Virtual Assistant Training Lesson 1: Introduction

What is a Virtual Assistant / VA?

A Virtual Assistant is the online version of an office assistant or personal assistant. Basically, VAs are freelancers, they may work full time for a single company or employer OR they may work part-time for a couple or several business owners.

VAs are paid by the hour, per week, bi-monthly, monthly, or per project basis. If your employer is foreign or based abroad, you can get paid from US$2.00 per hour (or around PhP 96.00 - more than the PhP50+/hour minimum wage in the Philippines), up to US$10.00/hour (or more). On the other hand, if your employer is based here, you can get paid between PhP2,000 to PhP4,000 per month part-time.

Advantages and Disadvantages of being a VA.

Advantages:

• Work  from home or anywhere there's a PC/laptop with internet access.
• No dress code.
• Work the number of hours you prefer.
• No rush hour traffit to go through.
• No scrutinizing bosses around.
• No gossiping office mates.
• Free from office politics.
• Opportunity to set-up you own VA business at home.

Disadvantages:

• No insurance, no healthcare (HMO) benefits, no 13th month pay, etc.
• No personnel department to take care of your tax and SSS payments (you have to do it yourself.)
• You're on your own (No readily available office mates or supervisors to ask for help or advice)
• There's always the risk of not getting paid (or late payments) for the services done.

What you need to get started.

Equipment:

PC/Laptop with a reliable internet access (pref. broadband, not dial-up)

Basic Skills:

Computer skills and English language proficiency (read, write, understand English)

Internet Skills:

Email (send, receive, compose emails, etc.)

Online research  (using google and other search engines)

Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Skype, Linked-in)

Online Ads posting (Sulit, OLX, Craiglist, etc.)

Blogging, forum posting, basic website making, etc.

Others:

MUST KNOW HOW TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS, fast-learner, very patient, can give attention to details, organize, can multi-task, positive mindset

After reading the basics about what a Virtual Assistant is and the tasks/activities involved in being one, do you still consider to work as a VA? If you answered YES then very good!

Because we at OJP believe that all you REALLY need to earn online is the RIGHT ATTITUDE and WILLINGNESS to learn.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT:

Please visit Odesk.com HERE and explore the different jobs and pay rates available online.  This will, more or less, give you an insight of what it’s like to be a VA.

NEXT LESSON:

Virtual Assistant Basics.

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