Today, businessmen have learned to evolve to catch up with the fast-paced world. In order to survive, businesses must learn to thrive based on the trends while keeping up with the common business practices, beliefs and norms. As we have already entered the digital age, people tend to rely so much on the Internet for almost everything, from food to fashion, and most of the time for information.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, people have started to do business online, and online careers have even flourished. Because of this, businessmen and professionals alike learned to make use of simple, available resources online, such as Virtual Assistants.
Virtual Assistant is the most “in demand” job in the online market today. Those who are not able to find careers in the physical or face-to-face platform opt for a job such as a virtual assistant, and some have already found it as a rewarding and comfortable job. What exactly is a Virtual Assistant and why is it a popular career choice nowadays?
A Virtual Assistant is a person who remotely provides services to businesses or professionals. They are similar to having a personal assistant or a secretary who can basically do all sorts of tasks you require them, such as:
- Prepare your letters and reports
- Sort through your emails and filter your inbox
- Social media management or digital marketing
- Manage your appointments and calendars
- Manage your events
- Book your travel itineraries, hotels, and restaurants
- Contact your clients and suppliers
- Manage your finances and other administrative tasks
- Do some research for you
And so much more!
Virtual assistants help keep you and your team or business organised while you focus on the more important tasks, such as closing deals and managing on a macro level. Hiring them saves you time and training costs, as most of those who apply online are already experienced in the kind of job that you require at a budget that you can afford. Since they are hired remotely and work from home, many people, especially stay-at-home moms find it a practical career choice, hence the number of available virtual assistants are quickly increasing.
Since having a virtual personal assistant will generally ease the burden of having to personally oversee the nitty gritty tasks of your business, any type of business can benefit from them. From doctors’ clinics to sales companies, Virtual Assistants can play a huge role in keeping everything on top.
Now it would seem like we could replace our office staff with virtual assistants – that way, we could save on operational expenses brought about by maintaining an office space. Well, not entirely.
As you can see, Virtual Assistants can only work remotely, meaning they are far away from you and you may not even see them in person, ever. You must remember that there are other tasks that are not possibly done online. For example, a boss like you would love to have a fresh cup of coffee when you enter your office. Of course, a virtual assistant could not possibly do that. Or perhaps run some errands, file some papers and reports, represent you in meetings you cannot attend… these are things that can only be done by a staff member physically present in your office.
In conclusion, almost all businesses may benefit from a virtual assistant, however, as the employer, you must also consider the type of job that you require, and if their physical absence still benefits or meets your expectations.
