This is a question I was asked by one of my good friends when I told her I was going to become a virtual assistant.
I can assure you that I am not a robot.
So, what then is a Virtual Assistant (VA)? The scope of a VA varies greatly. Some provide very specific services and some provide a general range. I recently read a page that listed over 100 different services a VA can provide:
from social media management to website design,
from eCommerce to data entry,
from proof-reading to copy writing,
and everything in between!
Most VAs have come from administrative roles in the corporate world and are after some greater work flexibility. My administrative background has come mostly from my experience as an Executive Assistant (EA) to the Executive Director of a non-profit, a Personal Assistant (PA) to a Business Manager and EA to a school Principal. Additionally, I've picked up a variety of skills from every job I've worked in.
Virtual Assistants make a lot of sense when you have jobs that can be done remotely and you only want to pay for the time spent working (not the time spent sorting stationery, fixing the printer or chatting to co-workers in the tea room).
And you don't need to enter a VA into your payroll so you don't need to worry about Super or leave entitlements etc.
VAs are part of a new way to get things done in an increasingly digital business space.
We are, however, very real people.
Here's you getting you back to doing the things you love.
xx Sarah
(This is a throwback to my very first blog for Inspired Admin back in July 2019)