9 Myths about Virtual Assistant Jobs and Careers

You could be thinking about pursuing virtual assistant jobs. But then, you might be scared and uncomfortable due to several things about being an online service provider. Yet still, you should really know more about virtual assistance services before you lead or step backward on this career. 

Find out some misconceptions many people believe about online service businesses and virtual assistants. Here are the myths most people think about the digital service providers and see what it means.

 

Myth 1: Anyone can be a successful VA 

Misconceptions: Many people believe that any individual is a perfect fit for a virtual assistance career. Why? They think virtual assistant services only require computer skills, and that’s it. You can be a VA instantly! They also imagine virtual assistants working remotely, so if someone has devices like computers, laptops, or any gadgets, they can start their VA career right away. 

Reality: Actually, virtual assistance services are more than your computer skills and devices. It requires individuals to learn how to provide excellent support and genuine interest in helping people. In this case, virtual assistants become the client’s right hand in various roles such as marketing, financing, human resources, and even business operations.

Besides that, virtual assistants should also excel in managing paperwork while juggling schedules, appointments, and administrative tasks.

Other than that, VAs are not employees of any specific company. Instead, you are the own boss of your service company as a sole proprietor. So, you are now assigned to handle your finances, taxes, and legal documents. 

Not all individuals are suitable to handle these heavy workloads and responsibilities. But you can still be a VA if you really pursue it! 

Suggestions: If you wish to be a successful VA, it is a plus if you are organized and dedicated in nature. However, you can still work on these characteristics to improve your entrepreneurship skills. 

For example, you can try budgeting your expenses and tracking things down to become more organized. Besides that, you can also try managing your daily and weekly schedule, allowing yourself to practice administrative skills and appointments. 

As you try these things, you are making an exception to Myth #1 because you can be a VA yourself! 

 

#2 Virtual assistance career is not so lucrative

Misconceptions: Other people see the VA career as an unstable job. They think that because you are only getting clients online, you cannot guarantee continuous revenues. Furthermore, they are also afraid of joining fraud employers and clients, making things worse. Through this, they are not really impressed with how virtual assistants can help you gain income, unlike in the corporate world or traditional businesses.

Reality: Virtual assistance career is a highly profitable career! You can either work hourly or project-based, depending on your convenience and your client’s needs. Besides that, you can also negotiate with a client through a continuous contract for a month or a year. You are securing your financial stability using this method. 

Virtual assistant services are highly demanded today. That’s why many entrepreneurs and business owners find VAs online to help them manage their businesses. In this case, you would totally acquire regular clients, making you have a stable income. 

Suggestions: Several methods are available to have a stable VA career. Not all VAs start with successful virtual assistant jobs right away. Instead, they work on things and follow steps on how to become a virtual assistant. Like these successful and experienced VAs, you can also do the same. 

 

#3 VAs need to have a particular skill or niche

Misconceptions: People think that service providers would gain better jobs if they have special skills. For example, they would only focus on graphic design or content creation, specifically. Unlike general skills, they believe that VA skills need to have a particular skill or expertise. In this case, they would land more clients as they specialize in one specific service.

Reality: Virtual assistance services can provide varieties of skills as long as they can handle them. They are not only limited to particular expertise as they can offer several skills for their clients. Thus, it does not restrain from obtaining more virtual assistant jobs because they can do various tasks. Through this, VAs can do multiple roles, ranging from content creation, web development, administration, and other VA complexities.

Suggestions: You can still be a virtual assistant if you only have one particular skill. It’s not a problem at all. However, it is also vital for you to add up at least two or three additional minor skills that you can offer to the market. In this case, you’ll be a whole package of virtual assistants that any business would love to have. 

Similarly, you can rank them to your essential skills and minor virtual assistant skills if you have multiple skills. It would help you shine in a few skills while infusing other skills to offer. If your potential clients notice your capabilities, they would be excited to add you to their team.

 

#4 You need to excel in ALL skills

Misconceptions: Due to the broader ranger of skills inside virtual assistance services, people believe that VAS should master all skills! They think that virtual assistants must be great in the varieties of services any businesses need. So, they see VAs handle graphic designing, web development, content creation, and other digital marketing skills.

Reality: It is a fact that virtual assistants cater to several skills. They are known to be the “jack of all trades,” making them generalists in skills and expertise. However, VAs are not required to acquire all the skills. 

Of course, any individual has talents and abilities, but they also have limitations. For example, content writers are not thoroughly familiar with designing. Some VAs also focuses only on web development and not on administrative tasks. 

Suggestions: Like the suggestion in the previous myth, you also need to master major and minor skills. Be real and be honest in adding the services you can offer to your skillset. Remember that you are not a superhuman who can do all the tasks, so just pinpoint the primary skills you can offer. For example, you could be a web developer with a side skill for web designing and graphic designing. 

 

#5 You must pay for several VA tools.

Misconceptions: Because you are the prominent leader of your service company, you are the one to pay for the tools you need. Let’s say you already have the gadgets and equipment, but you don’t have any access to devices in the market. Through this case, many believe that you should really invest in all these materials and tools to continue with your VA career.

