It´s one of the most searched terms in the Executive Assistant landscape, and the appeal is undeniable. The idea of working to your own schedule, when you want, how you want, and where you want can be very tempting. I´m sure we´ve all seen Instagram posts and TikTok videos of digital nomads, making a living whilst waking up overlooking the Mediterranean. But how realistic is it? We´re going to break down the various different options, and how it could (or not) work for you, and share some resources to help you along the way to your VA dream.
So what is a Virtual Assistant?
Well, there are some who would say that anyone who works from home (or the café of their choosing) is a Virtual Assistant. Personally, I disagree. Whilst there are certainly more and more people who are working remotely, in 99% of those positions, the only flexibility is in your location. You´ll still have to work the standard office hours, you´ll still have to maintain the time zone of your executive (wherever in the world they may be) and you´ll still be tied to the demands and expectations of your organisation. Yes you have some flexibility, but quite honestly, the only thing you are choosing is where you lay your laptop down. So for this, I´m going to be looking at being a fully virtual assistant, not simply a remote worker. This usually includes having a roster of clients, and fundamentally, being your own boss.
Freedom & Flexibility
The Dream
You can wake up one day to the sound of the waves crashing on the beach, and spend the afternoon lazing by the pool. The sun dappled café in the local plaza will be your office space and you´ll work only when the inspiration hits you. You can take your children to the park every day and bake cookies with them in the afternoon. There are no restrictions and the only limit to what you can do is your own imagination. The flexibility and freedom allows you to live your best life, unencumbered by deadlines and demands.
The Reality
You have to be in a very specific place in your life to be able to just up and leave whenever you feel like it. In fact, so does everyone else. Yes, you may be able to work from anywhere, but the chances are your partner can´t, or you have children that need to be in school (unless you´re home-schooling them, in which case when are you finding the time to also be a VA and also casually sip coffees by the beach?), or elderly parents that need your care. Additionally, being a VA usually means working by the hour, so whilst the idea sounds great, the reality will usually mean that your personal finances will be taking a hit. That may be fine, and a sacrifice you´re willing to make, but it´s one that´s worth keeping in mind.
Variety & Challenge
The Dream
No more monotony. Never again will you have to bear the boredom of the morning meeting with that one idiot who just will not stop talking. You are dealing with lots of different clients, so every day is something new with opportunity to learn and do something different. You´ll be exposed to new industries and networks and you´ll never do the same thing twice. If you have an Ahole boss, then at worst you only have to deal with them for a few hours a week, at best you have enough alternative business coming in that you can get rid of them. We´ve all wanted to be able to tell the boss where to go, this is your opportunity to do it!
The Reality
You now have ten bosses. They´re all idiots. There is absolutely no routine to what you´re expected to do each day, because you´ve been hired for fifteen different projects, across ten different industries. You have one client who wants to communicate exclusively through Discord, and another who seems to be stuck in the time of the carrier pigeon. You´ve been planning a board event for them both and Mr Discord has been sent an expert on Renaissance Arts to speak at their casual dinner at the escape room, whilst Mr Carrier Pigeon has received an impromptu recital of Kinky Boots in the boardroom. It´s all gone terribly wrong.
Jokes aside, the reality of working across so many different projects and companies means that you have to be absolutely meticulous in your organisation (I know this is your speciality, but I´m talking robot like precision). Keeping everything straight is not for everyone, and there is next to zero room for mistakes.
Earnings Potential- The Sky is the Limit
The Dream
Let's talk money. Skilled VAs can command competitive rates, with earnings often exceeding traditional office jobs. The theory is, you control your income. As you build your skills and client base, you can potentially raise your rates and increase your revenue over time. Alternatively, you can reduce the hours you work whilst keeping yourself in the same position financially. You have some holidays coming up? Take on a few more clients and earn some more money, you can dictate what you earn and your renumeration is in your hands.
The Reality
Being self-employed is not free. It´s not even particularly cheap. Yes, your hourly rate may far exceed your office equivalent, there are a lot of hidden costs attached. Whilst in theory, you´ll only be paying tax on what you earn, you need to remember to add on the cost of a decent accountant as a minimum. With no contracts generally comes no benefits, so say goodbye to health benefits, pension top ups, staff discounts etc etc. It´s worth adding up what those are worth to you (especially as a freelancer) and making sure you include that in your calculations.
My Clients- My Choice
The Dream
You can work for anyone, from anywhere, at any time. No longer are you restricted to jobs within the vicinity of your home. The whole world is open for business and you have a front row stall at the market. You´ll be able to dictate who you work for based on their company, their personality, their salary. In short, you can work for the best companies in the world with ideals that align with yours.
The Reality
The whole world just became your competition. You may no longer be restricted by needing close physical proximity to your clients, but neither are they. Remember when all the call centres were moved to countries with a far lower cost of living? That. You are now competing with entire continents for a job, not just those within a 20-mile radius. Also, and this is not to be sneezed at, you have to actively find these customers. You´ll need determination, a thick skin, and a great network to get to the front of the queue.
So, dream or nightmare?
Well, that depends on your perspective. Being a virtual assistant can be incredible. You´re your own boss, can work as many or as few hours as you need and can be 100% flexible with how you spend your time. Want to spend your morning sitting by the beach and the evening working? You can do it. However, the pitfalls are real and they can be big. Running a business, however small, is a lot of work. You can´t just dip in and out and, for a while at least, half of your time will be spent finding clients, not making money. Some of you may like that, and the pros may outweigh the cons, but you have to think about what really matters to you. If it´s just about not having to work in an office, then maybe a contracted position where you can work remotely would be better for you. If, on the other hand, you like the idea of setting your own terms and are confident in your ability to motivate yourself each day, then go for it. The world is, after all, yours to explore.
Resources
VA recruitment companies
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