4 Career Investments a VA Should Make

Posted March 13, 2019

Investing in your career is an often overlooked but crucial aspect of professional growth as a virtual assistant. When you’re providing virtual assistant services or doing mostly remote work, career opportunities and career paths aren’t as straightforward.

Unlike in a typical office setup where promotions are often given to exceptional workers, a VA has to actively seek out venues for career growth more often than not. You don’t just get handed promotions even if you’ve worked well enough to deserve them. This is why it’s essential to invest in your career.

To help you have a brighter future in the industry, check out this list of 4 career investments a VA should make.

A professional website and online portfolio

As someone who does primarily online work, it’s practically a must for you to own the digital space. A website is a great place to showcase your work, testimonials from your past clients, and your resume. You can even add a contact form so that interested clients can inquire about your services.

Having a website makes it easier for you to network and reach out to potential clients. You just send them the link to your website and they can get all the information from there. There are so many cheap domain and hosting vendors available and countless free WordPress themes or cheap drag-and-drop website builders that you can use if you don’t have the budget for a web developer.

A coach or mentor

Some people just do better with formal guidance, but even if you are used to working independently, a career coach or mentor can still help you out. They can save you time and money by helping you plan out your career path with less trial and error involved. They can introduce you to relevant tools, courses, or people that can help you grow professionally. They can also help keep you focused and motivated so you can follow through on your plans.

Networking events and conferences

It’s hard to shell out money for industry events and conferences. Not only do they cost a lot upfront, you will be required to leave the house and interact with so many people face to face as well. However, conferences are among the best places to find potential clients or meet people in the industry who can help you land your next gig. Research for the best conferences or professional meetups in your area and choose one or two to attend.

Courses for upskilling

Both online and offline courses can provide you with the knowledge you need to pursue more highly specialized jobs. A VA who is able to work expertly on a particular skill gets higher rates than a general VA, so it’s worth it to invest in courses that will guarantee that you’ll be skilled enough to take on tasks in the particular area you’re studying. While there are many free courses available online, it still pays sometimes to invest in really good advanced courses.

When it comes to growing your career, there are certain investments that you definitely need to make. These four investments might cost you money in the beginning, but they will more than pay for themselves in the long run.