How To Become A Virtual Assistant & Make Extra Income
After the recent pandemic, there are seemingly countless remote job opportunities out there. Yet, people are fond of a certain type of category.
Among them: Virtual Assistant.
Virtual assistant was popular in the job hiring category before “work from home” was even a thing. In fact, it has the same characteristics; you've got to pick your own working hours, you've flexibility, scalability, and a balanced work ethic. But what exactly does a virtual assistant do and why is it so popular?
Here's everything you need to know about Virtual Assistants and how you can become one if you have a certain skill set.
A virtual assistant (VA) is a person that gives support to an individual or a business from a remote location. Every virtual assistant job is a little different, depending on the work requirements, but the core concept of the title is the same. VA’s are often contractors or freelancers that work as full-time or part-time employees.
The reason why they are in high demand is because of the fact they charge less and are way more flexible than a full-time in-house employee. You can scale them on your business needs and always expect the work to be delivered on time.
On the other hand, VA’s enjoy the flexibility and independence of remote work and offer assistance in every part of your organization.
The range of tasks involved in the VA segment is enormous. You can expect the tiniest of detail to be fulfilled by them, anywhere in the world.
Some VA’s are hired based on a specific skill set, such as a programmer, content writer, or a digital market - and others are expected to juggle what is required by the entrepreneur or businesses. Typical responsibilities of a VA include:
And the list can go on. Whatever comes to your mind that helps uplift the company in a better way, is included as part of the VA’s profile. That’s likely why there are so many opportunities in this segment, and is already expected to double by the end of 2024.
The “how much you earn” part really depends on your location and the number of expertise you have. A virtual assistant generally makes around $10 to $50 an hour. Those who work freelance set’s their base pay in terms of the number of hours spent. Alternatively, those who have contracts receive a base pay at the end of the project completed.
The best thing you can do as a VA, especially if you’re starting out, is to strategize your goals and choose a specific niche in which you’re good at.
If you’re good at replying to emails, congratulations, there are plenty of jobs for you. If you’re good at something else, you can find a suitable position for that one as well. But the key is, there are already tons of VA’s out there, so to stand out from the crowd, you need to showcase a unique factor that you’re the best.
By becoming an expert in your niche, you can earn way more than the market average pay-out rate.
So this all sounds exciting and you’re ready to enter the world of VA’s. First of all, make sure to have a solid understanding of what the job is before you apply to it. Here are a few steps that will help you get started:
The first and most important thing to understand in a VA’s job is to get yourself familiar with the requirement. No matter if you’re on a technical side or just offering support services, only share your skills in which you’re good at. Do you possess strong organizational skills? Do you know how to operate a certain software? Are you willing to learn a few skills for the job requirement?
Part of what makes this job attractive is your transmission into something new. However, if you’re not qualified for the services, or think that the online training won’t help you - just skip and move on to the next job.
Decide what your expertise are and then look for similar jobs on different networks. If you’re good with excel, look for spreadsheet management-related jobs. Do you think your programming skills are extraordinary, look for jobs that fall in your segment.
This is the place where you’ll find the work related to your expertise. There are tons of great platforms out there that offer VA-related jobs. Some of the prominent names include:
These platforms allow you to connect with people who are willing to buy your time for the betterment of their organization. You have to create a profile on these platforms and start bidding on people’s projects.
Get your resume ready, prepare for pitching your services, and send it out to potential employers. If you want to do this as a part-time gig, then briefly mention how many hours you’re willing to work. Also, try to include a portfolio of your previous work, it shows that you’re experienced in this gig.
If becoming a Virtual Assistant is something you’re passionate about, now is the best time to get on with it. There are plenty of jobs out there and “work from home” is still kind of a trend. The only way to prosper in this field is to understand your client's requirements and then deliver the work on time. Once you’ll accomplish this, there are plenty of opportunities in this segment for you.