Since the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020, we have found various ways to survive and earn an honest living without leaving the comfort of our homes. One of the many jobs is the Virtual assistant job. Virtual assistants have become more prominent as startups and small businesses rely on virtual offices, this would help start ups and small businesses the keep costs down.
This is because a virtual assistant is a self-employed worker who specializes in offering administrative services to clients from a remote location, usually a home office which would make it easier for the employer because they do not have to pay the same taxes as a full time employee.
A virtual assistant is an independent contractor who works offsite, there is no need for a desk or other work space at the company’s office. A virtual assistant is expected to pay for and provide their own computer equipment, commonly used software programs, and high-speed Internet service.
Though there are no hard-and-fast educational requirements to become a virtual assistant, but majority of the employers will look for virtual assistants who have some higher-level education or specialized training. A few online companies and community colleges offer courses and certification for virtual assistant skills.
It is important for a virtual assistant to be tech-savvy, with a wide range of computer skills and a high level of proficiency with commonly used software and business programs depending on the software, apps and programs accepted by the employer. A virtual assistant who specializes in bookkeeping should be adept at basic accounting tasks, such as account reconciliations and double-entry bookkeeping.
Roles Of A Virtual Assistant ; Virtual Assistant Job Description
The duties and roles of a virtual assistant depends on so many things, one of which is the needs of the employer and the terms of the contract signed between the virtual assistant and the employer. It is therefore safe to say that the virtual assistant job description is highly dependent on the needs of the client or employer.
- Basic tasks a virtual assistant might perform include scheduling appointments, making phone calls, making travel arrangements, and managing email accounts.
- Some virtual assistants specialize in offering graphic design, blog writing, bookkeeping, social media, and marketing services.
- For an employer, one advantage of hiring a virtual assistant is the flexibility to contract for just the services they need.