A virtual assistant or VA is someone who conducts administrative duties or other tasks while working fully remotely. VAs usually do not work at a company full time but rather have multiple clients for whom they work regularly or on an ad-hoc basis. Hence a lot of Virtual Assistants can have multiple part time jobs.
While VA work can be completing admin tasks such as scheduling, monitoring emails or messages on social media it can also include more specialised work.
Larger companies tend to have multiple virtual assistants focused on tasks such as SEO, copywriting, editing and many more. Virtual assistant jobs can be both full or part time and are usually fully remote so VAs can be location independent.
Virtual assistant jobs are in high demand. Hiring a VA instead of a full time employee can save a company up to 78% per year (Source) which makes them highly effective for completing specialised projects. It is hard to estimate how many virtual assistants are on the market in 2020 since not all are registered with an association.
The popular platform Guru has over 74,000 VAs registered with a further 26,000 on Freelancer and 5,000 on Upwork (Source). It is safe to say that this is only a small part of an industry that is experiencing huge growth in 2021.
More and more people are discovering the benefits and freedoms of remote work and choosing the freelance industry over a traditional job.
Why become a part time virtual assistant
Working from anywhere
Working as a part time virtual assistant has many benefits. Firstly you can work from anywhere in the world which could let you become a digital nomad and embrace a life of location independence.
But even if you don’t plan on seeing the world while you work remote jobs as a part time virtual assistant can have a positive impact on your work-life balance.
91% of people who work from home say they are more productive and 97% claim they experience less stress and feel happier (source).
Remote workers spend less time and money on commutes and have more freedom in their personal lives because they can work from anywhere.
Anyone can become a virtual assistant
Another reason why you should consider part time virtual assistant jobs is that the barrier of entry is relatively low. While university degrees or qualifications in the field are a benefit for those considering becoming a VA they are by no means a necessity.
All the skills you need to become a virtual assistant can be acquired online and most of them for free.
Anyone can become a VA and there are many online courses that will teach you all you need to know in just a few weeks. Click here to read more about the skills you need to become a top VA.
Working for yourself
As a virtual assistant, you will have different clients but in the end, you’ll be working for yourself. Most VAs have their own LLC company which allows them to build their own business. This gives you a great deal of freedom and the potential to grow and expand in the future.
Being your own boss can be easy if you start looking for part time remote virtual assistant jobs. With low overhead, this is a great way to start building your own business without large upfront investments and high risks.
Where to find part time virtual assistant jobs
Here are some of the best platforms to find part time virtual assistant jobs.
1. Fiverr
Fiverr is one of the most popular freelancing platforms and a great place to find remote work of all kinds including virtual assistant jobs. It lets you create differently priced packages and tiers for clients to choose from. However, wages for virtual assistants on Fiverr are low compared to other platforms on this list and it’s extremely competitive.
You could still give it a try, create an account and check out the market. You should probably begin with a low hourly rate just to build your profile with positive reviews.
2. Flexjobs
Flexjobs is a platform which prides itself in its high-quality and frequently monitored remote job postings. You have to pay to use the site but many freelancers swear by it and its positive reviews speak for itself. Also, the employers and jobs they offer with this subscription are very solid, pre-checked and come from world-renowed companies
There are different packages available with the best value being 49,95$ per year.
Virtual Vocations is another paid platform that curates remote jobs including part time virtual assistant listings for you. At 59,99$ for 6 months this site is one of the more expensive but its services can be worth it. They also offer a limited free version and a 30-day money-back guarantee so giving it a try is easy and risk-free.
4. Upwork
With over 12 million freelancers Upwork is one of the largest platforms for remote jobs on the internet. Signing up for Upwork is quick and easy and the site is very beginner-friendly. However, Upwork takes a 20% cut of your earnings until you have regular clients which can be a huge downside. As a result jobs on Upwork can be underpaid, however, they offer a great opportunity for newcomers to get started in the field.
5. Guru
Guru is another popular platform for finding freelance jobs. It has a very useful free version although there are paid plans to choose from depending on your needs. They charge a 9% commission fee for the free version but if you pay for a membership this fee decreases. Plan start at 11,95$ per month. With over 3,000,000 members this is a great platform to find both full and part time virtual assistant jobs.
6. Freelancer
Freelancer is known for charging a relatively low commission fee which makes it an attractive platform for those looking to get into remote work. However, with only 8 job bids included in their free plan, a membership is almost a must. Plans start at just 0,99$ per month and go up to 69,95$ depending on how many job bids you require. Freelancer offers a large variety of jobs as well as shorter tasks and projects which are ideal for virtual assistants.
