Tips on How to Become a Virtual Assistant
Reader Interactions
Grabbing that Coveted VA Spot
by Jomvie
(The Philippines)
We hired a new member as a full time virtual assistant into our team! His name is Jomvie, and these are his thoughts on grabbing that spot as a VA.
Writing has always been my passion. The idea of conveying your thoughts into words is an activity that demands practice and repetition–until the flow becomes natural. This is the reason why I applied for the job to be a Virtual Assistant (VA for short). I want to hone my skills and knowledge in writing as well as widen my understanding regarding this kind of online business.
It may sound easy but grabbing this kind of job is similar to trying to push a piece of string through the eye of a needle.
First of all, most employers will require you to undergo a rigid screening process. Necessary details like previous experiences, fields of expertise, topics that may be comfortable or otherwise, usage of monitoring tools, and expected wage will be asked from you. If both parties would come into an agreement with all the stipulations considered, then you are half-way of grabbing the job. Yes, half-way. It is because there are also other applicants who are scrambling to get that spot.
There may be a lot of job openings out there but its ratio to the number of applicants for a sole position would be twenty-fold. This is something everyone applying for an online job must remember. If you want to have an edge in the hiring process, develop yourself to be skilled, flexible, and precise in your writing style. Learn then master your current niche and eventually make your employer pleased with your productivity.
And finally, after days or even a week of waiting fastidiously, you will receive the good news — you are hired! But this celebration is short-lived. This is the start of the many challenges you need to hurdle to get to the top and be among the best of the business. Once hired, both parties must now lay down their cards and be explicit with their expectations. This would be beneficial for both the employer and the employee in the long run.
Grabbing a VA job is dependent on several factors. This is what I have learned in almost a year of working online. Although this job is generally labelled “Virtual Assistant”, the job descriptions of a particular VA are not exactly the same as that of another. Before applying for a job, be sure to be equipped with the expected skills, knowledge, and attitude that would be required from you.
As for me, this particular niche may be new to me; but nevertheless, I will delve into this new challenge with excitement and exuberance.
Comments for Grabbing that Coveted VA Spot
| May 29, 2014 | Welcome to my team 🙂 by: FrancisJomvie, I am happy to have you on board. During our first 4 weeks together, we will have a “trial period” where we both get to know each other.During your first week in my team, I already can see your strengths. If I had to point out any “weakness”, it would be that you write “too well”. Think of writing on my sites as talking with your friends. The more open, familiar and simple your writing style becomes, the better actually people “listen” to what you write. But you’ll get there, guaranteed. 🙂 I am also excited, because I have tons of ideas where I can get more done with your help. Let me know when I am overrunning you with too many ideas 😉 |
My Experiences and Expectations as a Full Time Virtual Assistant
by Honey
(May 19, 2014)
This blog post was written by Honey, a virtual assistant from the Philippines I have hired as full-time.
In this blog post, she shared her experiences and thoughts about the interview process and job position.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t work for me for a long time due to some unavoidable circumstances.
I am new to this virtual assistance service. However, I am challenged by the new skills I am about to learn and hone here.
I have been teaching English online for almost 10 years and for 14 years as an English teacher as a general.
Writing is also my passion. I always regard it as my first love. I started writing articles and editing too in a school paper where I became an Editor-in-Chief and received some awards. At the university, I did not focus on writing nor editing.
However, after I graduated, I gained the same position in a local newsletter for years. When I became the editor-in-chief, the newsletter profited three times more than before.
Nevertheless, aside from writing, working online became my new and most fervent passion. I decided to work online and I have been for 10 years now.
Though I was more exposed to teaching English online, I was also blogging, posting ads to sell my jewelry designs, and other things I can sell online! I did tasks that interest me, not knowing they were already some tasks a virtual assistant does.
Yet, I am not so familiar with office tools and other software used but I am determined to pursue this career.
I have this dream of one day starting my own virtual assistance company and what would be a better stepping stone than being one! I want to help my friends and other Filipinos by providing them extra income or more a job as a virtual assistant.
I love the thought of dealing and negotiating with clients looking for virtual assistants and at the same time, screening, interviewing and hiring people to work for them.
When I applied for this job, as for most jobs I applied to, I was crossing my fingers that soonest one of the employers would see my potential and would give me the opportunity to provide me room for improvements.
I must admit I applied to several job openings for home-based virtual assistance.
However, when I had the first chat with Francis’ main VA in Skype, I had the impression that these people were cordial. I must admit chatting with him gave me the sense that I would be keen about working with them. The further discussions provided me brighter attitude about this job.
