virtual assistant

Your daily tasks vary quite a bit, depending on where you work and what tasks are due that week. Overall, your main goal is to facilitate the business you work for. Your job is to keep things running smoothly and handle office tasks while your coworkers manage other responsibilities. This can end up requiring a broad mix of duties, such as talking to customers, working with administrative software, and communicating with fellow employees. Your employer will explain your job duties to you, and generally, you just need to do whatever task they assign to you. Since you're working virtually, you need to be comfortable doing assistant tasks using software, such as Microsoft Office or Zoom.

Depending on the job you work at, your job description can include a broad range of different duties, including:

• answering phone calls and rerouting calls
• taking notes in meetings or leaving messages for your boss
• scheduling appointments and setting up meetings
• reading and responding to emails
• making posts on the company's social media accounts
• keeping track of when bills are due
• sorting and filing documents
• making travel accommodations
• saving and organizing data such as customer accounts
• managing a calendar for the office or a manager
• creating and updating contact lists

As a virtual assistant, your work environment can be almost anywhere. The only things you'll need are a source of electrical power and an internet connection. Most virtual assistants work from home, but some work at rentable co-working spaces, coffee houses with Wi-Fi, public parks, community centers, or local libraries. This flexible job allows you to create the working space that best suits your needs. Typically, your job doesn't require any work-related travel. However, some jobs might include you running errands or dropping off items for a boss.

Your colleagues will be all the people in the office. Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues may include HR managers, office supervisors, and file clerks. You might also be working in close proximity to customer service representatives and salespeople. Sometimes, you'll work with other specialists that include, but are not limited to, accounts payable clerks, project managers, or doctors.

The average virtual assistant works a traditional work schedule during the day, Monday through Friday. Businesses often need you to work during their work hours, so you can answer phones or talk to other coworkers. However, there is a lot of variety in this position. Some jobs let you work whenever you want as long as you complete your assigned tasks. Some industries may need their assistants to work on nights or weekends. If you live in another time zone, you might end up working at some unique times.

Keep in mind that many virtual assistant jobs are part-time. For example, you might work four hours each morning to help a business. However, if you prefer full-time jobs, there are many full-time positions open as well. Some companies may even need virtual assistants who work overtime.

Most experts are cautious about the job outlook for virtual assistants. While some analysts predict the assistant industry will drop within the next decade, there are some positive trends. There’s a growing interest in assistants who work remotely, so virtual assistants may have slightly higher job growth rates than traditional assistants.

This decline doesn't mean all jobs for assistants will vanish. There are still plenty of openings if you know where to look. Projected estimates for assistant jobs say that there should be roughly 354,000 new openings each year. To remain competitive in the field, it's a good idea to brush up on technological skills and learn to work with automation.

Working through Randstad offers you a range of benefits:

• being paid weekly
• flexibility
• always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help from
• many training opportunities
• a range of jobs in your area

Want a permanent contract? But you wonder why it would be interesting for you to work with a staffing company? A temporary job as a virtual assistant is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!

Being a virtual assistant requires a different skill set, but those who are technologically proficient often find the job easy. For some, the flexibility and the fact that you can work from home make the job more enjoyable.

When you work remotely, you're less likely to have strictly managed lunch breaks. This job is usually a better choice for those who like working independently and setting their own schedule.

Being a virtual assistant can be a good way to get experience in an office setting. Many assistants go on to become office managers, HR employees, or other administrative workers. Some may also leverage their position to get a promotion into sales or another department at their office.

This job is very flexible, so it's a popular choice among people looking for a little extra work. Many of these postings are part-time and remote, so it is often an easy to manage this job alongside your other responsibilities.

Experience isn't always a requirement. Some jobs let you become a virtual assistant even if you have no background in administration or office work. However, full-time virtual assistant jobs with a lot of responsibility often require a few years of experience.

Applying for a virtual assistant job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our virtual assistant jobs for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV. If you do not have a resume, no worries. Just check out our resume builder. This state-of-the-art tool will help you to create your own resume. Need help with your application? Check out all our job-hunting tips!