As an in-house executive, personal assistant, project manager, or office manager, a virtual assistant needs a comparable skillset.
If you want to make the shift from your current job to a virtual assistant, having a firm foundation of these five must-have abilities will help you succeed.
1. Communication Skills
Being a successful virtual assistant necessitates the ability to communicate effectively. After all, when working remotely, there’s no such thing as too much communication!
Transparency is critical; start by asking what your clients’ expectations are and how they want to communicate.
Having your preferred method of communication in place can make the early phases of the relationship go as smoothly as possible.
2. Cloud-based Information
When working remotely, you’ll need a broad understanding of information sharing so you can figure out the optimal method for you and your clients. Thus, these are the three areas to concentrate on:
File sharing (Google Drive, Google Docs, Dropbox).
Instead of waiting for updates, your client can monitor progress in “real-time” by sharing files.
Google Voice.
You can choose one number to share with each client to make it appear as if you’re working in the same office with this tool.
Password manager.
Using a password manager is a great approach for your clients in order to share the personal and business account information you’ll need without having to give you their actual passwords.
3. Time Management Skills
It takes some getting used to being able to work without supervision. You’ll need to be able to plan ahead, set deadlines, and keep track of your time.
Scheduling blocks of time that allow you to work uninterrupted can help you be more productive. Therefore, to keep track of your clients’ projects and duties, you can utilize time-tracking software like My Hours.
4. Take-Charge Attitude
You’ll be an average virtual assistant if you merely perform what’s required of you.
Moreover, if you want to be recognized, you should be able to lead projects, make suggestions for improvements, and draw attention to anything that requires it. As time passes, a virtual assistant usually transitions into a management position.
5. Organizational Skills
Being organized isn’t something that everyone is born with.
However, if you don’t have a complete home office, set aside a section of your home that can be designated as your workplace.
Create a strategy for properly storing your work out of the reach and sight of children, pets, and houseguests, and make sure you backup your data on a regular basis.
Make the Most of Your Virtual Assistant Experience to Land Your Next Job
There are many reasons why you need to have these qualities. Above all, Virtual assistants often come from a variety of professions and are accomplished professionals looking for a flexible schedule that allows them to strike a healthy work-life balance. You’ll be well on your way to obtaining the appropriate employment for your personal experience and career objectives once you build and hone the necessary abilities for a virtual assistant role.