Virtual Assistant Jobs That Let You Work From Anywhere

As more and more businesses move their operations online, there is an increasing demand for virtual assistants to keep things running smoothly. Virtual assistant jobs allow you to do the work you enjoy while getting rid of a long commute and being able to work from anywhere in the world.

There are several different ways you can become a virtual assistant and if you have the right skills, you can earn a great living and make enough money to sustain your life on the road. First, let’s talk about exactly what virtual assistants do and look at several companies that hire them for home-based work opportunities.

What Do Virtual Assistants Do?

A virtual assistant is basically a personal assistant that provides aid to clients and assists with everything from administrative tasks to project management – but they do not work in the client’s office. Virtual assistant jobs are similar to customer service jobs except that instead of helping customers, you help a company, business or entrepreneur with daily tasks and projects.

There are a few different kinds of virtual assistant positions, but the basis of the job is largely the same. As a virtual executive assistant, you’ll support the work of C-suite and high-level managers by helping them with projects that move the business forward (as well as some personal responsibilities). As an administrative assistant, you’ll focus more on the daily processes that ensure a company runs as smoothly as possible.

The duties of a virtual assistant include data entry, making business phone calls, answering emails and managing your client’s schedule. Your workday might include making travel arrangements, appointment scheduling and managing the bookkeeping. In companies with an online presence, you may even need to manage social media accounts and create or edit blog posts.

What You Need to Be a Virtual Assistant

To become a virtual assistant, you need to be able to juggle multiple tasks and keep track of tight deadlines to keep the office running smoothly. As a remote worker, you need excellent communication skills to keep the entire team and clients up to date. Virtual assistants should be excellent writers and communicators.

You’ll need to be proficient in any necessary software like email managers, project management tools, calendar apps, and scanners. If your company has an online presence, you may also need to know how to use web tools such as WordPress to keep the website up to date and (possibly) also various types of social media.

Since you’ll be working from a home office, you also need to ensure your office space is ideal for the tasks you need to accomplish. Some employers will require use of specific software or hardware so you need to make sure you’re familiar with each one. Depending on the employer, you may need Microsoft Office so make sure to check when applying. To be the most effective, you need to ensure youre home office sets you up for success. You should have a high-speed Internet connection and a quiet environment where you can work and connect with colleagues and clients.

Companies That Hire Virtual Assistants

Now that you’ve decided to become a virtual assistant, you probably need some guidance on how to find these jobs. Luckily, the major job boards such as Upwork and Guru make it easy to find remote work as a virtual assistant and there are tons of companies that hire virtual assistants as contractors or freelancers. Here, we’ll introduce you to some of them to help get you started on finding your next virtual assistant position.

1. Fancy Hands

Fancy Hands is an online platform that connects virtual assistants with companies that need their services. To list your services, you need to have excellent communication skills along with a computer and reliable Internet connection. You also need to have some form of a headset in order to communicate effectively with your clients. Typical daily tasks include appointment setting, assisting project coordinators, and working closely with project managers.

Fancy Hands pays $3 to $7 per task depending on when tasks are completed, how quickly you complete them, and how difficult a task is. If you do a good job, there is an opportunity to move up and become a virtual assistant manager. Payments are sent twice per month and are released every other Tuesday.

2. Zirtual

Zirtual only hires U.S.-based applicants, but this can be a great opportunity if you are a resident of the United States. If hired, you’ll work alongside other virtual assistants as well as with account managers and account supervisors. You’ll be the main point of contact for clients and you’ll need to work a certain number of hours per week if hired. To qualify, you need at minimum an Associate’s degree and 1 year of administrative experience.

Zirtual hourly rates vary depending on the client but typically are between $13 and $18 per hour. You’ll be hired as a 1099 contractor, meaning you’ll be responsible for filing taxes on your own.

3. Timeetc

Timeetc is a virtual assistant company that hires mainly for flexible or part-time positions, requiring a minimum of 3 hours per week. To qualify, you need at least 2-3 years of experience as a personal assistant, executive assistant, secretary or administrative assistant. Zirtual hires virtual assistants in the United States as well as the United Kingdom. Pay ranges from $11 to $16 per hour based on experience.

4. Worldwide 101

Worldwide 101 is a company that hires administrative assistants as contractors. This company focuses on providing administrative support to small and medium-sized companies in the U.S. and Europe. That means that many of their postings are available not just to U.S. citizens, but also to Europeans. They currently have open positions for executive assistants in several industries including paralegal.

Worldwide 101 pays higher rates than some of these other companies because they only hire experienced virtual assistants. None of their positions are entry-level and hourly rates start at $18. You need a minimum of 7 years of experience for most of their job listings. While they hire applicants from a wide variety of countries, you’ll need to be fluent in written and spoken English to land a position with this company.

5. Assistant Match

Assistant Match is another company that connects administrative assistants with companies and businesses looking for help with day-to-day processes. One of the interesting things about this company is that they don’t only hire experienced assistants; they also offer training and support for people looking to become virtual assistants. They also offer resources for virtual assistants including a quickstart guide to help them reach their potential.

At Assistant Match, you simply create an account and the company will match you with companies that are a good fit. Compared to these other companies, Assistant Match offers more support during the job search portion, making it a great resource if you’re just getting started as a virtual assistant. Pay ranges from $12 to $15 per hour and you can earn up to $25 per hour if you have graphic design experience.

6. Lifebushido

Lifebushido is always hiring for part-time virtual assistant positions. You must work a minimum of 5 hours per week and if you do a good job, you can increase your hours to 20 per week. Lifebushido hires people worldwide so you can apply whether you live in New York, Chicago or a remote corner of the globe.

7. Belay

Belay is an INC 500 company that hires a U.S.-based virtual assistant to support senior-level management. The company prefers to hire applicants with at least a Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of working experience in the industry. You’ll need a computer with a webcam, a smartphone, and an in-home office setup that includes Microsoft Office and either a Mac or PC with a minimum 1.0 GHz dual-core processor. According to Glassdoor, pay ranges from $14 to $18 per hour.

8. 24/7 Virtual Assistant

24/7 Virtual Assistant is a company that hires administrative assistants to work with companies across the world. They actively encourage you to include any additional languages you speak, so being multilingual will be a plus for landing a position here. If interested, send your resume to careers@247virtualassistant.com.

24/7 Virtual Assistant pays an average of $10 to $12 per hour depending on your skill level and the client’s requirements. They claim 90% of their clients require anywhere from 20 to 120 hours of work per month from virtual assistants so there are opportunities for both part-time and full-time employment.

Become a Virtual Assistant

With the right skills and a bit of patience, you can start working from home as a virtual assistant. Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, a digital nomad, or looking to supplement your job with extra cash, being a virtual office assistant can be a rewarding career. Some of these positions allow you to work remotely from anywhere on the planet while others require you to be based in a certain region. Make sure to double-check the details before applying to ensure the position fits your desired work-at-home lifestyle.

Whatever you decide to do, working remotely as a virtual assistant can enable you to travel the world and experience all it has to offer while still earning a living. For more information on the location independent lifestyle, check out our community. Here you’ll find a wealth of information on how to start working remotely, what it’s like to live life on the road, and how to take your career ambitions to the next level.