Self-Improvement: How to be a Marketable VA

There is no such thing as being complacent when you are on the path to becoming a great VA. Getting noticed for your skills is one thing, but remaining in demand is another.

More often than not, virtual assistants succumb to mediocrity. Some are happy to stick with their current skills and do not bother to upgrade or learn new skills. However, working online requires constant learning as online jobs and the skills required to perform them are ever growing. In this industry, everything advances quickly. You might be in one day, but you can easily be out the next.

If you want to keep your job as a VA, you must follow some self-improvement measures to remain highly marketable and relevant. Here are some helpful tips:

Be a good communicator.

The best VA isn’t always the one with the long and impressive list of skills. What really sets an exceptional VA apart from the rest are good communication skills. Why is this so important? No matter how skilled you are, if you do not know how to communicate well, everything gets lost in translation.

Getting your message across is entirely different from expressing what you know and understand. By being a good communicator, you are able to speak clearly and work efficiently with a team. You know how to listen to your peers and how to have an open line of communication with your client so that when things are unclear, you are always willing to talk things through. Working online means that clear communication is vital. When you have doubts and concerns, always feel free to communicate.

Always ask for feedback.

It’s normal to feel apprehensive when it comes to asking for feedback, but this is the best way to know if you are delivering the results that your client wants. After submission, ask for a reaction and simply state that you want to make sure that what you are delivering meets their expectations. This shows initiative and speaks volumes of your work ethic. Do not be afraid of constructive criticism. These will help you evolve and become better at your craft.

Ask questions.

Just like asking for feedback, asking questions will make you better. If you don’t understand something, swallow your pride and ask. Clients do not demand perfection. What they seek is someone who makes an effort.

There will be times when you will be faced with confusing tasks, so take initiative and ask. There is no better way to find out exactly what your client means than asking. This prevents tedious revisions of work.

Do not be afraid to make mistakes.

It’s impossible to know everything, so don’t be afraid to admit to committing errors. It’s the effort to become better that is highly appreciated by clients. If at some point, you make a mistake, do not be afraid to ask for mentoring and guidance. Make it a habit to ask questions when necessary. Remember, asking questions does not make you dumb. Keeping silent does.

Learn new skills.

Being well-rounded is one of best traits a VA can have. You may easily learn new skills via free webinars and tutorials. All these are readily available online. Having the initiative to learn is something that all clients appreciate. With the fast-paced growth of technology, acquiring new skills is a must. Always seek out new things to learn. It may not be in your list of expertise yet, but every expert started out as a beginner. In fact, many VAs have crossed over from being customer service agents to writers, graphic designers and HR personnel. The possibilities are endless! There are no limits when it comes to learning.

Hopefully, these tips can help you on your journey to becoming a VA. The staff at 20Four7VA are always ready to support you. If you need help with anything or you have concerns with your client, please feel free to contact us and we will gladly help in any way that we can. Best of luck to our dear VAs!

Once you have the job, you have to make sure that you’re well-equipped to handle it.

 

Next: Qualities that will Make you Ace your Virtual Assistant Job.

 

20Four7VA recognizes the challenge of effectively managing an online business – and we are very eager to help. Our company specializes in eCommerce VIRTUAL STAFFING SOLUTIONS, providing customizable and scalable solutions to small, medium, and large enterprise business owners so they can focus on growing their business.

Ready to have access to incredible people with incredible skills in the most cost-effective way? Give us a call at our toll free number 1 (443) 856-4882 today!