Periodically I get asked this question – to work as a Virtual Assistant, what kind of skills do I need?
There are tons of different types of services that VAs are providing today, however, traditionally they did begin as work at home secretaries – those who had good secretarial skills in the corporate world, and they brought those skills home to develop their own businesses.
The industry has evolved considerably over the past 15 or so years and today the skills are quite varied.
I recently had a lady contact me via Facebook and said she only had typing and some computer skills. Here is my answer to her:
‘Some computer skills’ – what in particular? And how fast can you type? Are you accurate?
Generally most VAs have about 5 years previous experience in a job somewhere. The types of work we do are varied and can include: typing, data entry, database management, Powerpoint presentations, transcriptions, research, social media management (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), phone answering, website maintenance, bookkeeping and so on. Whatever skillset you have, as long as you are competent, you can become a VA.
No two VAs are alike – we all come with a different set of skills, experience and backgrounds and this means we can all learn from one another.
I encourage you to join a VA forum online so you can mix and mingle with those who are already doing it so you can learn from them and build up confidence in your ability to do the same. Why not drop by my site at www.vadirectory.net and join the chat forum linked on the front page?
Paul Hassing says
Nice one, Kathie! I’ve never seen VA skills set out so clearly before.
Do you think, as the world’s economy becomes less certain and jobs go casual, that an increasing number of people will think of starting VA work in the future? I’d be interested to know what you think. Best regards, P.
Kathie Thomas says
Thanks Paul. Yes, the industry is growing quite quickly and although there are still many out there who have never heard of it, that is changing for the better daily.
The biggest challenge is to ensure that those who want to be VAs get the right information from the best resources early on and for potential clients to find out about VAs from the best resources also. Unfortunately it’s all too easy for anyone to set up a website, or write an article, with inaccurate or misleading information which tends to misinform those who really need the facts.
I see my role as helping to educate the world on our industry – one that I love very much.
Paul Hassing says
Thanks, Kathie and good on you! Your passion and care are evident in your writing. And the world needs kind Masters like you! P.
The Life of an Online Virtual Assistant says
Thanks for this blog post Kathie. Indeed, online virtual assistants are unique and competent enough to compete with the top industry professionals.
Being a VA involves a lot of task and responsibility. You need a lot of dedication and hard work in order to successfully become a virtual assistant.
Kathie Thomas says
Your comment about ‘top industry professionals’ is interesting Sylvester. The way I see it, VAs are top industry professionals – if they are indeed professional VAs. Too many unfortunately see VAs at the lower end of the skillsbase – based on what they’ve read and seen on the web. And that’s unfortunate for our industry because people need to be as well informed about choosing their VA as they do about choosing an Accountant, Solicitor or even a tradesperson. The ability to perform and deliver as a VA is often paramount to the success of the business they are performing a service for, and that of the business owner – their client.
Gwen Hester says
Kathie, I enjoyed reading your blog, and I am very interested in finding additional ways to expose my students to new career opportunities in our ever-changing world. As a community college instructor in Business Office Systems and Support, I recognize that some of the traditional employment avenues have changed for administrative assistants, and I want to incorporate these changes into my courses. I will definitely consider having my students visit this blog so that they can explore further how to position themselves in this ever-changing world of work.
Carrol Ann Quibell says
Kathie, good blog. The types of tasks a VA can do for their clients are endless. I started out thinking I would be mainly doing administrative work and absolutely ended up in a different direction. I agree with you that anyone wanting to start their own Virtual Assistant Business should connect with others through Forums, asking questions and listening to others. Be open. My clients needs helped determine the types of services I offer. I think that is typical.
michelle says
thanks kathy! you have boosted my confidence as an aspiring VA
Michael Smith says
Kathie,
Good information there. I have no work experience in the office/corporate field, and I am currently a full-time student. But I am 52 years old, and I have learned a lot about businesses and the things one needs to do to keep them going. I also have sharp computer skills. I ended up taking a class about Virtual Assistants just to fill up my school term schedule, but I now see that this could be a viable business opportunity for me, since I am unemployed. What worries me is that I might have to qualify as someone’s Virtual Assistant in the same way I might have to if I was seeking traditional employment.
Any thoughts on this?
Michael
Kathie Thomas says
I don’t follow you Michael I’m sorry. What do you mean by ‘qualify as someone’s Virtual Assistant’?
Michael Smith says
Well, certainly no one is going to hire and assistant without qualifying him or her first. Although I have never asked a contractor to fill out an application before working on a property, I have qualified them in other ways. What if I have skills but can’t provide references? How does a client determine that an assistant is qualified?
Helen Thomas says
I agree with Kathie’s skill points for VA. And I guess theres one more important point which is really essential for any VA to execute everyday tasks and that’s Communication. The better you can communicate, the fast and satisfied result you can deliver.
Eunice Nisbett says
Great discussion. When I started as a VA I was social media shy. However, once I began to embrace social media my business began to take on a new face and grow. The skills we need are varied, yet any aspiring VA should seek to enhance his/her Information and Communication Technology Skills. While we may not be able keep up with every new social media option, by being aware and identifying which ones are key in growing your businesses and that of your clients it can make a world of difference. Knowing what technological tools are available to help you work more efficiently, virtually is important, too. Another essential skill is that of entrepreneurship. Being able to manage your business and think employer, not employee is critical.
freelance accounting jobs says
Thanks for this blog post Kathie. Indeed, online virtual assistants are unique and competent enough to compete with the top industry professionals