Here is Your Virtual Assistant Checklist

Many people dream about working for themselves but never actually take any action to do so. Well one of the easiest ways to get started for those of you who do have the drive, is to become a virtual assistant. It simple takes skills, dedication and ambition to get started and these are the personal skills you should have:

DILIGENCE: Many employers will want you to ping them at a certain time before work. They will want to review expected daily tasks, or issues that need to be looked at. With jobs such as data research, data mining, or data entry you are usually given the job details and a deadline. This requires you to have the discipline to carve out your own hours based on the amount of work you have to get done.

INITIATIVE: You definitely need to be a go-getter as a Virtual Assistant. Broadening your knowledge base, consistently staying on top of the latest and greatest systems, will give you the edge in a virtual office.

ORGANIZATION: Many VA’s are expected to multi-task. Completing various tasks for multiple people. It’s your job to prioritize. You also have to be meticulous in logging your hours. There are software programs out there that will manage milestones for large projects, minute tracking, to do lists, and everything in between.

BASIC BOOKKEEPING: When you have multiple employers (clients) it’s your job to manage invoicing. Before you get really busy set up a simple excel sheet embedded with formulas that can easily calculate hours and payments. Set up a monthly summary so you can see what the cash flow is. When you’re not getting a steady income you will have to become a meticulous financial planner to ensure all your expenses are covered.

OFFICE ADMINISTRATION SKILLS: The majority of VA’s support owners of smaller sized companies who don’t have the time (or the skills) to maintain the everyday tasks of an office. Become fluent in word and excel, as well as effective filing systems to help the daily operations of the business run smoothly.

VIRTUAL IDENTITY: Before you apply for any jobs set up a personal website that highlights employment history, skills, and testimonials. During the process of creating this site you will discover your strengths, and will be able to target jobs that request individuals with these specific talents.

HOME OFFICE: This space should be free of clutter, and anything not related to work. Ensure your computer is up to date with all the latest programs, and purchase any programs you feel necessary to give you the edge as a Virtual Assistant.

If you have decided to become a virtual assistant and work from home, just remember to maintain your office equipment. This includes security to keep your client's information private and safe and may require you to find a reliable IT you can count on.

Do you have any tips for new virtual assistants on how they can prepare for anything when it comes to maintaining a home office?

Article Source: Virtual Assistant Info

Image Source: Bob Cotter on Flickr