Essential Qualities and Skills For A Virtual Assistant

How many virtual assistants are there in the moment? It's overwhelming for sure. Having a skilled professional Virtual Assistant as a helping hand in this modern world of complexities is inevitable. But, finding a virtual assistant of good qualities and skills seems to be harder now that more and more job seekers fall to freelancing. Some people take it for the sake of just having a job.

A Virtual Assistant is a person that provides professional administrative, technical or creative support services remotely for busy people, entrepreneurs, small or growing businesses. It's a person who organizes and steps in as your business support. They help business owners to find time to focus on what really matters by managing their tasks and responsibilities.

When the pandemic has taken over the world, working from home is moving forward to becoming the new normal. With these, I see that the Virtual Assistance industry is growing so quickly. Being in the online space surrounded by so many talented service providers naturally causes competition. Since it is trending, level of competition is also very high. Now comes the question, How will I stand out? Well, as the saying goes, " the only difference between an ordinary and extra ordinary is that " little extra". If you are pursuing a career as Virtual Assistant, you should know what qualities and skills the potential clients certainly looks for when they hire.

Qualities and Skills of a Virtual Assistant

1. Excellent Communication Skills

Virtual Assistants are required to communicate with clients on the daily on phone calls, text, or emails, so they must have a good natural communication skills. The ability to communicate effectively cannot be underestimated because it could result misunderstanding that delays processes, generate extra cost, and sometimes could hurt the relationship between your client.

It is of great advantage if a Virtual Assistant has good command on English. Administrative task like sending reports, managing files and emails, making presentations, or even on writing blogs, articles and business letters, all requires English proficiency. If your sluggish in this area, practice, practice and practice. Take crash courses or join online training to improve.

2. Technological Skills

Having a great technological skills is necessary to perform in the online world. What makes a VA "virtual" is that they work remotely usually from home and are able to provide services with the use of modern technologies like computer, internet and mobile phones.

Aside from the knowledge on the computer operations, a VA should be good in navigating the internet, and familiar in finding the best tools, best deals, best approaches and resources on the internet to complete the work fast.

3. Time management skills

Keeping up the deadlines shows a lot about a persons personality, and how well you manage time. It also shows how efficient and reliable can you be in keeping up the task. One of the most important task of a virtual assistant is planning and managing tasks and schedules. Knows how to make things work and can maximize time to fit more work into an already tight schedule.

4. Personality

The ideal virtual assistant is honest, hardworking, reliable, resourceful and passionate in doing her job. A sensational portfolio would mean nothing if it comes from a person with insufferable work ethic. Character defines a person, and attitude is everything.

5. Love for continuous learning

Being a self-starter and resourceful can be your super power. Client would prefer " I don't know that,...but I will find out" than declining and refusing without even trying. Virtual Assistants should be competitive and try hard to stay on top of the game. Nowadays,multiple skill sets are the norm. Learning only the basics is not an excuse. Opportunities to learn are endless, make use of the many resources all over the web. You can also seek professional development to help broaden your skills offering and boost your career. Joining online courses is a very good option. I highly recommend Filipino Virtual Academy, they offer an array of must have skills training for freelancers.

Ultimately, a virtual assistant will not only keep your business in good hands, but also someone to build a strong relationship with. While each virtual assistant possesses their own skill set, it shouldn't limit to just helping the client and earning. Skills and attitude should come together. Should you hire a Virtual Assistant look for someone who place high value on efficiency, integrity, reliability, and commitment to provide quality services to help clients and their businesses go from busy to productive, form surviving to thriving.