Starting Your First VA Job: Tips to Survive

Starting your first VA job, if you’ve been used to working in an office for years, can feel just as daunting as going to your first job ever. The work atmosphere in the outsourcing and remote staffing world is a lot different from your typical office setup, and you’ll be faced with many unique challenges as a virtual assistant.

Now that you’ve aced the recruitment process and are gearing to work as a virtual staff, take note of some of these tips on how to survive your first VA job.

Recognize if this is really the track for you.

Working in the virtual assistant industry is not for everyone, and knowing if this industry is the right fit for you should be one of the first things you need to determine when you start your first VA job.

Even though you’ve done your research and the articles you’ve read told you that your traits and skills make you perfect for a VA career, theory and practice can tell you entirely different things. In theory, you might seem like you’re built for a VA career, but in reality, you might be better of staying in the office. There are many factors that can contribute to this including lack of access to a good working environment, lack of discipline, and so on. See whether these things can be learned or improved or whether you need to reevaluate your career path ASAP.

Immediately create a work system.

As in any other job, it’s important to have a solid, reliable work system in place if you want to stay sane and organized. As soon as you’ve learned what tasks you’re going to handle, find a set of tools that can help you work more efficiently. It also helps to follow a schedule and to prepare your day or week way ahead so that you will have goals to reach and you’ll be less distracted along the way.

Identify areas for improvement.

Within your first few weeks of working as a VA, you should already have identified some of your weak points that could be detrimental to your work. Do you have trouble focusing? Are you bad at time management? Do you communicate with your client poorly? Do you have difficulties sticking to deadlines? It’s really important for you to realize if you’re doing anything inadequately as soon as possible. This will help you fix the problem before it gets worse.

Be an excellent communicator.

Communication is key to a thriving career in the remote staffing world. Since you’re not going to see your client or colleagues on a regular basis, it’s important to use the communication tools you have at your disposal to keep them updated on what you’ve been doing and vice versa. Don’t hesitate to initiate communications. On your first discussion, determine your client’s preferred method of communication and use it to keep in touch with them regarding your tasks.

Don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t last.

One thing you have to know about the VA industry is that things are a lot less permanent than in a regular office job. Over the years, you will be working with a lot of clients and teams, and your jobs can last for a couple of weeks to a couple of years. Be prepared for this possibility. If your first job lasts for only a week or two, don’t be discouraged. Just keep on applying for other jobs. Who knows? The next one might be a keeper!

Ready to start your first VA job? Follow the tips above to stay calm and collected. Good luck!