There is almost a same story for startups and early-stage companies – strapped for cash and crunched for time. And the best way to overcome these obstacles is to save money and delegate tasks. That’s why entrepreneurs are hiring virtual assistants more than that of regular employees for getting a variety of tasks done, creating lots of opportunities for those who want to kick-start their career as a virtual assistant.
If you are thinking about starting out as a virtual assistant, this article is for you.
Next, I will discuss five tips that will help you successfully begin your career as a virtual assistant and earn big.
Without further ado, let’s dive in:
1- Pick a skill and work on it
A virtual assistant can take a variety of tasks off your plate. Some of them are managing emails, doing schedule management, receiving calls, handling bookkeeping and data management, doing online outreach, scheduling social media posts, doing online research and building lists, etc.
You should choose a skill that interests you and hone it. If you want to stand out from the crowd and get a job of virtual assistant easily, being adept at a skill of your choice is a must.
As entrepreneurs hire virtual assistants for a wide range of tasks, they look for someone who is proficient in doing tasks that they wish to delegate. Time Doctor has listed 98 tasks that business owners often delegate. Start nurturing your flair that you want to offer as a virtual assistant.
2- Get acquainted with virtual assistant software
As virtual assistants work remotely, they need to be comfortable working with common software applications that are used in the virtual assistant industry.
Here are the categories of software applications that virtual assistants often work with:
- Time tracking
- Scheduling
- Online meeting software
- Business App & file sharing/storage
- Social media management
You should google about important software applications in each of the above-mentioned categories and try to learn how to use them.
Entrepreneurs often search for candidates who are proficient at using virtual assistant software applications. So knowing about these applications increases your employability.
3- Search virtual assistant jobs aggressively
You have picked a skill, and you have made yourself acquainted with virtual assistant software applications. My friend, you are ready to start working as a virtual assistant. But where will you find a job of a virtual assistant?
There are two options – one is working in an agency setting and another is working as a freelance virtual assistant. Agencies that hire virtual assistants post their requirements on leading job portals. You should register yourself on leading job portals like Indeed.com, Monster.com, and Glassdoor.com if you want to work in a company.
However, if you want to start out as a freelance virtual assistant, you should make your profile on platforms that offer freelance job opportunities. Upwork, Freelancer, LinkedIn, are PeoplePerHour.com are good platforms to catch high paying freelance gigs.
4- Learn to motivate yourself
When you start working as a freelance virtual assistant, you are the captain of your own ship. You won’t have anyone to socialize in coffee breaks except your family members. So you might feel lonely and isolated sometimes. That’s why you should learn to motivate yourself and find ways to keep yourself on the track.
Take part in virtual assistant networks, make plans for weekends, and socializing with other people who work from home are some proven ways to be happy while working as a virtual assistant.
Working as a virtual assistant is quite rewarding. Not only will you be doing work from the comfort of your home, but you will also be paid handsomely. Follow the tips explained in this article and jumpstart your career in the virtual assistant industry.
This post was written by Vaishali Badgujar. Vaishali is a content marketer at Time Doctor, a SaaS time tracking & productivity tool for companies & freelancers. She is a content marketing expert & specializes in link building.
