Virtual assistants are quickly rising to the top of the home based business industry. With an anticipated growth rate of 20% or more over the next five years, virtual assisting is growing at a pace that outranks any other profession on or offline.
To be a successful virtual assistant you must possess the following 10 skills:
- Verbal Communication. As a virtual assistant a majority of your work will be done through verbal communication. Any virtual assistant will tell you that their mobile is their most used tool at work. You will need to communicate through the phone, email, and on occasion through video conferencing. You must be able to communicate clearly and concisely.
- Written Communication. You will be required to send letters, emails and other forms of written communication to your clients and to their customers. You must master your writing skills to ensure that all of your written communications are free from errors. Letters received by clients and customers that contain typo’s, grammatical errors, and use of slang will look unprofessional.
- Customer Service Skills. When you are a virtual assistant you will be a representation of the company or client that you work for, often being the only point of contact between their customers and your employer. You will need to have great customer service skills to ensure that every interaction between you and the customer is a good experience.
- Some IT Skills. You will not necessarily need to be able to write computer code to be a virtual assistant, but you will need to know your way around a computer. If a client requires you to install software that is necessary for their business, you need to be able to do this without having to call for help. You also need to familiarise yourself with different devices and tools so that you are always “ready” for what your client needs.
- Time Management. One of the hardest things about working from home as a virtual assistant is the ability to get side-tracked with projects that need to be completed at home. You must have the time management skills necessary to complete your job during work hours. There is no room for procrastination in this type of employment.
- Ability To Work Independently. As a virtual assistant you need to be able to work productively on your own, without a boss hovering over your shoulder. You must be able to stay motivated during the work day, even if the deadline is not looming.
- Problem Solving. When you work as a virtual assistant, you must have the ability to solve problems without relying on someone else’s opinions or help. You are the one responsible for the issue at hand, and you must be able to correct the situation to the best of your ability. Of course, there are times when you will need to check in with your employer about a situation, but in most cases you will be expected to handle any crisis.
- Entrepreneurial Mind-Set. There is a difference between someone that owns a company and someone that works at a company. A business owner must be on top of things at all times, an employee can simply punch out at the end of work and forget about the day. As a virtual assistant you are in fact a business owner. You must always be concerned with the business aspect of your profession as well as the professional service you provide. This includes making sure your billing is done, your taxes are filed, and all of your expenses are recorded.
- Organisational Skills. You must be incredibly organised to be a virtual assistant. You are managing a business for someone through verbal and written communications. You cannot afford to misplace documents or miss appointments. Everything that you do depends on your organisational skills.
- Pleasant Outlook. It is a crazy world and it is not always easy to be happy. Many people will even think you are mad if you are “too happy.” However, this aside, you must always be pleasant when you are working, even when you feel your worst. As a virtual assistant you represent the company and person that you work for, and that representation must always be good.
Many of these skills come naturally to some people; many of them can be learned with a little patience and practice. These skills are necessary, however, if you wish to be successful at a virtual assistant career.
