You’ve probably heard at least one person in your circle recommending that you become a virtual assistant. Well, so did I, and I just happened to act on that advice.
Fast forward 5 years, and I can say that becoming a virtual assistant has honestly been one of the best decisions in my life. That’s because this job offers a range of pros that I feel outweigh the cons by a mile.
To help you decide whether a virtual assistant role can work for you, let me share what it is, along with some of the pros and cons.
What is a Virtual Assistant?
A virtual assistant is a remote role where you provide a range of administrative, creative, or technical services to your clients. You work as an independent contractor outside of your client’s office, but can access and share crucial documents as needed.
While the services you provide may vary based on client requirements, generally, they can include a few or all of the following:
- Scheduling appointments
- Making phone calls
- Making travel arrangements
- Managing email accounts
- Graphic design
- Blog writing
- Bookkeeping
- Social media
- Marketing services
Just like the tasks you have to handle, the qualifications needed may also vary from client to client.
Some clients may even hire those with no qualifications, whereas some might prefer that you have at least some level of higher education or a set of specialized skills. Either way, being tech-savvy and adept at using software and business tools can help you here.
That should paint a pretty clear picture of what you have to do as a virtual assistant. Now, let me dive into some of the pros and cons I faced in my journey.
Pros of Working as a Virtual Assistant
I always like to start things off on a positive note, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do here too. From easy setup to more family time, let me dive into how life’s been since I became a virtual assistant.
Ease of Entry
There are close to no barriers to entry when working as a virtual assistant. You can work from anywhere with a laptop, an internet connection, and a few other tools. The low demand for any over-the-top qualifications is also a plus point since you don’t have to spend thousands on a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree, only to drown in student debt later.
Instead, you can brush up on or develop new skills using a wide range of online platforms that feature courses, tutorials, and much more.
This can help you stay up to date with the relevant skills and also help you land more diverse projects consistently. However, that being said, the field is intensely competitive, and basic tech and business skills can help you beat the competition.
Freedom and Flexibility
I’m free to work in my pajamas, in my bed, or even on the toilet as long as I’m connected to the internet. Luckily, I have altafiber internet in my area, so connectivity is never a problem. Beyond all this freedom, I also have much greater flexibility in when I start working.
For example, on days when my baby starts crying in the middle of the night, I sleep a few extra hours. I mean, it’s not like I have to catch a bus to work each day. Even while working, I can take a break or have my breakfast, lunch, and dinner whenever I want to.
Choosing my Clients and Rates
Working as a virtual assistant, I am no longer bound to working within limited industries or at the rate that someone else perceives me to be worth.
Instead, I can choose who I work with and also how much I charge for my services. Oh, and the best part? I no longer have to wait a whole year, maybe more, for a raise. Instead, I decide that myself.
Of course, this step does involve a bit of research into finding the right clients and assessing the current market rates. These will help you choose the right niche and set rates that offer you a decent balance between financial freedom and a consistent inflow of clients.
More Cost and Time Savings
We’re going through tough times economically, and savings are more important than ever. Since I work remotely, I don’t have to spend on gas or daily commute, so I have been able to save up quite a lot, all of which I can spend on meaningful family adventures.
The flexibility and freedom that I mentioned earlier also helped me with this.
For example, just recently, we all went on a family trip to Turkey, and isn’t that what life should be about? Being able to save more and being able to give more time to yourself and your family are things I wouldn’t trade for anything.
Cons of Working as a Virtual Assistant
And now to the cons, my friend, yes, they exist. These are rather minor and can be overcome easily with a few steps. Let’s take a look at each of them.
- Certain Distractions: When you’re working from home, there can be certain distractions, from your dog barking to your child crying. These situations did sometimes demand my presence, breaking my focus.
- Lack of Corporate Benefits: Corporate companies offer their employees a range of benefits, like paid time off. While I can take time off whenever I want, it’s not paid, and this part stings a little.
- Frustrating Tasks: As a virtual assistant, there are some tasks that I often had to take up but wasn’t really fond of, like filing taxes, ugh! Why does nobody teach that in college? Such tasks can require a lot of extra time and effort.
Virtual Assistant – My Best Decision and Potentially Yours
There you have it, folks, I’ve shared what being a virtual assistant means, along with all the pros and cons that I faced in my journey.
Now, it’s time for you to choose whether you want to take this route or not.
If you do, take some time to plan your target clientele, the range of tasks you’re willing to undertake, and the rates you’ll charge. Doing so will help you land projects that you love working on while allowing for better financial stability.
