Whether you’re considering pursuing work as a virtual assistant or you need to delegate some daily tasks to someone else, this post will address basic information needed before signing a contract regarding virtual assistant work.
What are the Benefits of Virtual Work?
When you move frequently for one spouse’s vocation, it can become challenging for the spouse who is “along for the ride” to continue finding new employment. Employers see a resume filled with job changes in different cities, and it raises a red flag. Regardless of how qualified one is for a position, it’s a risk to hire someone who may resign in a few months. A benefit of Virtual Assistant work is that your job moves with you.
As a remote worker, I love that I have some flexibility in my hours. If I have a doctor’s appointment, I can start my day early or work later. If my work is done for the week, I don’t have to sit in an office and make myself look busy and fill time. Every minute I am working is actual work as a virtual worker.
When I was an administrative assistant at a small college, the summers were absolutely miserable. There was barely anything to do for 7 hours a day. All I wanted to do was go home and clean my house. I hated that my job felt like a waste of time, skills, and abilities.
Speaking of cleaning my house, another benefit of working remotely is that I can hop up from my desk and switch a load of laundry or start dinner between tasks. I’m home in case our boys have a day off school, forget something as they run out the door in the morning, or aren’t feeling well one day. I can even pause for a few minutes to receive a grocery delivery from Walmart or Costco, which helps to keep evenings and weekends errand free.
I usually work in yoga pants or workout shorts because there isn’t any reason to dress up. This is convenient in case I want to squeeze in a mid-day workout. Because I don’t have to commute, I can work earlier on cold days and wait for the sun to come up before walking or grab coffee with a friend if I have a slow day.
Essentially, working virtually eliminates everything that frustrated me when I worked in an office. The unnecessary external stresses caused by inefficient wasted time are eliminated. Remote work allows me to multitask from home, which creates the work and life balance that works best for our family rhythm. That said, if I didn’t enjoy the work I was doing, this would still not be a good solution.
What are the Challenges of Virtual Assistant Work?
When it comes to working as a virtual assistant specifically, it’s important to know that VA opportunities are equal. If you are considering pursuing a career as a virtual assistant, there are a few things to consider, such as how to market yourself, what certifications may be helpful, and which industries you are best capable of serving. Like any job, working as a VA has pros and cons.
Most virtual assistants are 1099 contractors meaning they don’t have paid vacation days. So while daily time is flexible, extended vacations may require skipping paychecks to accommodate travel or working a few hours while on vacation.
Virtual work of any kind requires a lot of additional communication. It’s important to make sure your clients know that you are working. Additionally, since you are likely working on contracts with specific hour allotments, it’s important to understand the details and scope of a project before you work on something incorrectly and waste both time and money.
There are always new ways to do tasks, and often virtual work includes finding the balance between convenience and cost. For example, while it may seem more cost-effective to have newsletters printed, hand stuffed, and mailed when you combine the cost of the work plus materials, it may be better to outsource the project. As the Virtual Assistant, it often falls to you to assess these tasks and help your clients make informed decisions.
Many times a VA becomes the catch-all for administrative tasks. Especially when working for small companies, the line between work and personal will blur. A VA may find themselves booking vacation reservations and work travel on the same day. As a company grows, your client will likely need you to grow with them.
Job security for virtual assistants exists in a willingness to learn new things, adapt to new technology, and look for more efficient and effective ways to accomplish tasks.
How Do I Find Virtual Assistant Clients?
Some companies recruit clients and match VAs according to skill sets, and many Virtual Assistants work on their own. However, if you are just starting out, I encourage you to consider working with a company that will match you with clients for a few reasons.
First, the company will vet the client for you, so you will know that you will have some assurance that the job is legitimate. Additionally, many times the company will ensure you are paid. Second, if an issue arises, you have someone to back you up and work through the conflict rather than handle things yourself. This can be helpful as you work through learning how to communicate virtually best.
Companies to check out if you don’t want to freelance as a Virtual assistant are:
- Belay Solutions
- VaVa Virtual
- Virtual Works LLC
- We Recruit Well
- Airtasker
- Virtual Employee
- OnlineVATeam
- Hire My Mom
- Remote.com
My two favorite resources for learning about Virtual Assistants are VA Elevated and We Recruit Well. Both are ones I’m personally familiar with, so I trust the content is accurate. There are plenty of others out there, but I encourage you not to pay for anything.
If you’re looking to hire a virtual assistant, check out We Recruit Well. Unlike Belay, this team will match you with a VA without a required monthly subscription.
Virtual Assistants are Entrepreneurs
Once you better understand how virtual assistants work, don’t be afraid to network and go out on your own. For one thing, you will have the opportunity to negotiate your contract and include your preferred hourly rate.
Additionally, you may have the opportunity to select which industries your potential clients work in rather than having them assigned to you. For example, if you have a passion for non-profit work, you can market yourself to that niche clientele.
Many small businesses need support. All Top Startups that in 2021, entrepreneurs work an average of 52 hours a week. The long work weeks are impacting the bottom line in many ways. In addition, Guidant Financial reveals that in 2021 only 48% of entrepreneurs are happy. Likely, the support of the right VA would greatly impact both of these statistics.
Resources for Learning About Virtual Assistant Jobs
If you choose to freelance as a Virtual Assistant, you may find it helpful to join a group that provides job leads. Learn about the industry, build up your resume, and see what you can do for free. Check out VA Elevated.
Don’t stress about running out of marketing opportunities. In the article 29 Empowering Entrepreneurship Statistics for 2021, you can see that there are thousands of options for establishing yourself as a virtual assistant.
- Female entrepreneurs own 9.9 million small businesses in the US.
- A staggering 99.9% of the millions of companies in America are small businesses.
When it comes to pursuing your calling, there are moments when you may have to earn money in a field that isn’t your first choice. Virtual Assistant work could allow you to work in the area in a role that’s in the field you’re passionate about and gain valuable experience while also allowing you to build professional connections. Another benefit is that you’ll have the opportunity to work in a field with flexibility so you can have the freedom to pursue other interests.