How to Become a Virtual Assistant?

Working as a virtual assistant is a great alternative to making money even at the comfort of your home. And what’s more, anyone can work as a VA as long as you have good communication skills as well as organizational skills. But “What does it really take to become a virtual assistant?”, you may ask. There are a few steps to take to get you started.

#1 – What are your current skills?

Assessing your current skill set is essential if you want to take on a remote assistant job. Ask yourself, what skills do I have that I can offer to my potential clients? Make an inventory or list of those skills and capabilities if necessary. Not only will it help you identify your strengths, it will also help you determine your weak points and therefore help you to map out your next steps in terms of boosting your current skills. 

#2 – Identify the most in-demand skills 

It pays to do your own homework. Know the most sought-after skills online today and find out if you already possess them or need to get a quick course to equip yourself for the job. In fact, learning additional skills (especially those that many online clients look for) would be beneficial not just to your would-be employers but more so to yourself. It increases your confidence as it helps you to provide the best services for your clients and charge the fee that you want and deserve.  It’s super easy to learn extra skills these days. You can either do your own online research or take a free online course even! So, if you want to increase your value and hourly rate as a virtual assistant, boost your skill set ASAP.

#3 – Determine whether you want to be a freelancer or a company employee

You can offer your services to an established company or eCommerce business for instance, or be your own boss as a freelancing VA. If you want to be an online contractor or employee, there are a bunch of online job-sharing platforms to choose from. You can create a profile and then start looking up for jobs that best match your skills. On these online job sites or on social media sites, you can reach out and network with many types of employers from across the globe, and vice versa. 

However, some virtual workers prefer to maintain a certain level of freedom and flexibility in terms of work hours. So they prefer taking on freelance projects as opposed to getting a fixed full-time job. Many of these freelancers have their own websites or Facebook pages where they offer their VA services to clients. 

#4 – Find your own niche

In anything, whether it be in business or a profession, finding your own niche or area that you specialize in is almost tantamount to success. It’s because doing something that you love or truly care about is allowing work to be an enjoyable aspect of your life. If you are a happy worker, you will be more focused and do your best 100% all the time. That said, know the skills where you excel in and narrow those down. Combine or blend related skills and then build around those areas. 

Finally, continue to learn and grow as a virtual assistant. Remember, change is constant and the best thing to do in order to stay competent is to have an optimistic and open mindset.