He was warm, accommodating but still very professional in dealing with an applicant like me.
Awkwardly, we had to reschedule the interview twice because of some circumstances on my end.
The reschedules even presented me with the certainty that I will be working with sensible, patient, very professional, level-headed and reasonable people.
I made it a point that I would be available for the rescheduled interview and I was glad I made it.
Talking to Francis provided me an even more positive outlook on my dreams to build my own virtual assistance someday.
I am not only working for a boss, but I am encouraged that I am going to work with someone who will be a remarkable mentor.
I was anxious after the interview that they may not pick me over the other qualified candidates. I know I have my limits and I have rescheduled twice. I actually made myself ready to receive the news that I would be rejected.
Truthfully, the email I received was some of the best news I received this year.
I have been aspiring to this kind of job for a long time.
I am happy. This may be an understatement.
How and Where to Get a Virtual Assistant’s Job?
by Donna Hester
(South Carolina)
I have been reading your tips and tricks to being a virtual assistant and keep seeing you using the Odesk web site.
Is this where I should go to get my training and be on the list where most people search for virtual assistants?
Thank you for any help for me to get started.
I do speak English and I have 20 plus years of data entry experience and am retired but am on fixed income.
I would like to bring in some extra money every month and thought this might be my way.
Comments for How and where to get a virtual assistant’s job?
| Dec 17, 2012 | Dear Donna by: FrancisThanks for writing. I use this outsourcing service as an employer for years, and the tips that we can give you are based on the experience of successful VA’s.What’s a successful VA?One that has found a long-term online cooperation at a pay rate that is good for him.>So, this is where I want you to start out:Go to the top of this page <– (click here!) and sign up for our tips. We add to these tips whenever we learn something new. |
As a Virtual Assistant, How Do You Know if Your Boss Likes What You Did?
by Francis
(October 10, 2012)
Recently I got asked this very simple question from a virtual assistant: How do I know if my boss likes what work I do?
There are several factors that will determine if your boss likes the kind of work you do for him over the internet. The most important one will be his feedback. If there is good feedback, good for you; if there is bad feedback, act on it as fast as possible.
Try as much as you can to make your employer happy. Make changes and propose solutions because your reputation is on the line.
If there is no feedback, well, I would assume that first it would be a good sign. Most employers try to save time by not overdoing the whole feedback thing. Most employers are looking for self-starters and self-sufficient virtual assistants that need as little supervision as possible.
So if you don’t get any feedback, I would assume at first that it is okay. If the lack of feedback takes too long and only you can decide what too long means then by all means contact your employer. Say something like,
Hi Boss, here is what I did: A, B and C. I hope you liked it. I took the freedom of researching an alternative way of making C even faster and better. What do you think about it?
Do you like my work?
If there’s anything you’re not pleased with, please let me know and I’ll change it right away. I would be happy to hear from you so that I can make your business even better.”
Just write him an email of such a nature. As an employer, I could not help but be impressed if someone wrote something like this to me instead of complaining that I don’t write. It would show just the right message to me.
If you use a system like oDesk, your work is recorded with screen capturing software anyway. So you can assume that your employer takes a periodical look at your work. And as long as he is paying you, you shall assume that he likes what you are doing.
I hope I could give you some fresh insight to know if your boss likes what work you do as a virtual assistant.
If you need further help or if you have any questions or if you are an employer reading this and wanting to join the discussion, be sure to click on the comment function below.
Comments for As A Virtual Assistant, How Do You Know If Your Boss Likes What You Did?
| Jul 21, 2014 | Feedbacks are like fertilizer by: JomvieFor me, I think there’s no such thing as negative feedback especially if I am working on some stuff that I don’t understand a single thing or two. 😀 In my case, I will start to worry if there’s no word from my employer’s end.Feedbacks help you improve and grow and in time it will make you to a better one and that will be the time I will not worry if I don’t get to hear from my employer regularly.. =) |
| Jul 21, 2014 | Sometimes you have to “fish” for the feedback by: FrancisI think I am not the only employer who sometimes is not able to answer my virtual assistant right away.While the VA (even more for a full time VA) is constantly in contact with the problem he is trying to solve for his employer, the employer is often busy with other stuff.And be it him going off to a beach living the dream 😉 Anyways, as the employer I need to be reminded for a need of feedback from time to time, too. Just as a VA needs to be reminded of open tasks, e.g. It helps to insist a bit on open questions. Either by asking them differently, or even by doing some research and presenting some possible answers to the employer. What else can an employer do if his VA is waiting for feedback but there is just too little time to give him that? |
Using a To-Do List Service for My Own Convenience
by Virtual Assistant
(July 14, 2012.)
