An Overview of a Virtual Assistant’s Role and Responsibilities

Many individuals need a virtual assistant – be it for their personal lives or career, or both. A virtual assistant is different from a traditional personal assistant in that VAs work remotely and can be located anywhere around the globe as long as they have an Internet connection and the means to communicate. In addition, you can get a virtual assistant as an independent or freelance agent. Still, there are also virtual assistant agencies that serve as the middleman between virtual assistants and employers (a lot of people think this is better because the agency will only get virtual assistants with experience and will even train them to have a particular set of skills). But what can you expect from a virtual assistant? Here’s an overview of a virtual assistant’s role and responsibilities.

What they are

Often, a VA is an independent or freelance contractor (or corresponding agency) providing administrative tasks and services to various clients. They work outside the client’s office and from home whilst having access to the pertinent files or documents remotely. A VA usually has experience working as an office manager or admin assistant. Some are even skilled at content management, social media management, writing blog posts, marketing, and graphic design. Since more people work remotely (even before the pandemic), the demand for virtual assistants is expected to grow, as confirmed by leading virtual assistant agencies such as www.pink-spaghetti.co.uk.

The primary responsibilities of a virtual assistant

Virtual assistants can take on many tasks and responsibilities. Still, they are most known for making appointments and taking care of calendars and schedules, calling clients or answering calls, making travel arrangements, and managing and responding to emails. The significant advantage of hiring a VA is that it gives you a flexible structure where you can hire a VA as needed or only for the short term or per project.

How a VA works

As the workplace and business environment change, so do our needs. Before, it was common to hire a personal assistant who was there with you to take care of all administrative tasks. But this isn’t a cost-effective solution because most entrepreneurs or professionals do not have the space or equipment (such as computers) assistants need to do their work. With a VA, you don’t need to provide them with a workstation or equipment, and it’s easy to communicate with them remotely.

Additionally, a virtual assistant offers convenient services for many business entrepreneurs who are just starting and do not have the finances for a full-time employee with benefits.

How qualified is a VA?

Whilst a virtual assistant’s qualifications, as well as educational attainments, may vary, many clients prefer VAs who have special training or a higher degree of education. Some organisations and colleges offer online certifications and courses for enhanced VA skills.

The virtual assistant you choose should have a wide selection of skills on the computer and should exhibit tech-savviness. It will also help if they are adept at commonly used programs and software.

The benefits of a VA

One definite advantage of hiring a VA is the flexibility – you can hire one based only on the services you require, and you can pay for their services based on the task or the project or on an hourly basis. Lastly, their service lets you focus on your to-do list and create revenue without worrying about other tasks.