Virtual assistants have been present for quite a while now. However, a limited number of people are getting a grasp of it. People wonder how someone at home could be working without an office, a boss who is in another country, and an actual description of what the job was about. Thus assumptions and some misconceptions about Virtual Assistants are born.
Misconception 1 — Virtual Assistants are temporary and are project-based only.
It can be true for some VAs, as they prefer the flexibility of the project-based job while some clients would also go for a short-term setup. However, some clients prefer to employ a lasting VA. How long the work lasts varies depending on the client’s needs. Better check the contract well for a detailed job description and tenure of the employment.
Misconception 2 — Virtual Assistants can only do administrative work
Virtual assistant tasks go beyond administrative tasks. A virtual assistant can do almost anything that can be done on a computer like marketing, research, web design, sales, social media management, data analytics, and a lot more.
Misconception 3 — A Virtual Assistant cannot be trained and is difficult to work with
Companies, whether big or small are now transitioning their engagements online with the help of Cloud-based tools. A virtual assistant is more affordable than hiring in-house personnel. Small businesses are leveraging VA’s as cost-saving and efficient.
Since everything is remote, people are hesitant to hire or work with VAs. They are under the impression that hiring or being employed by someone from another country can be problematic. However, the best way to address this concern is to have open communication. An employer cannot expect that the VA knows everything at the start. On the other hand, the VA should not assume that the client would understand everything as well.
Misconception 4 — VA’s can steal confidential information
Data privacy is one of the concerns for outsourcing services. Nevertheless, more tools are available now to avoid privacy and security breaches. Another option is to have a local agency that can screen employees and enforce disciplinary action should the need arise.
Misconception 5 — All Virtual Assistants have the same skillset
We need to understand that every VA is different and their skill set varies depending on their niche. Although there are also plenty of general VA’s that can do various tasks, there are also VAs that have undergone several training sessions and years of experience in mastering a specific skill/s. Not all VAs are created equal.
There is so much inaccurate information on how to work as a virtual assistant. Most of this is information coming from people outside the field. But once you get to enter the industry and get to know how things work, you will understand that these are just all misconceptions.
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