Checking off items will increase your productivity
“Being organized” is one of the key skills a virtual assistant must have and more importantly a skill every employer is looking for in his virtual worker at the time of hiring. If you can’t organize the mess of your employer’s desk, you cannot call yourself a successful VA.
Well, there are many tools which can help a virtual assistant to keep himself organized. But in my opinion an easy and simple to-do list program is an absolute must-have tool for any online worker.
It’s up to you what type of to-do list program you use. You can either use a complicated and advanced tool, which has a lot of functions, including setting up reminders and do-follow-up emails, or you can use a simple and easy application which you can use just like a normal assistant uses Post-It notes to remember different tasks.
I personally prefer a simple and easy program which do not overly disturb or distract you by sending a lot of reminders and follow up emails. I need a program that can only help but does not disturb me.
To get something like this, I did some internet research and found out many different results. As I mostly use Google Chrome for web surfing and browsing, I also researched the chrome web store for a suitable application and finally got a very decent one.
This helpful application is called “Quickrr Tasks To-Do“ and you can download it via Google Chrome web store for free.
By the way, Quickrr has tens of useful applications that can also help keeping yourself organized.
Don’t worry if you don’t use Chrome as your browser, you can easily get an alternate tool for Firefox.
This to-do list program is a very simple tool, but can be very helpful at the same time. After adding it to Google Chrome browser, a small icon appeared on the top of my browser.
After clicking this icon, you will see a fairly simple list of your to-do tasks.
To add a new task to the list, you just need to click “Add to-do item” and when the task is over and you click the check box and the text will become strikethrough with a single line.
If you are sure that this task is over and you don’t need this task in your to-do list, you can click “Clear Completed items” and all completed task will disappear from your to-do list.
Here is another similar tool which you can use for the same purpose:
Comments for Using a To-Do List Service for My Own Convenience
| Aug 30, 2012 | Quickrr is pretty awesome by: FrancisI was using Firefox all the time and got used to it. Now, I see the advantage of using Chrome, and Quickrr is one of them.Simple, easy, KISS (keep it simple, stupid ;)) Very much recommended to anyone who wants to get stuff done effectively. |
| Oct 22, 2012 | Very Useful by: Maria B.Having an organizer, either online or notebook, is the best way to put my work schedules and writing updates. This helps me in keeping myself on track and not miss out anything.I store an organizer application in my tablet and and make sure to keep it up-to-date before I sleep at night. |
| Jan 11, 2013 | awesome – installed it immediately! by: KittycatI just love to-do-lists!!They keep my live organized, especially as I tend to forget things I don’t write down. Sometimes good ideas keep spilling in my head and the best method to realizing them is using a to-do-list, that helps me to keep them in mind. =) I immediately installed this chrome-list. I also work with google chrome and do a lot of computer work over the day, so this is perfect for me! |
| Jan 11, 2013 | Glad you like it! by: FrancisI’m always happy to help – but this time all credit goes to my Virtual Assistant who shared his working method and this nice To Do List app!It’s important to stay focused on one method that is working… for you! This can be notes on paper or the latest computer program. As soon as you have found something that, at the end of the day, makes YOU perform faster – stick to this one method! |
| Feb 10, 2014 | Thanks for the great suggestions! by: DeniseI used to be pretty disorganized before. I cannot keep track of what I was supposed to do and when I was supposed to do it. Well, I did write down some of the things I used to do on sheets of paper but I lost them all the time. On the computer, I simply used the notepad — not even Microsoft Word, for godsakes.Fortunately, an old classmate introduced me to the Sticky Note gadget on Windows. I never knew about it since I didn’t use to explore the applications on my computer as often as I should. As I kept using that gadget, I became a little ‘addicted’ to keeping to-do lists on my desktop since I was on it almost all the time and I could never lose the things that I saved on it — unless I needed to reformat. However, I searched and tried a lot of applications but none of them really appealed to me much until I found the Wunderlist application on Google Play. It is on mobile which is great since I can check my to-do list even when I’m not on my computer. In addition, it also sends notifications to my email so I can see when there is something important that I need to do for the day. As of the moment, I’m still using Wunderlist. But I’ll try Quickrr, too, since I wanted a to-do list on my desktop again. I downloaded it last week but only noticed that it was already on my browser just a moment ago when I was rereading this article. Haha! So far, I like it because of its simplicity and because it’s like the Sticky Notes I used to have — but better! And maybe I’ll check out the trial of the Monkey Mind Manager since its Calendar feature caught my eye. Thanks for this very helpful article! Keep them coming! =) |
| Jun 22, 2014 | Old-fashioned by: JohnWow, that ‘KISS’ is quite a mind-blowing kind of idea. I like to write my notes using pen and paper—guess I love being the old-fashioned guy so just not to forget how to hold a pen J |
| Feb 20, 2015 | To Do List With Pen and Paper Are Not Bad but They Are Hard To Track by: FrancisI’m also very much fond of doing notes and doodles on paper. The disadvantage is that I have tons of papers flying around with smart and less smart ideas on them. No chance to get them organized either.There are a few possibilities to combine being old fashioned and keeping track of your To Do list online. One is to master the use of Evernote, an online tool. You’ll also have to scan or photograph all your paper notes in order to truly get everything into the cloud. The concept of doing that is called Go Paperless. The other way is to do the rough brainstorming on paper first. And then use any one of the many online To Do lists to actually track your work. Doing all of these online is important for a virtual assistant. If you are the virtual assistant, keep doing notes on paper if you’d like. |
As a Virtual Assistant Never Fake Your Identity on oDesk
by Virtual Assistant
(June 29, 2012.)
