to employers by eliminating hiring costs, and other fixed costs, more flexibility, and much more. While the virtual assistant enjoys independence, flexibility, and working from the comfort of their home.
Virtual assistants’ jobs vary a little bit from each other, but there are some general elements. Some VAs provide assistance in minor works, like scheduling calendars, responding to emails, or collecting and compiling information before meetings.
However, other performs high-end works that are more technical. Like finding leads and business opportunities, scheduling and managing social media posts and email marketing, bookkeeping, and much more.
Virtual assistants’ jobs are in high demand thanks to high-speed internet, document sharing, and the cheapest connectivity and communication modes.
How To Become A Virtual Assistant
You can follow these eight steps to start your career as a virtual assistant.
1. Determine your skill set
The first step in becoming a virtual assistant is to determine your own skill set. Which of your skill is your strength and you can provide services regarding them? Even with minimum experience, virtual assistants get hired.
A resume highlights your skills and abilities that will show your employer that you are capable of doing tasks or jobs.
There are some common and basic skills that a virtual assistant needs;
Computer competence
The virtual assistant needs to have command of computer operations to perform their tasks. They need to have some familiarity with the usage internet, emailing, communication, creating files, documents, spreadsheets, and more.
Communication skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required in virtual assistants. It is a necessary skill for this job. Because of clients’ contact, receiving and sending documents to clients, creating records, customer support, and much more.
Time Management skills
Virtual assistants need to be professional and skillful in managing their time and fulfilling their tasks.
2. Identify what services you can offer
Once after determining your skill set, it is time to identify what service you are willing to offer. There might be many services you can offer, but it is better to choose two or three best ones to provide.
Identify all the services you can offer and write them down. Although there will be many, but it is better to choose and target clients on those skills. It will also help you in avoiding taking on projects in which you have doubts.
3. Identify the prices to charge
After identifying your services to offer, you need to price those services. Determine your fee, you can determine your own fee schedule as well. You can charge on the basis of hours, daily, weekly, monthly, or after completing the project.
The best is to look for what others are charging with similar experience and skills as of yours. You can charge near to them and avoid charging too high so that you don’t get any projects. Or charging too low will devalue the whole market.
4. Acquire any required equipment
After determining your services and prices, it is now time to determine the required equipment to fulfill those services. Depending upon the service you provide, or the type and number of tasks you get, you might need laptops or multiple digital screens.
Generally virtual assistant needs an internet, laptop, cell phone, headset, dedicated landline or phone number, and machine for scanning and copying.
5. Create your professional profile and online presence
After setting up your business, now it is time to let the world know about you. The best is to create an online resume and portfolio of tasks that you have done in past. You can add your skills, knowledge, and certifications.
For that purpose, you can create a profile on social media platforms, which will make it easier for people to find you. You can create your profile on LinkedIn, Facebook, Fiverr, Upwork and other platforms to help your potential clients find you.
Secondly, you can create your own website that shows a similar profile as your social media. It will help your clients find you, see your work and connect with you.
Ensure that your all profiles are genuine, clear, and accurate. It will help you in gaining the credibility and trust of your clients.
6. Start by applying for jobs
After setting up all the requirements, now it is time to look for clients. Firstly, you need to look for companies that are in need or hiring virtual assistants. You might need to accept or compromise on your fee and accept the company’s terms and conditions.
You can look for virtual assistant jobs on Indeed, Upwork, LinkedIn, Fiverr, and more.
7. Build your portfolio and market your services
After gaining some of the virtual assistant experience, you can ask your clients for feedback. This will boost your profile, and confidence, build your portfolio of client reviews and portray your work on your profiles.
Building this type of portfolio and profile will help you get more clients, good paying jobs, and gain more experience.
Your success will be highly dependent upon your ability to market and sell your services. For that purpose, you can use social media, websites, and professional profiles and platforms to make yourself visible to clients.
Showcase your portfolio and skills on these platforms and focus on building customer relationships and a network of clients.
8. Focus on a niche
A virtual assistant can increase their charges by specializing in a niche. You can develop a specific skill, gain experience in it, and market yourself as an expert in that skill set.
There are various areas, in which you can specialize, email marketing, social media marketing and management, website design, and more.
The Bottom Line
Now you know how to become a virtual assistant by following these seven steps. Becoming a VA can give you a happy life, with a business that makes money and time to relax. A virtual assistant can make money from the comfort of their home.
The great thing about starting your career as a VA, you don’t need a professional degree. Secondly, you can make a well-paid income from the comfort of your own home.
Read more: What Does A Virtual Assistant Do
How To Become A Virtual Assistant FAQ
1. How do I start working as a virtual assistant?
You can follow these eight steps to start your career as a virtual assistant.
- Determine your skill set
- Identify what services you can offer
- Identify the prices to charge
- Acquire any required equipment
- Create your professional profile and online presence
- Start by applying for jobs
- Build your portfolio and market your services
- Focus on a niche
2. What exactly does a virtual assistant do?
A virtual Assistant is a person that provides remote administrative and technical support services to businesses or business owners.
VA provides services from a remote location. Virtual assistants all tasks can be carried out online, from any location with a good internet connection.
3. What qualifications do I need to be a virtual assistant?
Virtual assistant basic requirements are;
- High school qualification degree or any equivalent degree
- Verbal and written communication skills
- Computer competence
- Time management skills
4. How much does a virtual assistant makes?
A virtual assistant in the United States makes $59,888 a year. An average VA makes $28.79 per hour.
5. Is it hard to become a virtual assistant?
Yes of course, just like all jobs it is hard in the beginning as you need to learn a lot of things.