So, you really need to pay a lot, requiring you to spend more money than gaining income. 

Reality: Well, that is what many thought of. However, there are actually FREE virtual assistant tools available online that you can use without spending a single peso! If you familiarize yourself with these tools, you can now start your VA business. 

One best example is Canva. It is a free graphic designing platform perfect for aspiring VA graphic designers. So, they can use incredible Canva features without Canva Pro subscriptions. In this case, they can create graphics, documents, images, and files using the accessible version of Canva. As a result, they can receive tasks from clients without buying any paid version. 

Other than that, Google Apps are also free! You can use these platforms to create spreadsheets, documents, presentations, and even develop appointments using their Google Calendar. So you see, you are already making leverage with free apps available online.

If your client prefers to use paid tools, they can provide them to you. You 

Suggestions: Focus on using free tools. If needed, invest with the paid tools. However, if you want to learn minimal information, you may use YouTube tutorials or free VA courses featuring a particular tool.

 

#6 Go to the market, and clients will come  

Misconceptions: Many people think that you would get clients right away once you present yourself in the online market. You might also believe in this thing, but it is not actually as easy as it sounds like. However, it is stimulating and challenging, especially if you are just beginning your VA career.

Reality: You need to hustle and make plans on how to target your audience. As an aspiring VA or service provider, you need to prepare your VA brand first. Then, you need to highlight your target market and then start marketing. 

In this way, you have already fixed your overall marketing setup before jumping to the world of businesses. 

Suggestions: Please also take note that you have lots of competitors. Newbie VAs are also in the market, finding clients. So, you also need to exert more effort to be unique. It allows you to shine, attracting more clients as possible.

 

#7 Resumes are enough to find a job 

Misconceptions: People think that resumes are enough to find VA jobs. They believe that presenting yourself through a resume can prove who you are as a person. Besides that, you can also add a curriculum vitae (CV) to see more about your expertise.

Reality: VA clients usually focus on their sample works, background experience, and portfolios. They don’t actually have time to browse all your details. But then, they are incredibly interested to see if you can handle the job or roles. So, they want to see your portfolio and see what you can do. 

Sometimes, aspiring virtual assistants also undergo free or paid tests. In this case, they are giving you a task that you could do. If they liked what you have presented, they would hire you. 

Indeed, resumes are helpful for entrepreneurs and business owners to screen out their identities. However, they would need genuinely more to check your skills that can help their businesses.

Suggestions: Build your resume. Along with it, you need to include files of your sample works and portfolios. Kindly ensure that these documents are simple and easy to understand. Moreover, always remembers that they want to you what you can do, not who you are. 

 

#8 Virtual assistants should have a higher educational background 

Misconceptions: Most Filipinos believe that you must get an academic degree before landing a real job. They think that success focuses on pursuing higher education. So, they could be thinking that being a virtual assistant also requires a college education. 

Reality: Whether you finished college, high school, or elementary school, you can still be a virtual assistant. The only thing you need to have is the skill set required in the market. If you can handle virtual assistant duties, roles, and responsibilities, you are fine to build your VA career. 

Employers, business owners, and entrepreneurs might look for your educational background or certifications. However, they will be focusing on your prior experiences and skills in a particular field. So, if they see your potential as a graphic designer, they would totally hire you right away. 

In this case, even you finished a degree not related to graphic design, and they would still choose you. 

Clearly, service provider careers do not focus on education but rather on your own skills and capabilities.

Suggestions: It is not a recommendation for you not to pursue college. But then, if you wish to start working, either part-time or full-time, a VA career would be perfect for you. You could start preparing your computer skills, organizing talents, and digital business interests. In this way, you could offer outstanding services for your future clients. 

 

#9 Joining VA courses and community are ineffective

Misconceptions: Many people think that courses and community are just a waste of time. If you already have the skill, you can start finding clients instantly. Moreover, they believe that courses would not be really profitable as they will spend money without gaining anything. 

Reality: Virtual assistance training and courses are highly recommended as it brings out reminders, including proper VA mindset, VA branding establishing, client-hunting, and other corners of VA services. They also introduce VA offers, tools, and equipment, preparing your overall VA skillsets. 

Some VA courses are free; some are paid. Whether they are free or paid, you can still learn from these webinars, modules, or workbooks. Why? It would still teach you how VA works appropriately, making more good earnings in your VA career.

Besides that, VA courses have experienced and skilled VA mentors who have significant backgrounds in virtual assistance. They also have several skills, methods, and tools that they can share with you instantly. 

In this case, you will never worry about the tedious work of finding tutorials online. Why? It is because VA courses have a concrete and aligned program for VA career. 

Suggestions: You may start joining virtual assistant communities on Facebook. Some Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn account about virtual assistants also provide excellent tips and valuable content helpful for you. Most importantly, free VA courses are open for you to try online! 

VA courses of EVS Academy include office support management, graphic designing, and social media management. You can begin with these free short courses to get familiar with VA skills and services. 

How to begin your VA career? Get started here.