The Virtual Assistant industry is multi-faceted and as such, there are questions aplenty about what it is we do, our day-to-day and the skills needed to become a Virtual Assistant. We have put together the most popular questions along with their answers, to provide insight into the lives of VA’s and how we add value to the lives of our employers.
What is a Virtual Assistant and what do they do?
According to Wikipedia, a Virtual Assistant is ‘’generally self-employed and provides professional administrative, technical, or creative assistance to clients remotely’’. A VA’s goal is to make life easier for you, however, that may look for you or your business. We handle everything from admin to social media to bookkeeping — in essence, all those mundane tasks that keep you from doing what you love and living life, we take care of.
Who hires Virtual Assistants?
For the most part, the people who hire VA’s are small business owners. VA’s are usually employed by people who do not want the ‘’hassle’’ of employing someone full time — have a look at our blog post regarding employees vs. Virtual Assistants for more on the benefits of having a VA.
How do I know that I need a VA?
If you answer ‘yes’ to most of the questions below, you should consider hiring a VA.
- Do you spend more time on mundane admin tasks rather than improving your business or getting clients?
- Do you ever lose business because calls go to voicemail when you’re out of the office?
- Do you spend valuable time on tasks that someone else could do more effectively and more cheaply?
- Do you want to avoid taking on staff, but you need help with routine tasks i.e. scheduling meetings, bookkeeping etc?
Do I need years of admin experience if I want to become a VA?
The simple answer, no. You do not have to be an executive-level PA or a boffin at Excel but having the know-how of basic admin tasks is important. The level of experience required varies from client to client — one client may just need an entry-level VA while another client might need someone with more experience. There is that famous saying ‘’you are never too old to learn’’ and nothing could ring truer in this case. Should you not have the skills or experience needed, you have the liberty to upskill yourself — whether it be in Microsoft or how to take minutes for a meeting — there is always a platform for you to increase your knowledge. At Link A VA we offer a once-off training session where we can teach you everything you need to know to successfully run a Virtual Assistant business as well as the pros and cons of the industry. For more on the program, please click here.
What is a typical day like for a VA?
No one day is the same for a VA because tasks vary daily depending on your client’s needs. However, regardless of what is thrown at you, it’s imperative that you stay organized and on top of what you need to do. Stay tuned for a more detailed day-to-day run down in an upcoming post.
We hope that you have found the above information useful. If there is anything we’ve missed, feel free to pop us a message and we will gladly put together a FAQ Part 2.
You do life, while we do virtually everything else!
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