Find out everything you need to know about becoming, and working with, a VA

You've heard the term “Virtual Assistant” being thrown around, but what is a Virtual Assistant, exactly, and what do they do? You've come to the right place! We're exploring the world of VAs in this article, including what they can do for your business, how to start working as one, and even how to hire one to get your business moving forward. 

What is a Virtual Assistant?

Virtual Assistants are usually self-employed remote workers who provide administrative services to small businesses. Often with a background as an Administrator, Executive Assistant, or Office Manager, they use their expertise to provide a range of services that help a business to run smoothly. 

Despite not being based in a physical office, they have access to business systems (often for multiple clients) and can collaborate with clients and colleagues virtually using online tools such as conferencing and collaboration software.

The rise of the Virtual Assistant

Since the global pandemic, remote working has become more popular and accepted. Now that businesses understand that work can be carried out to a high standard virtually, they've become more willing to employ individuals who can work remotely and flexibly to meet their business needs in a cost-effective way. 

The Society of Virtual Assistants has over 3,500 members in the UK, but as membership isn't obligatory the actual number of people operating as VAs will be far higher. 

What is the role of a Virtual Assistant?

So what is the job of a Virtual Assistant? Well, it's a varied and flexible role. The majority of Virtual Assistants carry out administrative duties, but many offer additional services depending on their areas of expertise. They may do any of the following – and more! 

  • Customer service

  • Data entry

  • Diary management

  • Travel planning 

  • Meeting and appointment scheduling

  • Email management

  • Bookkeeping

  • Record-keeping 

  • Social media management

  • Website management 

  • Content writing and blogging

  • Editing and proofreading

  • Research

Becoming a Virtual Assistant: key qualifications

If you're thinking that you could thrive in this career, you're probably wondering what's needed to be a Virtual Assistant. The good news is that there are no set criteria, as the requirements of every business differ. 

Many VAs will have a university degree, but it's not compulsory. What's usually required, however, is a background in an administrative type of role. A Virtual Assistant may also have specialist knowledge of a particular industry or sector. Good IT literacy is vital, as you'll be using technology to work and communicate with your clients. 

Benefits of Virtual Assistants

Working as a Virtual Assistant has benefits for both the worker and the company employing them. 

For the Virtual Assistant:

  • Working from home or a location of your choice

  • Flexibility to work around family commitments or hobbies 

  • Competitive pay

  • No commute

  • Deciding on your own hours

  • Choosing the clients you work with

  • Dressing as you like

  • Potential to work with multiple clients for greater stability and variety

For the business:

  • Freeing up time to focus on other aspects of the business 

  • Getting tasks completed cost-effectively, by paying only for the services used

  • Outsourcing time-consuming or repetitive tasks

  • Finding better work-life balance 

  • Choosing the best person for your business from a global, rather than local, talent pool

How to become a Virtual Assistant

There's no set route to becoming a Virtual Assistant – it's even possible (though not as easy) to become a Virtual Assistant with no experience in this area. 

Gain core VA skills

You may like to start by taking a course – there are plenty out there, from generic courses on working as a VA to more specialist courses in business management, IT, project management, bookkeeping and more. There's no obligation to take a course, but it will help to build your skills and confidence (especially if you have no prior experience) and it will also help you to decide which areas you're most interested in. You could also build your skills by working in a permanent, on-site role first. 

Source potential clients 

The trickiest part of becoming a Virtual Assistant is finding the clients. You may already have a network that you can tap into to promote your new venture. If not, LinkedIn is a great place to start connecting and sharing your skills. You could also consider working through an established Virtual Assistant company or advertising on freelance sites such as Fiverr or Upwork, but the pay is likely to be lower if you take this route – at least to start with. 

Formalise your services

While you're upskilling and sourcing clients, you'll also need to set up your office and establish your policies, procedures, and pricing. There's a lot to think about when you first set up, but the more established you become, the easier it will get. 

How to hire a Virtual Assistant 

If the boot's on the other foot and you want to hire a VA, rather than become one, we can help there, too. Follow these steps to find your perfect business partner: 

  • Identify which tasks you need to outsource

  • Define which skills your Virtual Assistant will need 

  • Decide what you can pay and how many hours you need per week

  • Advertise on sites such as LinkedIn, Fiverr, Upwork, or FlexJobs, or use a VA agency

  • Identify the applicant that best fits your needs and business culture

  • Communicate your requirements and set expectations

  • Keep communications open as you work together

  • Provide feedback to ensure you're both aligned

Get more done, virtually! 

Now that you understand what a Virtual Assistant is and what they do, you can explore this role and see how it can benefit you. With good communication from both sides, a VA can be the oil that keeps the business cogs turning, supporting smooth operations whilst enabling a perfect work-life balance for both the VA and the owner. 

Ready to take the plunge? If you're ready to launch yourself as a Virtual Assistant, it's important to get your messaging right! Show off your relevant skills on your CV – submit it for a free expert review now to get unbiased, no-obligation feedback from our CV experts.

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