A Virtual Assistant (or VA) is a service provider who specializes in
providing administrative support services and works with clients in an
ongoing, collaborative professional relationship.
Virtual Assistants are business owners who work from their own offices and
utilize today's technology to deliver their services and communicate with
clients.
A Virtual Assistant's support is foundationally administrative, secretarial
and clerical in nature. However, many Virtual Assistants offer additional
specialties that fall under creative and technical services.
Virtual Assistants come from a variety of business backgrounds, but the
single-most important qualification to become a Virtual Assistant is at
least five (5) years administrative experience earned in the real (non-virtual) business world working in upper level capacities such as
administrative assistant, executive assistant, secretary, legal assistant,
paralegal, legal secretary, real estate assistant, office manager, etc.
From this level of experience, a VA is expected to possess the skill sets,
training and business knowledge which are the hallmark of a truly qualified
Virtual Assistant.
