“VA” comes in many Hats

If you are not familiar with the term “VA”, and no it is not Virginia USA, but rather it means Virtual Assistant. There are a lot of companies looking for Virtual Assistant and lots of people also looking forward to work as virtual assistant.

But one thing that virtual employees should be aware of is that a “VA” comes in many hats. Usually, we think that being a VA is to assist somebody with his work, like calling in schedules, checking emails, arranging schedules and appointments and other personal stuff kind of work. Let me broaden your thinking in terms of this.

Some companies like the one I work for before consider their online researcher as VA. So you think that your job is all “glamour” but actually it is just research job that you are performing.

Other companies say they are looking for “VA” but what they actually want you to do is to call their prospects and set appointments. This is actually a telemarketing job or an appointment setter job.

Other hats of “VA” include online customer service ( your employer is too tired to respond to all complaints of his clients ), data entry ( this is the best kind of VA, either research or numbers ), tele prospecting ( this is where you play James Bond and spy on your employers competitors or potential clients and give a full report ), online researcher ( another great job, but hopefully work will keep coming in instead of seasonal ), back office or admin support ( this is another great job based on my experience ).

The best kind of “VA” work is answering phone calls and taking messages, arranging schedules and appointments and returning phone calls.

So the next time you find an ad that says “Looking for Virtual Assistant”, find out what kind of “VA” job it is. If it is the kind of work that comes once every one or two weeks, and you get paid only when you work, then it may be hard if you are looking to earn more than that.