Virtual assistant jobs are increasingly accessible to individuals with no prior experience, thanks to the diverse range of tasks that businesses and entrepreneurs require assistance with. Many employers prioritize skills like organization, communication, and a proactive attitude over specific job experience, making it an ideal entry point for those looking to start a remote career.
Let review some of the best practice and professional advice to land a virtual assistant job without experience:
What Are Virtual Assistants and the Perks of Becoming One?
Have you ever wanted to work for a company based in the US, but didn’t want to leave your home to do it? With virtual assistant jobs, that’s exactly what you do. Virtual assistants are talented professionals who help North American companies manage their marketing and administrative needs without leaving their home country – or even their home.
There are many reasons why professionals from Latin American countries like Guatemala, Ecuador, or Colombia might be interested in online assistant jobs. First of all, a virtual assistant job provides a great opportunity to maximize and get the most out of your education and talents.
When you work as a virtual assistant with an American or Canadian business, one of the biggest benefits is the great wages, which are guaranteed to be higher than that of similar positions in your home country. Another reason many professionals choose to become a virtual assistant is that VAs can enjoy a higher salary along with greater flexibility and no more long commutes to the office. An added benefit of being a VA for a North American company is that your clients are in the same or a similar time zone as you, so there’s no need to stay up for any 3 am meetings.
Types of Virtual Assistants
There are many different types of virtual assistants out there. Numerous American companies are in search of talented and competent assistants to help improve workflow. Every business owner is different, and so are their needs and expectations. Most companies hire a virtual assistant with a specific skill set, which means there are many types of virtual assistant jobs available, depending on your expertise. Some of the most common positions for VAs include:
Admin Assistants
Working as a virtual admin assistant is one of the most common positions for a virtual professional. Many company managers need someone to help with a variety of administrative tasks, including making calls to clients, managing and writing emails, scheduling appointments, and more. VAs can fulfill the job of an administrative assistant as well as an executive assistant.
Customer Service Virtual Assistant
Customer service VAs provide support to the client’s customers. This position is perfect for anyone who has ever worked in a call center, or who is familiar with the service industry. A Customer Service VA may be responsible for receiving and making calls to clients, as well as handling customer correspondence.
Sales Virtual Assistant
Many small business owners are looking for someone who can help them boost sales and grow their business. As a sales VA, it would be your job to help your client enhance their business efforts by getting more customers and boosting sales.
Social Media Virtual Assistant
Social media marketing is one of the most useful tools for generating business and getting new clients. Unfortunately, social media management effectively can be time-consuming and tedious, and most company managers simply do not feel they have the time. Social media VAs manage their clients’ social media accounts, generate content, schedule posts, and stay up to date on relevant trends.
Marketing Virtual Assistant
Marketing VAs are professionals who are knowledgeable about the marketing industry. As a marketing VA, you will handle your client’s advertising campaigns, utilize your knowledge of SEO to create more traffic, create and manage email marketing campaigns, and truly put your communication skills to the test.
VA positions are not limited to the examples on this list. Companies look for a variety of skills to enhance their business performance, including graphic designers, bloggers, project & operations managers, email and automation experts, and more.
Get Hired as a VA Even if You Don’t Have Experience Working Remotely
Most virtual assistants are hired by companies for their unique skill sets, whether in marketing and advertising, customer support, sales, or another field. As a VA, you will work closely with your client to help maximize their business efforts.
While you might think remote jobs require less interpersonal skills than in-the-office positions, this is simply not the case. Remote work needs a lot more to maintain clear, honest, and effective communication at all times, both with your client and with the client’s customers. With such emphasis on communication skills, it stands to reason that a VA working for an American or Canadian company needs to be proficient both in spoken and written English.
If you are interested in a virtual assistant job from home, here are a few steps you can take to start your career:
1. Choose the Service You Want to Offer
The first step to securing an online job is deciding which service or niche your skills are best suited for. Consider your previous work experience, education, and certifications. Do you love working with social media, and know what it takes to create a community and engage with your audience? Great. Direct your attention towards social media virtual assistant jobs. If you have experience working in a call center and are skilled at communications, perhaps working as a customer service VA is the right position for you.
2. Set Up a Good Working Environment
You don’t need to have experience working remotely to become a virtual assistant, but it is necessary to set up an efficient and productive work environment before you start. Before applying for a remote job, it’s important that you have the means to work efficiently and comfortably from home. Make sure you have a working computer, a strong and dependable internet connection, and a headset.
3. Take Free or Paid Courses
Virtual assistant jobs from home are highly sought-after, making for a competitive job market. Investing your time and resources in free or paid courses can boost your skills and your resume. You can access a variety of special courses and training at:
- LinkedIn Learning Center
- HubSpot Academy
- Coursera
- Udemy
4. Work on Your Soft Skills
Developing excellent soft skills and great interpersonal skills is especially important for professionals seeking remote jobs. You can work on your soft skills by:
- Adopting a learning mindset
- Encouraging self-reflection
- Taking a course in negotiation or project management
- Focusing on problem-solving skills
- Improving communication skills
5. Choose the Right Platform to Find Your Clients
The final step to beginning your online assistant career is choosing the right virtual assistant company to reach your clients. There are several virtual assistant businesses you can choose from, however, one of the best on the market is Virtual Latinos.
Why Choose Virtual Latinos to Start as a VA?
Virtual Latinos is a platform preferred by many professionals because of the high level of support it gives to new and veteran VAs alike. While trying to find freelance work as a VA independently can be overwhelming, joining the Virtual Latinos community streamlines the process by finding you a virtual job that perfectly matches your professional profile.
If you’re interested in finding remote jobs, consider applying to Virtual Latinos. To get the process started, fill out the online application and submit any relevant documentation such as your college diploma, professional CV, or a link to your website. After you’ve been accepted into the Virtual Latinos community, all that’s left is to create your professional profile – and get hired by your first client! If you are interested in pursuing virtual assistant jobs from home and starting your career as a VA, apply to Virtual Latinos today.
