More and more professionals are working 100% remotely. As a result, many entrepreneurs and companies are using virtual administrative assistants . There is also a growing demand for remote assistants.

To help you, we are going to present a complete guide on how to become a virtual assistant from scratch. You will also see what this job is about , who it may be suitable for and how much you can expect to earn .

What is a virtual assistant?

The term virtual assistant is quite general and can represent many activities . But in the vast majority of cases, we will talk about executive assistants for companies. The tasks are mainly administrative . However, there are some specialties to take into account in this profession, which we will present to you below. ⤵️

Definition

A virtual assistant is a natural person who provides secretarial or administrative support services to businesses. The virtual assistant, as its name suggests, works remotely, particularly via the internet, telephone or fax.

The virtual assistant must master administrative skills , but must also be able to be available regularly to answer the phone, email or others. In addition, a virtual assistant must have a great sense of organization , but also relational skills . 🗣️

Let's take an example.

Imagine that you are a web agency and that you sell personalized websites . Your team focuses on the technical part , that is to say the creation of the website, putting it online and others. On the other hand, the administrative part can be delegated to a virtual assistant . 👨🏻‍💻

For example, an assistant can simply take care of editing the invoice , reserving a domain name or other. But he can also communicate with the customer to collect information about his desires for his website. The virtual assistant can indeed also intervene in the customer relationship.

Regarding their status , virtual assistants are largely independent ( self-employed ). They will work in the same way as other professions carried out as freelancers, that is to say by carrying out missions for clients . In this case, you can work on a few long-term missions or carry out several short-term missions for many clients. 👥

But you can also work

as a virtual assistant as an employee . In this case, you will work for a single employer. Here you will have an employment contract , but your daily tasks can still be carried out remotely.

A typical day

Again, many people tend to think that a virtual assistant spends all day on the phone making appointments. Obviously, each remote assistant will have their typical day but may also have different missions. 📊

To show what a typical day in the life of a virtual assistant can look like, we will take the example of a self-employed assistant .

Let's assume that the virtual assistant has several administrative tasks to do , including responding to emails , filling out forms , filing files, following up with customers and others. In the morning , a virtual assistant can start with their tasks that require the most concentration. This could be responding to customer requests by email for example. ✍️

In the afternoon , you can do tasks that require less concentration. For example, you can make phone calls to make appointments, post on social networks and others. At the end of the day , you will also have to take time to write a report to your clients . It depends on the people you work with. In some cases, a voice message will be enough to describe to your client the tasks you have carried out during the day. 🔈

Also in the case of an

independent virtual administrative assistants , you will also have to take a few minutes to manage your own accounting .

Who is the job of virtual assistant suitable for?

If you are reading this guide, it is probably because you want to become a virtual assistant . But maybe this job doesn't suit you. We will therefore present to you below who this profession is suitable for as well as the qualities necessary to become a remote assistant.

To start, you need to have a good sens of organization . As an assistant, you will be required to manage and organize your clients' tasks. Therefore, you absolutely must be organized and know how to keep a schedule . Once again, this can be learned. It's not because you are disorganized in your private life that you can't do this job. Everything is learned. 📖

Then, you will obviously have to master the internet and some computer tools . Be careful, however, you don't need to be a computer expert. It is recommended to master tools like Excel and Word as well as Google Drive. In addition, you will also be required to use project management or content publishing tools . In some cases, you will have to master more specific software . If this is the case, you will be trained by your clients before using them.

To do this job, you should preferably be comfortable speaking and writing . You will regularly be asked to write emails , for example. Knowing how to write without spelling mistakes is therefore essential. In the same way, you will regularly have to make phone calls for multiple reasons. If this does not bother you and you are comfortable speaking, this job will suit you perfectly. 📱

The virtual assistant profession will also be suitable if you like working alone . Except in rare cases where you work in a team, you will work alone for your clients. In the case where you prefer working within a team, this profession is not really for you.

As you know, this

job is carried out 100% remotely . Therefore, it is perfect if you like to work from home . But in reality, you just need a computer and an internet connection to work . So, you can practice this job from a coworking space , from a café and even from a tropical country if you wish! 🌴

How much does a virtual assistant earn?

You have been able to see what the job of virtual assistant consists of and whether this profession is right for you or not. Now, it is interesting to see how much you can expect to earn by practicing this job. We prefer to be honest with you, it is impossible to know precisely the income of a virtual assistant. 💻

Indeed, their remuneration will vary depending on many factors . But thanks to several studies, we can draw up an estimate of the income generated by a remote assistant according to their status.

If you work as a freelancer , the hourly rate will vary between €10 and €50 excluding tax . The price you can charge per hour varies depending on skills , but also your experience in the field. If you work between 30 and 35 hours per week , you can expect to earn €2,000 gross on average . 💸 ( From this amount, you will have to subtract the amount of social security contributions and the tools you need to work )

According to the glass door website , the hourly salary for a virtual assistant is €18 gross.

Also Read : What does a Virtual Assistant (VA) do

Also Read :  How to become a virtual assistant