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Tips On Winning A Virtual Assistant
Position AND Keeping It
By Lori Redfield
Although still considered an
uncommon profession, the Virtual Assistant role is fast becoming the best
recognized choice for companies, particularly web-based companies, to pursue
nowadays.
A Virtual Assistant (VA) is much like a traditional Administrative Assistant
in many ways. VA’s handle correspondence, scheduling, customer support,
website updates, writing and design projects, data entry – pretty much
anything you can think of that an online company would require for their
day-to-day operations.
Many parents who want to stay home with their children have opened their own
VA Service. It is a perfect career choice for mothers of young children, or
people who must take care of older relatives. You work out of your home
office as an independent contractor. Often times the schedule can be quite
flexible.
This is an ideal position for women who plan to return to the workforce when
their children are older. It will enhance your resume’ and inevitably you
improve your old skills and acquire new ones.
Basic skills and equipment you will likely need include the following:
Microsoft Office – Excel, Access, Outlook, and Word
HTML skills with either Macromedia Dreamweaver or Microsoft FrontPage
Instant Messaging software – ICQ, Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger
Cable Modem or DSL – Dial up is far to slow for the pace most online
entrepreneurs are accustomed to working at.
The above aren’t always necessary – but acquiring each and learning to use
them will only increase your desirability and worth.
There are many places to start looking for a Virtual Assistant position:
One of the easiest places to land your first clients is through an ad placed
in your own local classifieds. It seems unlikely – but trust me, there is
far less competition for local clients then for jobs being bid on through
Internet Job sites.
Freelance Job Sites such as elance, smarterwork.com, findafreelancer etc.
There is an extensive list of these types of resources here:
www.freelancemom.com/gigs.htm
Via Freelance, Home Business, or WAHM forums. Virtual Assistants with an
established client base often times search for reliable ‘Over-flow
Partners’. Forums are an excellent place to network and seek out these types
of opportunities.
Building your own website. Unless you do some very good website promotion,
it isn’t likely you will actually gain clients through a website that you
build to promote your service. HOWEVER, you really should have a website.
Just as business cards are an expected and valuable piece of your
traditional business, websites are like an online business card/resume. You
should list your rates, your skills, your availability and your portfolio. A
well thought out website will give you the edge when bidding on a position.
When you are applying or bidding on a freelance position, you must come
across as a professional. There is something about the online medium that
invites a casual correspondence style. You will do well to avoid this
temptation. Save similes, abbreviated internet slang (LOL, IMO etcetera) for
later on in your relationship with your client.
Your client needs to trust that you are going to help him/her run their
business with professionalism. Your first impression must come across as
professional as a traditional cover letter for employment. Be confident and
clear in your interactions with them. Ask intelligent questions and be very
honest about the time that you have available in your schedule.
I strongly advise all aspiring Virtual Assistants to do an honest assessment
of what their career objectives are before they begin seeking out work. It
is easy, and common to over extend yourself. If your main goal is to earn a
part-time living specifically so that you can put raising your children
ahead of your career… then be very clear about that when you begin to take
on new work assignments.
Start off slow and add clients or responsibilities for clients gradually.
Being too eager to succeed can quickly be your worst downfall. The quickest
way to lose a
good client is by under-delivering. Make realistic promises.
You will gain their respect and their trust. And you will find that as their
business grows, they will be more then willing to work around your schedule
and needs in order to keep you as a valued contractor.
About the author:
Lori Redfield is a freelancing Mother of three, happy wife and blooming
online entrepreneur. She is founder of newly launched
http://www.freelancemom.com/ an esource for women who want to work from
home.
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