How to Effectively Carve a Niche as a Virtual Assistant

Suppose you are looking for a career or looking to establish yourself as a professional individual. In that case, one of the most strategically effective and in-demand career paths you could take is as a virtual assistant. There is indeed a reason why more and more people are choosing to provide their skills and services as virtual assistants, and one foremost reason is you could choose to have it as your main career – or you could choose to work as a VA on the side. It offers flexibility with work and schedule, and you can do it anywhere and at any time. But how do you become one, and, more importantly, how can you effectively carve a niche as a virtual assistant? Let’s find out.

• Figure out what you can do

The first step to becoming a skilled and highly sought-after virtual assistant is to figure out – meaning identify – what you can do and what kind of skills you can offer. Are you proficient at the computer? Are you skilled in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other software used by many? Many VAs use a broad range of programmes on the computer to help them with their tasks. You also need to be familiar with the Internet, emails, and cloud-based communication like password managers and file sharing. You have to be proficient in creating files, documents, and spreadsheets.

In addition – are you good at communication, and can you offer certain editorial skills? Many clients are looking for this as they need to be able to communicate effectively with their customers. If you are great at organising and managing time, this would be a top skill to have as well. As an expert virtual assistant agency like www.pink-spaghetti.co.uk confirms, a big chunk of your time as a virtual assistant is spent overseeing your client’s schedules and calendars. This is why you must be adept at managing your time (and your client’s time) and organising your tasks. As a virtual assistant, bear in mind that you would often have to manage several clients at once!

• Have the necessary software and equipment

Once you have a good idea of the services you will offer as a VA (and, if possible, make a detailed list of everything you can do), it is time to obtain the necessary software and equipment. Of course, as a virtual assistant, you would often need your own laptop and mobile phone, but again, depending on the tasks you are called to do and the kind of work you are supposed to perform, you may need extra computers, phones, or monitors. Other equipment you may need include headsets, a printing, scanning, and copying machine, and software for calling, bookkeeping, scheduling, and the like.

• Look for jobs and build a network and portfolio

Now that you have everything you need to start, you can begin looking for jobs. Many websites and even virtual assistant agencies could take you on as a beginner. Remember – you can start by accepting smaller jobs with lower pay at first – you need them to build your experience and get as many reviews as possible.

As soon as you have built a network, you can begin building your portfolio and fill it with feedback from clients and samples of your work. With this portfolio, you can gain more trust and slowly establish yourself as a competent and qualified virtual assistant.