7. Belay
Belay is a platform specialised in finding virtual assistants for their clients. To work with them as a VA you first have to complete the application process which consists of several interviews. Once you are approved Belay will match you with their clients and you can begin working. This platform might not be ideal for complete beginners but it’s an incredible resource once you have gained some experience.
8. Time etc
Similar to Belay, Time etc is a platform focused on connecting virtual assistants to clients. They guarantee a fixed hourly pay rate and regular jobs which is a huge benefit for those working as freelancers. Their application process includes multiple interviews and samples of previous work.
Another great matchmaking service for VAs and potential clients is Assistant Match. What sets this platform apart is that they offer training specifically for virtual assistants in different life situations such as stay-at-home parents or those looking for part time jobs. Unfortunately, the pay is relatively low for beginners but there is potential to earn more over time.
10. Freeeup
Click Worker divides jobs into specific tasks which are quick and easy to complete. As a new VA, this is a great place to get an idea of what the job is like and gain some experience. Sign-up is quick and easy and you can start completing tasks right away after a short assessment.
How does a virtual assistant work and what service do they offer?
Virtual assistant work can have many aspects and the majority of VAs eventually specialise in a certain area. Being specialised can help you find relevant jobs as a remote virtual assistant and make learning new skills easier.
Some examples of services offered by virtual assistants may include editorial/proofreading, content creation for social media or blogs, email services and scheduling, transcription services or translating as well as research of any and all forms. Most of these can be done by beginners and are not too difficult to learn. They are great options for those looking for part time virtual assistant jobs while still maintaining their full time career.
Some more skilled VA services could include web design, project management, search engine optimisation (SEO), graphic design or basic accounting services such as billing or invoicing. This type of work can be more challenging and might require training or previous knowledge.
Technically virtual assistant work can be any tasks that can be conducted remotely and that the client is trying to outsource.
How much can you earn as a part time virtual assistant?
There is no set number of what you can earn as a virtual assistant. It all depends on how much time you’re willing to commit and what type of clients you attract. As a beginner it is likely that your earnings will be quite low but as your skills improve and you gain more experience numbers can go up significantly. Most virtual assistants will have multiple clients at the same time depending on the workload that each requires.
In the United States, virtual assistants tend to make somewhere between 5$ and 38$ per hour which is a very broad range and depends a lot on what type of work the VA is hired for. Skilled tasks are usually higher paid than simple data entry or admin tasks and wages might increase over time if you build relationships with clients.
However, keep in mind that there is no upper limit for VA work. Depending on how many hours you’re willing to put in you could make being a virtual assistant a full time job and build your own VA agency. As your skill set becomes more advanced clients will pay more for your services. So do not be discouraged by low rates in the beginning, you have to start somewhere. For example, highly skilled VAs specialised in SEO or website maintenance can earn upwards of 100$ per hour.
On top of the hourly rate, you earn as a virtual assistant you should also consider the freedom and location independence that comes with remote work. You could be working from anywhere in the world which is an incredible benefit and could let you live a life of travelling full time.
What skills and setup do you need as a virtual assistant?
You do not need to make any large investments to become a part time virtual assistant. The most important thing is a computer and fast internet connection which in most cases is enough for a basic VA setup.
Depending on what you specialise in you should know how to use relevant computer programs and tools. Being able to navigate Google Drive/Google Docs, Google Calendar, Microsoft Office and Outlook are essential for most virtual assistants. If you plan to work as a social media VA or content creator you should, of course, know how to use Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest from a business perspective as well as scheduling tools like Later, Tailwind or Buffer.
For writers, basic knowledge of SEO and WordPress are almost non-negotiable and essential to provide high-quality work. Products like Jira or Trello can help VAs take organisation to the next level and work in an efficient and streamlined way.
While it is possible to learn how to use the majority of these programs it will be a huge advantage if you have some previous knowledge of them which will help you provide the best possible service to your client.
Click here to read more about the tools and skills needed to become a virtual assistant.
Summary and next Steps
Working as a virtual assistant is an attractive job as it comes with many benefits and freedoms. You can work as a VA in many different niches including but not limited to content creation, admin work, website maintenance, copywriting, search engine optimisation and project management. Most virtual assistants work as freelancers and have multiple clients at the same time which gives them flexibility and the ability to build their own business.
VAs can decide their own working hours and how much time they’re willing to invest. While payment can be low initially there is great potential for growth over time.
If you’re considering becoming a virtual assistant yourself you should carefully evaluate what skills you have and how they could be useful in a VA job. If you’re still very inexperienced you should begin to take some courses in the niche you’re interested in and work on building your skillset.
Try some of the freelancer platforms mentioned in this article and begin finding possible clients to gain experience.
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