Do you want to be a Virtual Assistant or VA but are hesitant to become one because of these questions?
- I don’t have any experience
- I don’t have any skills to offer
- I don’t know how to start
- It’s already 2023. It’s too late for me to start. The are a lot of VAs out there.
You’re not alone. I too had these hesitations before I became a Virtual Assistant. Take it from someone who has zero VA experience. Yet, I eventually found my first client in 2023 and now, I work flexibly in my own time.
In this article, I will share to you the things I did to become a Virtual Assistant even without experience.
1. Setup, verify, and optimize your profile in job platforms
You need to register in job platforms to find clients as a Virtual Assistant. I’ve tried Upwork and Hubstaff Talent but Onlinejobs.ph worked for me. Their platform is beginner friendly and suitable for Filipinos.
I also got my first client from Onlinejobs.ph. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can also apply to several job listings there.
Lastly, make sure your profile is optimized so you stand out among other applicants.
2. Set up and verify your online payment platforms
After optimizing your account on job platforms, set up your online payment accounts ahead so you won’t encounter problems getting your first pay once hired.
First, open a bank account or have an e-wallet (such as GCash). Then, connect your bank account or e-wallet to any one of these 3 online payment platforms that arre usually used by clients to pay their VAs:
- Wise
- Paypal
- Payoneer
Currently, I use Wise. The platform’s conversion rate is higher than others and transfer fees are shouldered by the client.
3. Skills / Services that you can offer
When I was still learning and doing research about the VA industry, I don’t know what skills or services I can offer since I don’t have any experience and don’t have any idea of the responsibilities.
Because of this, I take the time to look at the job listings, read the job description, and ask myself if I can do the work described there. From there, I then knew which skills the clients are looking for in a VA.
I also took the time to learn from countless resources on the internet. In this digital age, everything is just searchable. I read blogs, watch Youtube videos, then applied the knowledge I acquired. That’s how I had confidence to apply jobs and realized what I wanted to do as a VA.
Virtual Assistant is a broad term so you need to look at job listings so that you will have an idea what clients are looking for and what kind of work you’re capable and interested in doing.
4. Prepare your CV and resume
Often times, we confuse a CV and a resume. Below are the differences between the two:
CV or curriculum vitae
Curriculum vitae is a Latin word with its meaning, “The course of your life,” or the story of your life. In short, it shows a detailed account of your education, work experience, achievements, publications, and skills. A CV is usually lengthy and has more than one page.
Resume
A resume is a summary of your work experiences and indicates your work-related skills. It should only be one page.
With this lies the question, “When do we use a resume and a CV when applying as a VA?”
In my applications, I always send a specialized resume with an accessible link. Specialized means that you just don’t copy and paste your resume to all applications. You should really take the time to customized it depending on the work you are applying. Most importantly, the resume must have your skills and a summary of who you are and what you can do for the client. The file can be a Google Docs or a PDF uploaded to Google Drive.
In terms of the CV, I just indicate in the application letter, “If you need more details on my work experience and education, please don’t hesitate to message me so I can send my CV to you.”
5. Find clients on job platforms
Take your time to look at every job listing in OLJ instead of just searching for specific keywords or titles.
You might also filter the job category to the specialization that you want to apply or the employment type if you are applying for a full-time, part-time, or just a freelance position. These are found on the upper left side of the Job Board page.
Most importantly, read the job description word-per-word and ensure to follow any instructions so your application won’t be rejected.
6. Prepare yourself for interviews and countless rejections
When you are still starting your application, don’t expect that you will get that job with just a few applications and interviews.
I sent several applications and went to interviews before I had my first work as a VA. The journey was not an easy one. You will face rejections and most of the time, no responses from them.
You need to have a purpose for why you pursued this path. Show up every day to apply for job listings. You never know the right opportunity for you would be the specific job posted on that day.
You might be disappointed when you experience these things, but remember, every rejection is a redirection. Every rejection leads you closer to your ideal client.
Give your best and always provide a valuable resume in every application so that you will stand out among the rest of the applicants. If you notice that your current strategy is not working, you might change and improve it.
Remember, not all clients are for you and you are not for all clients. There will always be a business out there that needs you.
7. Learn by reading blogs and watching Youtube videos from Virtual Assistant content creators
During my job application journey, I did not just focus on just that aspect. I also made sure that I’m learning valuable VA-related resources from blogs and Youtube content creators.
Even though your target work is not specifically related to what some VA content creators specialize, you might learn from them and expand your horizon on which VA tasks you want to do.
In my experience, I have binged watched the Youtube content of Britx Sui who generously shares her valuable experiences and tips as she has been in this industry for 10 years. Her VA Training for Beginners Playlist helped me equipped the right mindset as a VA.
I also recommend watching Victoria Nelle’s Youtube channel and Tiktok content. She imparts practical and straightforward tips for aspiring VAs. You can also check her resources from her blog, Serendipity – The Blog, and read her blog writings and free eBooks.
I learned a lot from them and still applied their learnings in my current work as a VA.
8. Prepare the essential equipment
Buying a brand-new laptop is expensive for a Filipino VA who is just starting. With the steps I mentioned above, you can do these by borrowing a laptop from a family or friend.
However, if you’re willing to invest in a laptop, it would be great. Having a laptop is essential to perform the tasks as VA. If you ask if you should be getting a desktop computer or a laptop, I recommend having a laptop. You can bring your work anywhere and work outside of your home.
If you want to know the best purchases and investments I made as a VA, you may read my other blog post.
When I decided to become a VA, I anticipated that my work wouldn’t consume much of the laptop’s memory. The specs below currently worked for me:
- Processor: Intel i5, 11th Gen
- RAM: I originally bought this laptop with 8GB RAM but it is expandable up to 16GB. Over time, I bought another 8GB which brings my laptop’s total RAM to 16GB.
Also, you need an internet connection. The speed depends on the type of work you do as a VA. If you still can’t afford to get a broadband plan at home, you might go to coffee shops or co-working spaces that offer an internet connection. Remember to weigh the pros and cons if which option is cost-efficient for you in the long-run.
Conclusion
Virtual Assistant jobs have increased in this digital age, especially when the pandemic happened resulting to most people having to work remotely.
Also, people aspire to work from home and attain a work-life balance which most did not experience when they had office jobs that entail to work for more than 8 hours without overtime pay. With working remotely, we have much flexibility, more earning potential, and more time to spend with our hobbies, friends, loved-ones, and family.
The job application journey as a VA is not a walk in the park, but remember, if you truly want this, giving up is not an option. Often, it’s when you’re ready to give up that the right opportunity arrives. When you are tired, take time to rest but don’t quit. Continue to show up again the next day. The struggle is part of the journey and you’re not alone. Everyone goes through it. I assure you. Your hard work will soon pay off and be recognized by the right client.
Are you ready to become a Virtual Assistant?
