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