Must-Have Skills for Every Successful VA

As work-from-home opportunities continue to rise, many people are looking to take on digital-based roles, like that of a virtual assistant. VAs are valued members of the workforce and are appreciated now more than ever for their ability to help business owners, executives, and other professionals increase productivity and efficiently carry out time-consuming tasks.

With an increasing demand for VAs in the workforce and many people jumping to fill these desirable roles, setting yourself apart is a must. In order to stand out among the masses, establishing and promoting your own unique skill set is key. Additionally, there are a few must-have skills that we recommend honing, which will demonstrate your level of overall proficiency and greatly increase your chances of being hired for this kind of work. 

Outlined below are some of the most desirable, “must-have” skills that professionals hope to find in a successful VA: 

1. Data Entry- These kinds of tasks often require a significant amount of time to execute- something that many entrepreneurs lack. Data entry is crucial to a number of business functions and is important to continued business success, so ensuring that all data is managed carefully is important for any business owner regardless of their industry, product, or service. Data entry tasks include typing and entering data into forms, editing current information, proofreading text and updating databases, to name a few.

2. Customer Service- Excellent customer service is vital to every business— without satisfied customers, there is little success. However, providing flawless customer service doesn't always come easy and strengths in this department vary greatly from person to person. If you have great people skills, are outgoing, enjoy interacting with others (and possess the patience to do so), you’re already set up for success. If you’re not yet entirely confident in these areas, take some time to reflect and consider how you could practice and improve. Even if you do not work directly with business customers as part of your VA duties, interacting and collaborating with the professionals who have hired you requires customer service skills— after all, your clients are your customers. These are skills you can’t do without! 

3. Social Media- Managing a business’s presence on social media has become a highly valued skill— especially among influential figures who use these platforms to expand their reach. Social media allows businesses to combine creativity with an analytical approach that drives results and it’s proven to be one of the most effective marketing tools in recent years. Nowadays, many organizations are hiring social media specialists to help them maximize their reach and improve engagement with existing and potential customers. The more you focus on honing skills related to creating, editing, and managing social media, the more you will stand out as a valuable addition to any team.

4. Accounting - Accounting skills are centred around maintaining the finances of a business. Some of the most common accounting tasks that can be taken over by a VA include generating invoices and following up on payments, issuing refunds, paying employees and contractors, and preparing balance sheets and tax documents. Most of these tasks are too tedious and time-consuming for entrepreneurs to dedicate their precious time to, but they are imperative! 

5. Writing - Writing has become a vital part of the VA industry in many ways. A strong ability to convey messages, ideas, and thoughts to your clients will skyrocket your ability to collaborate and provide optimal service— helping you to continue climbing the ladder of success. Not only do good writing skills help your position as a VA, they also add an edge to the business you're supporting. Whether your clients need you to complete written projects (articles, blogs, copy, etc.) or tackle day-to-day writing tasks (business letters, emails, proofreading, etc.) quality writing skills are a priority in the VA world. 

6. Technology - considering we live in a digital era, where almost every business uses some kind of technology in some kind of way, tech skills in every shape and form are highly advantageous (and knowing the bare minimum is essential). As a VA, you will need to know your way around a computer, at the very least, and depending on what kind of clients you’d like to work with, or what duties you prefer to take on, additional expertise will be necessary. Most businesses will utilize specific software and/or programs that you’ll need to know how to run- from email platforms to industry-specific tools, etc. All virtual assistants should possess an understanding of basic technology and those who hope to work in a specific field or industry would do well to research and familiarize themselves with any prevalent technology!  

7. Communication - Having good communication skills is essential when working as a virtual assistant since there is little to no in-person contact with clients. Emails, phone calls, messaging platforms and video chats will be your primary ways of communicating with your clients, and these forms can be more complicated than interacting face-to-face. Regardless of the work that you do, communication is key in establishing positive working relationships so it’s absolutely worth your time to build communication skills and interact meaningfully and genuinely with your clients, in whatever way you may interact. 

8. Organization - Good organizational skills are vital in the VA workplace for yourself and for your clients.  It is not uncommon for a VA to find themselves working on several different projects for several clients at one time and organization is the key to maintaining timely,  high-quality work. 

These skills are not solely unique to the VA field, but they are vital and highly in demand for these roles. Take the time to reflect on your personal skill-set and how your qualifications match these desirable qualities. If you find that you’re lacking in some areas, it may be in your best interest to dedicate some time to practising, learning, and building your expertise. Even if you feel you’re ready to go in these areas, it never hurts to improve! 

While these skills barely scratch the surface of what a virtual assistant can do, they lay a solid foundation for success. 

If you are looking for a VA that will help the success of your business, schedule a FREE call with us now!