How to Become a Reliable Virtual Assistant Even With ZERO Experience
If you want to try working online as a Virtual Assistant, but you feel afraid and you’re thinking:
“What if I mess up the client’s business?”
“What if they don’t like my work?”
“What if I can’t do the tasks, and I just waste their time onboarding me?”
Know that it’s normal to feel that way. And no, you’re not less qualified than others.
These thoughts might bother you so much that they slowly shake your confidence before you even start sending your applications.
But you know what..
When I look for projects online, even if I only know 80% of what’s in the job post, I try applying.
The other 20%? Let me tell you how I manage it.
1. Self-trust.
Yes, we can learn from watching video tutorials.
But if you don’t trust yourself enough, you’ll get paralyzed.
You’ll be stuck in the ‘learning phase’
Start trusting your abilities.
Start believing that you can figure things out along the way.
Are you committed enough to meet deadlines?
Do you care about details and always give your best?
I mean…
Are you someone who doesn’t do the task just for the sake of doing it, and just for the salary?
If yes, then you have nothing to worry about.
My favorite hiring quote is this:
“You can’t teach attitude, but you can teach skills.”
So, if you value quality work, then everything else will follow.
2. Be resourceful.
When you trust yourself (our #1 tip),
you believe you can deliver good results even if you’re not yet sure how.
That drive to do quality work will make you more resourceful.
And let me tell you,
resourcefulness can save you a lot of trouble
Being resourceful can help you handle any work problem.
Actually, VA tasks are usually the same each day.
But just in case you haven’t yet studied the task given by the client, maximize these three tools.
I’m sure you met them already! YouTube, Google, and, new to our list, ChatGPT!
3. Clarify if the instruction is unclear.
If things get too confusing, don’t hesitate to ask your client.
Not asking sooner can make things messier.
When you’re confused:
One, never assume.
Two, communicate clearly.
And one more important reminder:
if there’s a technical issue or if things can be searched online,
try reading some articles or watching some tutorials first (our tip #2)
But of course…for other business-related decisions like deleting certain files or responding to an unusually important message, always confirm with your client first.
4. Never stop learning.
You began with no experience, but even as you start working with clients…
never stop learning.
If there’s a tool that can help you and your client work better and more efficiently,
feel free to suggest it.
The more you improve, the more reliable you become.
5. Ask for feedback.
Lastly, whether or not you are a reliable Virtual Assistant depends on how the client feels.
You can ask them for feedback on what you can improve. You can say..
“Is there anything about my responsiveness
or task completion that you think could be better?”
Or if you’re shy to open it up in a casual conversation,
you can send them a Google form and list down all your questions there.
What questions should be included in the Feedback Form?
Practice our number tip #2. Ask ChatGPT!
I’ll share another mantra to help you muster up the courage to finally start applying even with zero experience.
I want you to take note of this:
“Everything is figureoutable.”
So, yup, you can become a reliable Virtual Assistant by first having these soft skills.
Again, technical skills can be learned easily.
Just a click on the search bar and you’re ready to go.
But self-trust, resourcefulness, openness to ask, to learn more, and to improve?
That’s what’s gonna make you go a long way in the VA world.
If you’re into this kind of self-development journey, you can listen to some of my mini TED Talks 😀