Virtual Assistants Career Outlook

Career Outlook for Virtual Assistants

The Virtual Assistance industry is a blooming field today. As outsourcing is a popular trend today, the growth outlook for Virtual Assistance is good.

VA’s are called “virtual” assistants because they work from a location that is remote from their clients’ locations. Most VAs work from home. Virtual assistant are typically  independent contractors rather than employees. 

Virtual assistants (VAs) provide popular and much needed services needed by businesses and entrepreneurs. Many businesses are outsourcing administrative services and specialized services to VAs, secretarial services, graphic designers, web designers, programmers and a variety of specialized service providers and freelancers instead of using in-house staff.  Businesses that outsource work to VAs include realtors, authors, speakers, coaches, financial advisors, photographers and a large variety of entrepreneurs.

VAs assist business owners with administrative tasks, secretarial tasks and accounting.  But the services offered by VAs are not limited to secretarial services or administrative support and are as varied as the VAs themselves and their skills. They can also provide technical and creative assistance. The more skills you have and the more services you are providing, the more work you can get as a VA.

Here are just some examples of services you can offer as a virtual assistant:

- Secretarial and administrative tasks, such as a variety of secretarial, word processing, data entry, bookkeeping and other administrative work.
- Customer service.
- General transcription (non-medical transcription).
- Editing and proofreading.
- Internet research.
- Internet marketing: VAs can perform a variety of internet marketing tasks for clients, e.g. a variety social media promotions, bookmarks, submitting articles to directories, publishing blog posts, submitting comments to forums or blogs, and many others.
- Graphic design:  This can range from resizing and optimizing graphics, designing web headers and ebook covers to more sophisticated design.
- Web design and blog design.

Here are some reasons why businesses outsource:

Outsourcing is hiring outside professionals or services to take on part of your business workload.

Businesses may want to outsource part of their work because they need an expert, have periodic busy periods, need help to get work done on time or get orders out on time.

By outsourcing part of their workload they can save money and spend more time concentrating on their business.

-They don't have to do time consuming tasks like data entry.

-They don't have to spend money on workers comp, medical insurance or vacation time.

-They don't have to take time recruiting and training new employees.

-They don't have to learn a new software program or equipment.

-They don't have to buy extra equipment.

-They don't need extra work space.

To be successful VAs must develop their skills and stay up to date with technology and software. They need good communication skills and have to learn how to promote themselves. Social media is a popular methods VAs use to get the word out about their services.

Whether they provide word processing, data entry, transcription, internet marketing, graphic design, web design or a niche specialty, virtual assistants are in demand today. With more employers and companies looking to outsource projects to offsite freelancers, using VAs and freelancers is a popular trend today and a great alternative to using house staff for administrative and specialized tasks.

Below are some resources for people interested in becoming a virtual assistant or expanding their virtual assistant business.

General transcription work from home

Start a Web design business

Resume writing business

If you offer administrative support or other specialized services, you can have a promising career as a VA.