The Duties Of A Virtual Administrative Assistant

| Sunday, June 30, 2013
By Freda Watts


A virtual administrative assistant could be a useful addition to a wide variety of companies. They are persons who are self-employed, and are therefore not a direct employee of the company with whom they work. Instead, they could be referred to as a contractor. The company who makes use of their services does not pay their taxes, and does not usually offer any other benefits, such as medical insurance.

Hiring a person that works from home is beneficial to a company in several ways. They do not have to have extra space within their offices to house another employee, and do not have to buy extra equipment for the worker, such as a computer and printer. A VA can also live in any part of the world, and still perform the duties required by the company. Nowadays, there are many ways that money can be transferred between different countries. A company can also more easily choose the number of hours they would like their VA to work, and will only pay for those hours.

A person who would like to work from home could consider this as a career option, especially if they have prior experience with office work. The tasks will vary from company to company, but will be manageable from home, and from a personal laptop or PC. There could be typing to do, online research, electronic filing or the arrangements of appointments.

Since that this is a virtual position, an connection to the internet is the most essential component for the job. The person should be online during their working hours, and have a computer that is loaded with the necessary applications. Email and other forms of online communications are necessary, as this will be the way that the work is sent between the worker and the company. Sometimes a phone line, as well as fax and printer machines are also required.

You will also need to ensure that you have a suitable work area. You don't need to hire an office away from home, but you will need somewhere with a suitable working atmosphere. Distractions should be kept to a minimum during your working hours.

There are no specific degrees or diplomas required in order to become a VA, but relevant experience is beneficial. The company looking for assistance will specify the type of tasks to be completed, and some may also expect some sort of qualification. However, most will be interested in your past experience, your proficiency in computer applications and your typing abilities.

You should be able to effectively communicate with all types of people. You may be in contact with managers of the company, as well as the company's clients. Since that communication is in a written format, a VA must have excellent grammar and writing skills. Multitasking is another useful skill, and a good knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet computer applications is usually required.

Someone who would like to become a virtual administrative assistant will find career opportunities online. For most offerings, you will need to submit a resume. Decide which type of work will suit you best, and the number of hours you can work per day.




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