Online Career Focus: Virtual Assistant
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Virtual assistants are the Internet’s version of the administrative assistant/secretary. They work from home or from their own offices to provide assistance to their clients. Virtual assistance is one of the fastest growing careers online. It is one of the most lucrative, provided you can offer the experience and quality service required in the industry.
What exactly is the job of a Virtual Assistant?
A Virtual Assistant (or VA) functions as an online office assistant. Some of their tasks include: secretarial work, project planning and administrative assistance. Virtual Assistants are called upon to receive and make phone calls and other communications, plan and coordinate meetings and travel bookings, assist in managing a project or coordinate logistics with concerned parties.
What makes their job different from that of office assistants?
Virtual Assistants often do not meet or work with their clients in person. They use the internet, fax machine or telephone to communicate with their clients and perform their jobs. They can also work from anywhere and may handle clients locally, nationally or internationally.
Virtual Assistants work independently, although they may be subject to comply with quality standards as agreed with their clients.
Who hires Virtual Assistants?
Virtual Assistants usually work with small business owners, independent professionals, online businesses and other individuals or companies who require contractual assistance.
How do you become a Virtual Assistant?
You should at least have a background in office administration and/or secretarial work. You should also have the necessary equipment and facilities, such as a reliable computer, broadband Internet connection, your own phone line, printer, some office supplies, etc.
Many Virtual Assistants receive training (usually online) and become certified VAs. You can offer your services by placing an ad online or you can work with an online agency to find your clients.
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Comments
Cyprus,
Being a virtual assistant is not the same as being an employee where you ‘apply’ to some company. It’s a business, where you set your own work rules and define your own market, skillsets and direction. As with any business, you do your own marketing, bookkeeping, operations, filing of business permits, networking, work scheduling, and so on.
To a client, you’re not considered an ‘employee’ but an outsourcing subcontractor. They won’t cover your taxes, SSS or Philhealth contributions, you do that on your own. They won’t define your working hours, that’s for you to decide (although there may be times that you must align your working hours with theirs especially when customer services are involved). Hope this helps.
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I hope you can post where we can apply as a virtual assistant. Happy New Year