Virtual assistants are responsible for providing remote assistance to small businesses and self-employed professionals. They could be organising meetings, travel arrangements, dealing with customers on clients’ behalf and carrying out clerical duties. As a virtual assistant you would decide what you would offer.
The Work
You could be:
organising your client’s day-to-day schedule including meetings
co-ordinating travel itineraries including booking flights and accommodation
answering phone calls and emails, prioritising responses
using software to prepare reports and presentations
running personal errands depending on your client
managing social media accounts
updating website content and proofreading
carrying out marketing activities
managing finances and bookkeeping.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:
where you work
the size of company or organisation you work for
the demand for the job.
Salaries for virtual assistant vary greatly and depends on what work you do for your clients, but you can generally charge £30 to £40 an hour.
Conditions
You would usually work for a small business or self-employed professional in any industry.
You would normally be home based, but the benefit of this job is you can work from anywhere, as long as you have a good internet connection.
Hours would usually be flexible. You can work the hours that suit you.
You do not always need formal qualifications, but good IT skills and knowledge of computer software packages would be necessary.
You could take a full time course at college in an administration, business or marketing subject. Relevant courses include an NC or NQ (SCQF Levels 4-6), HNC (SCQF Level 7) or HND (SCQF Level 8)
There are often no formal entry requirements for an NQ or NC but some colleges may ask for 3-4 subjects at National 4 or 5.
Entry requirements for an HNC or HND are 1-2 Highers plus some subjects at National 4 or 5.
You could enter through the Business Skills Foundation Apprenticeship (FA), which you can start in S5 and study at school and college. Entry requirements vary between colleges, but you usually need 3 subjects at National 5 including English and Maths.
What Does it Take?
You should have:
excellent communication skills
good knowledge of marketing and social media platforms
knowledge of cloud-based platforms such as Google Docs
a high-speed, reliable internet connection.
You should be:
well organised and able to multi-task
able to manage your time well
proficient in Microsoft Office tools
able to work under pressure
willing to learn new skills.
Training
Experience in an admin or personal assistant role would help develop your skills before going out on your own as a virtual assistant.
You could develop your technological skills which would attract more clients.
Learning software such as Dubsado, Mailerlite and WordPress would allow you to offer more services to your clients.
Getting On
You would keep up to date with new developments.
You could learn new skills such as content management systems.
