Required hardware and skills to be a Virtual Assistant

by Sage Mella

What is a Virtual Assistant? "Freelance, freelancer, or freelance worker, are terms commonly used for a person who is self-employed and not necessarily committed to a particular employer long-term. Benefits of freelancing include the freedom to work from home or from a non-traditional workspace, a flexible work schedule, and a better work-life balance." A virtual assistant works from home to fulfill administrative duties for a client through an independent contractor. The VA industry is continuously growing. Regardless of which one you choose to specialize in, you need to learn the basics. Later on, you need to identify your area of expertise or what you are really good at and market your skills to a targeted clientele.

Here are 5 of the most basic requirements to be a Virtual Assistant (VA):

1. Computer skills. No client will hire you if you are not familiar with the computer basics.

2. Stable internet connection. Most VAs can work with a WIFI but there are clients who strictly require a hard-wired internet connection because it is faster and more stable. It also depends on the workload that you do on a regular basis.

3. Oral communication and writing skills. Since VAs cater to the international market, you need to be fluent in both the written and verbal forms of the English language. Note that technical English is very different from conversational English. I recommend that you watch more reality shows and interviews for you to be able to expand your understanding of the language. Movies are scripted while reality shows and interviews give you an insight into how natural English-speaking people talk (intonation, diction, common phrases, etc).

4. Typing skill. You need to be able to type with at least 35 WPM (word per minute). Most clients will ask that you submit a screenshot of your typing speed test result during the application process. You can practice typing and monitor your speed progress here: https://www.typingtest.com/.

5. Self-motivation and discipline. You need this attitude because you will be spending a lot of time learning by yourself as you work. Regardless of whether you are already an expert in the VA field or a beginner, you will continue to learn while on the job. If your mindset is "this is too difficult," "I have no idea what this is about," "I can't work on this, it's not my forte," this will reflect on the way you act and communicate and may just lose you a project or a client. You need to invest if you really want to pursue this career path. If you are interested to learn how to become a Virtual Assistant, I recommend that you enroll in my comprehensive VA training program HERE to learn the must-have skills to be a Virtual Assistant. There is definitely a lot more to learn than just these 5 basic requirements! Check out the training portal HERE.

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