Virtual assistant is a type of work arrangement in which employees are not required to work in an office. Instead, they can work from anywhere using tools such as email, video conferencing, virtual collaboration tools, and the internet. But of course, despite all this, there are also virtual assistant pros and cons you need to be aware of.
Virtual assistants may choose to work remotely for many reasons. One is the desire to avoid a daily commute, which saves time and money. Another is the desire for greater flexibility by setting their own work hours.
Some employees may work remotely as a way to cope with disabilities. Some companies may hire remote workers as a way to access a wider talent pool. Remote work is not a new phenomenon, but in recent years it has become more common thanks to technological advances such as the internet, smartphones, virtual assistants, cloud-based software, and so on.
Who can work as a virtual assistant:
Virtual assistant work can be performed by, among others, programmers, copywriters, graphic designers, testers, salespeople, accountants, translators, architects, telemarketers, SEO/SEM specialists, online marketing specialists, teachers, bloggers, online marketers, and many other professions
In recent years, the world of technology has become so saturated that working from home has become a breeze for everyone. 24/7 access to the internet, Wi-Fi routers, email, online chats, fax machines, and many other devices is no longer a luxury. Almost everyone has the same set of gadgets at home.
If you are at a crossroads and still don’t know which path is better for you, I hope our suggestions will help you make the right decision and avoid any regrets in the future.
Pros of a virtual assistant:
- There’s no need to waste time getting to the office. Eliminating the expense of travelling by bus or taxi can also be a significant advantage. You’re never late. No one will fine you for being late. More money saved in your piggy bank!
- There’s no dress code at home, so you can forget about spending hours applying makeup or ironing your pants. Just throw on your favourite jeans and a T-shirt and get to work wherever you want. No one is forcing you to wear a work uniform, but it’s worth considering dressing as you would for work to further separate your work hours and personal life from your work life.
- Work comfort. No restrictions for you at home! Working from home gives you the opportunity to focus on your project instead of being distracted by phone calls, coworkers, and the many other external factors that plague you in the office. If other family members are in the apartment at the same time, it’s worth considering setting aside a room for a quiet office and purchasing soundproof headphones. It’s also worth informing your family and asking them to understand and respect your working hours. You can also take advantage of the increasingly popular coworking spaces.
- You’re not limited to a specific location. Being a virtual assistant allows you to complete tasks from anywhere in the world. All you need to succeed is a laptop and the internet.
- Being a virtual assistant offers a great opportunity to find the most productive time of day or even night to devote to a project. No one tells you when to start or stop working. Those with small children or other reasons to spend as much time at home as possible will absolutely appreciate working remotely.
- Working from home is a great way to avoid having a single source of income. If you can plan your day properly, you’ll even have the opportunity to find multiple jobs.
- No more hopeless and jealous colleagues looking over your shoulder, trying to “put their ideas on ours” to annoy you if you work from home.
Cons of a virtual assistant
- If self-discipline isn’t your strong suit and you don’t know anything about it, remote work won’t meet your expectations. Starting a job requires a lot of discipline when you know no one is monitoring you.
- A virtual assistant should be motivated enough to focus their energy on work and not let online distractions get to them.
- Working remotely will make you forget about dinner with your friends. You’ll spend more time alone.
- Since you’re using your own devices and there are no company computers at home, no one will pay for repair work in the event of a breakdown. Another downside to remote work, especially when travelling, is poor internet connection and time zones, which sometimes also prevent you from communicating with employers and clients during their normal workday hours.
- Do you enjoy escaping the office and getting home earlier than usual? You’ll have to forgo these little pleasures because you’ll always be at home. Overwork is another thing that makes remote work dangerous. Sometimes it’s really hard to stop, and your range of interests can become too broad.
- Does the prospect of spending all your time at work terrify you? Are you ready to forget about those fun company parties you always loved? Can you narrow your life and isolate yourself from people? If spending time alone doesn’t scare you, or if there are reasons that prevent you from leaving the house for 10 hours a day, there’s a chance you’ll become a really good remote worker with a relatively high income.
- In reality, it’s hard to say whether you’ll like this lifestyle or not. You can read as many articles on the subject as you can, but you won’t understand anything until you try it. We know that making such an important decision isn’t easy, so you need to spend a lot of time carefully analysing what will be best for your situation.
- If you dream of working remotely, try to start by taking on simple tasks outside of your current full-time job, then, depending on the company, ask for one day a week of remote work. In some companies, this will sometimes not be possible, but fortunately, more and more companies are realizing that remote workers are more efficient and generate fewer costs.
A virtual assistant has many benefits, but it also requires a significant amount of self-discipline. Without colleagues walking by your desk and seeing you working, it can be easy to fall behind on tasks.
To avoid this, a virtual assistant must be disciplined about establishing regular work schedules, setting clear productivity goals, and strictly prioritising work over other activities. Virtual assistants must also be disciplined about staying in touch with colleagues, clients, and partners. This can be done using everything from email to video conferencing.
Unfortunately, the fact that remote work requires self-discipline can discourage some organisations from hiring remote workers. This is because some employers don’t see the value in hiring people who need to be disciplined to do their work. However, companies like VAStaff that employ virtual assistants who possess a high level of self-discipline can benefit from reduced office space requirements, know how to hire a wider range of virtual assistants, and increased productivity through improved communication and collaboration.