Finding employment that puts virtual before your job title isn’t just trendy; it’s practical. Whether it be a need to aid aging parents, take care of a young family or the desire to have a job where every day is “wear your jeans to work day, the demand for at home jobs is increasing.
According to a 2017 study from Indeed, searches for “work from home” employment rose by 385 percent in the United States. It’s clear the desire to find a remote job is there but what does a virtual assistant actually do in a day?
There’s no easy answer because every day for a virtual assistant can be different. To see if working as a virtual assistant (or hiring one) is a fit for you, we’ve broken down some of the common keys to success we see every day from our team of legal virtual assistants.
Expect the Unexpected
A major skill for success as a virtual assistant is adaptability. Priorities change rapidly. You have to be able to switch quickly between tasks. Like a traditional office job, long days and extra hours may still be required.
Casually sipping your coffee, you may start off the morning working on an ongoing project with no deadline. Without warning, you get an urgent call from your client that you have a new project that needs to be completed by the end of day. You may also be called in to help your fellow virtual assistant!
“The typists we have are the best to work with, they are fun loving people and very serious about their work product as well,” says E-Typist Quality Assurance Manager Theresa Sullivan. “They are always willing to help out if the need arises with a rush project, etc. It’s all about teamwork and that’s what E-Typist is all about.“
Independence is Key
Freedom and flexibility are two of the big draws of work from home jobs. Virtual assistants have the freedom to be location-independent. This means they don’t have to be based in the same city, state or even country as their client. They do have to coordinate their schedules with their clients based on time zones.
They also have a flexible schedule. If they have to run an errand, there’s no one clocking how long they’re gone.
This flexibility doesn’t mean that virtual assistants are slackers; it’s quite the opposite. Without traditional in-office workplace guidelines, virtual assistants have to be vigilant about completing tasks, making their clients aware of their working hours and staying accountable.
“I absolutely love my job with E-Typist because it gives me an opportunity to have a professional job in the legal field but to work from anywhere I have internet and my computer,” says Tara Orozco. “Since my family travels frequently, I have teenagers at home, and I need a flexible schedule on a remote basis, the ability to work from anywhere 24/7/365 is a significant advantage for me.”
Stay in Touch
Every client will be different. Some clients may communicate once in the morning and then not touch base throughout the rest of the day because they’re in court. Others may check in with you multiple times throughout the day.
It’s important as a virtual assistant to remain in communication especially if you are the one making and managing your client’s schedule. Little reminders can go a long way to staying on track. Effective virtual assistants aren’t afraid to ask questions and approach tough conversations in the need for clarity.
Most importantly, virtual assistants are problem-solvers. Often times, virtual assistants are also the solution. They work diligently to understand their clients’ needs and anticipate any issues. Virtual assistants learn their clients’ communication styles to ensure both parties are being heard.
Looking for employment as a virtual assistant? Or looking to add an E-Typist virtual assistant to your practice? Learn more on getting started!