VIRTUAL ASSISTANT

VIRTUAL ASSISTANT IN IRELAND

A Virtual Assistant is a fairly new concept which started in Ireland a number of years ago and started out as an administrative assistant providing secretarial and general office services to clients using virtual interfaces. A Virtual Assistant usually works from home, is self-employed and also provides all their own office equipment. However today with the evolution of the internet and availability of high capacity broadband connections to the home more and more professionals are joining the home based business supporting 1 to 5 clients and developing long term relationships. This type of business can help in their search for an improved work life balance. Today Virtual Assistants consist of writers, editors, transcription experts, graphic designers, desktop publishers, website designers, book keepers, accounts and multimedia people providing virtual support to client companies across all industry sectors.

In some cases, VA’s meet clients at the onset of their business relationship and then never see the client again until the job is delivered. In other cases, VA’s have periodic face-to-face meetings with their clients but perform all of their work at home using broadband communications. Typically, VA’s never meet their clients and communicate solely through Internet technologies. The emergence of the virtual assistant has caused a paradigm shift in the way work is performed. This movement is strong, it’s growing, and it’s encompassing every occupation known today. There are a number of skills and resources required to create and maintain a successful VA business:

• A high degree of computer literacy
• Commercial awareness
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• A dedicated home office
• Computer equipment, software and peripherals
• A website
• A broadband connection
• Marketing support
• Undisturbed time dedicated to working

You'll get more information on Virtual Assistant as a Home Based Business in our eBook!