Recently I have referred oDesk to one of my friends who is looking after an online job. Today he called me up half-heartedly and said that he wanted to change his profile photo with a beautiful girl’s photo.
First I laughed a lot at him that what he is up to and then he told me that girls usually get jobs easily. He also showed me some profiles where male freelancers are using beautiful girl’s photos and most of these girls are actually models and TV actresses.
And you know what? He was quite right. It was also shocked to see someone is using a fake profile photo to get the job and he is also getting jobs at very high rates. Obviously employers in US and Europe are not familiar with most of the Asian names and actresses.
Being an honest virtual assistant and freelance worker, I raised this matter to oDesk support and thankfully I got a pretty positive response from their side. According to oDesk support staff it’s recommended (not mandatory) to verify your identity as a provider. So if at some stage somebody reports your profile to oDesk as fake profile, oDesk will ask you to verify your identity.
You need to provide some personal information proofs such as your national identity card’s scanned copy along with any of your utility bill or your bank statement’s header. Odesk personally verifies the provided document within 3-4 business days.
Failing to verify your identity not only leads to a ban of your oDesk account, but oDesk can also block your funds forever.
So, dear all virtual assistants!
Do not try such immoral and dishonest methods to get jobs. You can be successful for the time being, but in the long run chances are high that you will get your account banned and your freelancing career can easily be ruined by your just one bad deed.
Also I request from all employers to only hire contractors which are duly verified by oDesk.
Comments for As a Virtual Assistant Never Fake Your Identity On Odesk
| Jul 02, 2012 | Interesting detail – seems that beauty sells by: Francis |
I was pretty surprised to read that this tactic is put to practice more than once. Personally I have hired more gentleman than ladies as providers on oDesk. This has nothing to do with gender.
Simply I think more male applicants have showcased their skills and had hire chances to get hired.
From the ladies I have hired, I have to admit that I did not look too much at the exterior. If a picture of a lady was too perfect, I was suspicious. I did not think of people having used the pictures of Asian actresses although it is now obvious to me.
I only thought that the picture was too far away from reality to be taken seriously.
Nevertheless no matter how you look. Try to make your profile picture friendly. Either look professional like wearing a suite and looking skillful or have a smile and look friendly.
My virtual assistant had sunglasses on and that is one of the reasons why he stood out in my point of view when I initially hired him. Now don’t go all putting on sunglasses now. But you understand what I mean.
Be yourself.
Look natural and approachable and then let your skills, portfolio and feedback do the talking.
Aug 08, 2012never fake your identity
by: wolfgangfoto
interesting article and ideas
compliments
and
thank you for the honor to show my picture
Aug 08, 2012Thanks for sharing it with us 🙂
by: Francis
Dear wolfgangfoto,
thanks for sharing your picture and being so nice to leave us a comment about it! Glad that you like the article, feel free to browse around the website!
Mar 14, 2014This is sad
by: Andrea
It’s so sad that some freelancers think it’s ok to fool employers online. It gives everyone else a bad name.
But it’s great that there are still people like you who value honesty. We need more of that. Both online and offline. 😀
Jun 05, 2014Face factor
by: Jomvie
It’s the face factor after all! Actually, based on my experience, most employers prefer to hire girl VAs rather than boys. It’s probably because most women are organized or it’s just that the employer wants to have an inspiration everyday.
Leave a Reply