Talking about remote jobs without mentioning virtual assistant jobs online is quite impossible.  Many business owners outsource administrative and other tasks that are not of their specialty so they can focus on strategies to drive business growth. Hiring Virtual Assistants is also considered more financially sound than hiring permanent administrative workers because administrative services may only be needed for a certain period.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is an expected 12% growth for Virtual Assistant jobs for 2022. If you are thinking of shifting careers and wanting the flexibility of working anywhere, then landing a Virtual Assistant job is for you.  Stick around as we give you the ultimate guide and help you determine virtual assistant jobs for beginners suited for you.

What is a Virtual Assistant?

A virtual assistant is a self-employed individual who remotely provides administrative and technical support to businesses and individuals. Virtual assistance and freelancing are often interchanged. However, the difference could be the time time requirement to render the services. Virtual Assistants are often report during the client’s business hours, while Freelancers are mostly output based and can work at the most convenient time. But both allow you to work anywhere as long as you have access to the internet. So before applying for a job post, consider the time you are required to report.

What are the types of Virtual Assistant for Beginners?

There are many different types of virtual assistants, each with unique skills and experience. Here are some of the most common types of virtual assistants:

Administrative Virtual Assistants: Jobs for Beginners)

These VAs provide administrative support to their clients, such as managing calendars, scheduling appointments, making travel arrangements, and handling expense reports. Performing these tasks excellently can tremendously help in enabling smooth operations.

Executive Virtual Assistants

These VAs provide high-level support to executive-level clients, such as preparing presentations or handling customer inquiries. They are often responsible for organizing reports from various departments and stakeholders. They are tasked to create summaries covering all reports’ key points. In some cases, virtual EAs will be asked to process some data and give it to the CEO or head of the company; the data and the reports are the basis of strategies and decisions.  

Marketing Virtual Assistants

These VAs assist with marketing tasks such as creating email campaigns, managing social media accounts, or conducting market research. It is a must for Vas to learn some social media marketing skills. The next section will explain social marketing and how you can successfully run social media campaigns.

What is Social Media Marketing?

Social media marketing uses online platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to build relationships and interact with potential and current customers. When done correctly, social media marketing can be a powerful tool to reach new audiences, create brand awareness, and drive website traffic. In addition, social media platforms can be used to build trust and credibility with potential and current customers, leading to increased sales and customer loyalty.

To be successful in social media marketing, it is important to understand how each platform works and what type of content performs best on each. For example, visual content tends to perform well on Instagram and Facebook, while Twitter is better suited for short news updates or links to interesting articles. It is also important to consider the demographics of each platform when crafting content, as different age groups tend to use different platforms.

In addition to creating great content, social media success also depends on timing. Posting when your target audience is most active online will help ensure that as many people see your content as possible. Experimenting with posting times and frequencies can help determine what works best for your business.

Finally, social media marketing requires ongoing effort and regular engagement. The most successful businesses treat social media as an ongoing conversation rather than a one-time campaign. By regularly interacting with users and responding to comments or questions promptly, you can build strong relationships with potential and current customers that will last long after they’ve made a purchase

Virtual Technical Assistants

These VAs provide technical support to their clients, such as setting up new computer systems or troubleshooting software issues. As Technical VA, you should be knowledgeable of network security best practices to ensure the safety of your client’s data. You should also be able to recommend the right hardware and software specifications for your client’s needs. It would also be helpful if you could simplify jargon for your clients and other users in the company educating them on how to avoid glitches.

Creative Virtual Assistants

These VAs help with creative tasks such as designing graphics or writing copy for websites and marketing materials. Visuals speak volumes and help people retain more information. This is why there is always a demand for Graphic Artists. As Creative VAs, you should know basic graphic design principles, such as balance, color, alignment, the hierarchy of elements, negative space, and typography. Clients would require a portfolio showcasing your talent and graphic design skills during recruitment. You will often design graphic elements for social media posts, websites, or print marketing materials. As Creative VA, you will also need to know how to use design software such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe Photoshop.

However, many clients look for VAs who can combine the mentioned tasks. So, having basic skills and knowledge of all the types of VA work will help you stand out among applicants.

What skills do you need to be a virtual assistant?

You will need to be proficient in various skills to succeed as a virtual assistant. Below are some of the most important skills you will need to master:

•   Time management- As a virtual assistant, you will be expected to manage your time efficiently to complete all tasks assigned to you within the deadline. This includes being able to prioritize and multitask effectively.
• Organizational skills- You must be organized to keep track of all the different tasks you will have to complete as a virtual assistant. This includes maintaining accurate records and being able to file documents properly.
• Communication skills- You will need excellent communication skills to relay instructions clearly and concisely to clients. You should also be able to communicate via email and other written channels effectively, as this will be one of your main tasks.
• Technical skills- Depending on the type of business your client is in, you may need to possess certain technical skills. For example, HTML, CSS, and SEO knowledge would be beneficial if you work for an online retailer. Or, if you are assisting an accountant, then experience with accounting software would be helpful.
• Multi-tasking- There are many times a client would ask you to do tasks simultaneously. You might be asked to talk to customers and document their concerns or take note of a meeting that needs to be rescheduled while coordinating with other stakeholders. Be prepared to work on several tasks simultaneously.
• Good typing skills- You will be dealing with data and communicating from time to time, so typing fast and accurately will help you be more productive and efficient at work. 
• Can easily learn web-based apps, such as productivity software, project management platform, customer management system, and database management apps.

How to Become a Virtual Assistant: Tips for Beginners

Be a reliable virtual assistant

While all the knowledge and skills are important for you if you are aiming for a virtual assistant job online, we could not emphasize enough that your attitude (and character) also matter. Integrity is very important for VAs as they usually handle confidential information. It is also important for you to have humility and a willingness to learn. Reliability is also a factor that a client will always look for since you work virtually. You are expected to show up when you are needed.

Be resourceful virtual assistant

If you feel overwhelmed about where to start, you can always check the tasks we listed above. There are many resources on YouTube where you can learn how to do those tasks for free. You will most likely be asked to work in Google Workspace, so mastering the various applications in Google will give you the leverage you need for this job. Once you are confident with your skills, you can start making sample works demonstrating those skills. You can use Canva to create your portfolio.

Be prepared for virtual interviews

You should also prepare yourself for an interview. Before the interview, create talking points that will address the common questions a client may ask. Prepare by researching your client’s business, their competition, or the industry they are in. Speaking your client’s language is always a major plus. During your interview, make sure to address the questions clearly. Do not add too much information that is not related to the question. Have the mindset that you can answer the questions as you have prepared enough. If you struggle to speak English, start practicing with a friend. Be on time and make sure to wear presentable yet comfortable clothes. Ensure that you are using a headset with noise cancellation, as most clients can get distracted by the noise in your background. You can download free software called Krisp for better noise cancellation.

Conclusion

There has been a constant demand for Virtual Assistants, but you would need certain knowledge and skills to be effective. Often times Virtual Assistants perform administrative tasks such as calendar management, email management, answering clients, making travel arrangements, report writing, and data entry tasks. There are also specialized Virtual Assistants, such as Graphic Designers, Social Media Managers, and Tech Support. The VAs for specialized tasks required specific skills, know-how, and training. Virtual assistant jobs for beginners would fit the generalist VAs, so can you start with that if you are just about to launch your online career. Then slowly, you can build more skills and experience accepting small tasks assigned to more specialized VAs.

You can now start searching for virtual assistant jobs online with all this information and start attracting clients with an impressive resume. We hope you can land your ideal Virtual Assistant job soon! Please do not forget to share this article with those aspiring to be VAs.