Meaning of Virtual Assistant

What is a Virtual Assistant?

A virtual assistant is a self-dependent contractor that provides administrative services to clients outside the client's offices. Virtual assistants work from home but have access to the planning documents such as shared calendars remotely.

Many people who work as virtual assistants have many years of experience in office management or administrative assistant. Virtual assistants with content management, blogging, graphic design, and Internet marketing are now available. The demand for skilled virtual assistants will grow as working remotely is accepted by both employers and workers.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Virtual assistants are self-employed workers who offer administrative services to clients remotely, typically from their home office.
A virtual assistant may schedule appointments, make phone calls, arrange travel, and manage email accounts.
Virtual assistants can offer graphic design, blogging, bookkeeping, social networking, and other services.
Employers have the advantage of a virtual assistant because they can contract only the services they require.

How a virtual assistant works

Startups and small businesses rely on virtual offices to save money. As businesses of all sizes use the Internet for their daily operations, virtual assistants are becoming more popular. Virtual assistants are independent contractors, so companies don't have to pay the same taxes or provide the same benefits as full-time employees.

The virtual assistant works remotely, so there is no need to have a desk at the office. Virtual assistants are expected to provide their equipment, standard software programs, and high-speed Internet access.

Virtual Assistant Duties

The duties of a virtual assistant will vary depending on the client's needs and the terms of their contract. Virtual assistants can handle bookkeeping and clerical tasks, and others may also post updates to social networks or create articles for a blog. Virtual assistants can also manage travel arrangements, appointment scheduling, data entry, and online file storage.
Virtual Assistant Qualifications
Although there are no specific educational requirements for becoming a virtual assistant (or any other type of virtual assistant), many clients will seek out virtual assistants with higher education or special training. Virtual assistant skills can be certified by a few community colleges and online businesses.
Virtual assistants should have a broad range of computer skills and be proficient with common software and business programs. Bookkeeping is a crucial area for a virtual assistants, and they should be experienced in basic accounting tasks such as account reconciliations and double-entry bookkeeping.
Virtual Assistant Benefits
Clients will find the flexibility to hire virtual assistants for the services they require. Some virtual assistants are paid per task, while others may be paid hourly. Employees in traditional offices are usually paid for a set number of hours each day.
Small business owners can save valuable time by hiring a virtual assistant to help them focus on their business growth and revenue generation. It is possible to outsource tedious or time-consuming tasks to someone skilled in them.

How to hire a virtual assistant

There has been a boom in Web-based companies that act as intermediaries between potential employers and contractors due to the growing number of contractors working from home. Many freelancers websites have large work pools that include people from all over the world with diverse experience and expertise.
These sites allow clients to post details about what type of tasks they require the virtual assistant to complete and the maximum rate they will pay. The client can then post a job for free and have samples of their work reviewed by the freelancer. Sometimes, the client may arrange a videoconference to interview applicants and assess their qualifications.

Take Note

Clients can create detailed instructions detailing their tasks before hiring virtual assistants. Written instructions reduce the chance of miscommunications in remote work relationships.