Comments on: Career Idea: Have You Thought About Becoming A Virtual Assistant?

By: Marcia Robinson - BullsEyeResumes

Marcia Robinson - BullsEyeResumes — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:29:26 +0000

What a great idea for those who are planning to reenter the workforce after an absence? I really like that Peter M cautions for folks to be proceed carefully.

I will share these resources with readers of my career reentry blog.

Marcie

By: Peter M

Peter M — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:17:53 +0000

I collected a little info which may be useful two sister sites, i find them reputable and there is a disclaimer of they ty their best at do diligence, but be careful

http://ratracerebellion.com/

http://www.wahboom.com/

and an article form aol

http://jobs.aol.com/article/_a/companies-that-hire-home-based-workers/20071218172609990001

Some need prerequistes dedicated land lin secure office in house, high speed modem. Most scompanies lay it out. I belive the VA is respondible for set up coast if needed and I do not know if there are stipends for modm fees etc. I guess it is figuring your costs vs the payrates.
But gas savings etc is a big plus there is flexibility in most cases.

With the AOL sites there is no direct link but just google the companies name.

By: Chris Jenkins

Chris Jenkins — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:20:44 +0000

VA is a bit of a “buzz word”, but if you’ve got a track record in providing high level administration, are RELIABLE, flexible, organised and can keep your wits about you while everyone is losing theirs then you can build a good client base that will see you through. Another aspect needed for success is a healthy relationship with money – ensuring you are working for an amount that reflects your skills and covers your costs (not just what everyone else charges), and being prepared to follow through with accounts to make sure the money is coming in will also see your business succeed. Just because we work from home doesn’t mean we don’t have overheads.

By: Kathie Thomas, A Clayton's Secretary

Kathie Thomas, A Clayton's Secretary — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:28:53 +0000

Jason, thank you so much for mentioning our industry. This is one I’ve watched birth and grow and I so love that it’s allowed me to be home for my family and run a fulltime business using skills I’d developed in the corporate world. I’ve been home in business now for well over 14 years. That’s longer than I stayed in any job anywhere! And I still love what I do today.

By: Lia Harman

Lia Harman — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:20:23 +0000

I’m a VA in Sydney, and your reference to Kathie Thomas as a way to start out on the road to finding information is spot on! She’s the guru of VA’s as far as I’m concerned, and a wealth of knowledge and support, especially if you’re just starting out. It’s a very rewarding career path, and one that I’m so glad I found. Not only can I work flexible hours myself, but I can offer more flexibility to my clients by taking away the ‘mundane’ and allowing them to work on their own core strengths. What more could I ask for!

By: Christine Buffaloe

Christine Buffaloe — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:49:03 +0000

I’m so glad you mentioned virtual assistants. I am a VA and one of the things I stress to my clients is when you are freed from administrative tasks, you can do what you do best and not be mired in daily tasks that hold you back.
If you’re thinking of becoming a VA there is a great course you can take from home. It comes as a set of CDs or as electronic transcripts. Just go to http://tinyurl.com/5zr2mq and read what it’s all about.

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:30:43 +0000

I use Sandy for my personal assistant ( http://www.iwantsandy.com/ ) It’s great for daily reminders.

By: Danielle Keister

Danielle Keister — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:43:55 +0000

The Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce at http://www.virtualassistantnetworking.com is a fantastic resource for those interested in starting their own Virtual Assistant business. Those who do it right can make more money than they ever earned as an employee and dramatically change the landscape of their lives.

We offer all kinds of free information and other resources to help get them started, as well as completely affordable Virtual Assistant business forms, contracts, templates and guides.

By: Megan

Megan — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:43:11 +0000

Jason,

VA is a great career for expats – very portable so you can take it with you wherever you go. It is very popular with miltary spouses who are constantly on the go. Some great traninig programs for folks too. If you need resources on this topic, just let me know!

Ciao!

Megan