One of the most important skills that a virtual assistant must have is Microsoft Office. You've probably heard how crucial it is for you to know your way around Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Your clients need to see that you can easily create newsletters and schedules-basically everything they'll need. It will be easier for them to trust in your work if they know you're able to create the things that are needed.

To get clients on your side, you should always have a professional-looking email address. It's best to use Gmail or Outlook-they both look clean and easy to recognize. If you can't figure out how to get a professional-looking Gmail account, let us know in the comments below and we can probably help you out.

Another one of the skills all virtual assistants need is knowledge of social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. These platforms will help you get your name out there and connect with new clients.

What else must a virtual assistant have?

One skill that virtual assistants should always have is the ability to Google things. You'll need to know your way around Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides so that you can easily create presentations for clients. These three programs are pretty simple-just make sure you understand how to insert pictures!

Another great skill to have would be image editing and graphics creating. We're not just talking Photoshop here, although it would be perfect if you knew how to use that. But there are some more simple image editors out there.

Many emails clients will give you photos of things they want you to create graphics from (i.e., a picture of their logo). You'll need an image editing program like GIMP or Canva to make this happen.

If you don't have experience with HTML, now is the time for you to learn! Many clients will want you to create a website or blog for them so they can post new things regularly. To get started, check out Wix and Weebly! They're both great websites that will help you design a website.

If you go to a Career Fair, always remember to dress professionally!

Dress sharp and carry yourself with confidence when you're interacting in the real world! It will make people more interested in what you have to say, which helps improve your chances of getting an interview. You never know who might be at these events-it's possible you'll meet a potential employer!

One final skill that virtual assistants should have is the ability to multitask. It's not easy to handle multiple projects at one time, but it can be done if you're organized. Make sure you stay on top of your calendar and never forget about deadlines!

Overall, having a strong work ethic and a positive attitude will help you get noticed by others.

If you're looking for a job as a virtual assistant, you'll need to make sure that you have the skills and experience necessary to land the position.

At first, glance, becoming an assistant might seem simple. All you'd have to do is find a job listing for a virtual assistant and send off your resume.

Unfortunately, it's not that easy; there are some skills you'll need to be successful in this line of work. In order to have the best chance at landing your dream VA position, here is a list of some skills we recommend having:

1. Microsoft Office Proficiency-This software is definitely the backbone of any virtual assistant. You'll need to have great knowledge of this program in order to create professional documents and spreadsheets for your clients. You can learn more about using these programs on Microsoft's website.
2. Social Media Proficiency-As a virtual assistant, you'll probably be dealing with many social media sites. You'll need to know your way around platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. These sites are easy to use once you get the hang of it just to make sure that your social media profiles look professional!
3. Internet Proficiency-When it comes to being a successful virtual assistant, knowing Google inside and out is definitely necessary! You'll need to know how to use Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides in order to create professional documents for your clients. If you need help getting started, check out this article from the Google team!
4. HTML/Graphic Design Skills-This technology is necessary for virtual assistants who want to design their very own websites or blogs. HTML is a language used in the creation of websites, and it's definitely not difficult to learn! Just go to Wix or Weebly to find some great tools that will help you design your very first website.
5. Skills in Graphics-Because you'll be creating graphics for clients on a regular basis, having these skills are important for landing your first VA position. These graphics can be anything from pictures to logos that you'll use in emails. We recommend Photoshop and Canva as great software programs that will help you create these graphics!

Career Fairs are an amazing way of connecting with potential employers who need virtual assistants, along with other positions like sales, marketing, and accounting.

To prepare for your next Career Fair, here are some tips you should follow:

1. Think about what your selling points are and prepare a short speech on why you would be the best candidate for the position.
2. Research the company beforehand! Look them up online and find out as much information about them as you can. Once you do this, add them on social media sites and begin following them! This will make your next meeting more personal.
3. Research the people who will be at the Career Fair. Email them beforehand if possible to introduce yourself and ask if they might have time to speak with you in person at the fair. You never know they may be in need of a virtual assistant and if you don't email them beforehand, they may forget your name. Make sure you bring plenty of copies of your resume!
4. Don't be shy! Even though this is a great way to network with others, don't be afraid to speak up. We know it's scary to try and sell yourself to a potential employer, but it's necessary. Find the strengths of your skills and personality so that you can be confident when selling yourself!
   One of the best things about being a virtual assistant is that you'll have flexibility with your schedule in order to take on more hours or even create another position for yourself. To figure out how much money you can make as a virtual assistant, you'll need to figure out how many hours you want to work.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for a virtual assistant is 33,000 annually, and depending on your state it could be higher or lower. Also, keep in mind that companies who are hiring from other countries will usually pay less.

5+ Hours a week = $23,000-$50,000 annually
10+ Hours a week = $35,000-$100,000 annually
20+ hours a week= $65,000-$200,000 annually

You can create your own position by networking with others and finding out what type of services they need. You'll need to be able to market yourself and your services in a way that you are the one who will benefit most from the hire.

Hiring someone for your own VA business can give you the flexibility of hours, but it's not recommended unless you have experience. This means if you want to create a full-time position for yourself as a virtual assistant, you'll need to be able to provide a full-time service.

Preparing for your first assignment as a virtual assistant can be overwhelming! If you have never done anything similar to this before, not even on the side of another job or business venture, then you'll want to ask your future employer many questions.

This is the best way of having an idea of what to expect from the assignment and how to be successful. Here is a list of questions you should ask your future VA employer:

1. How long do you want this project to last? Will it be on a weekly or monthly basis?
2. What type of materials will I need for this assignment?
3. What is the deadline for this project?
4. Will I be working with one person or more than one person?
5. How will you communicate with me on any questions or concerns about the assignment?
6. Do you have a personal preference in terms of contact method (phone, email, text, etc.)?

Once you have accepted your first assignment, it's time to prepare for the project! This means creating a schedule and research! Again, you should ask your employer if they have any materials or files that you will need to use in order to complete this specific project.

They may also communicate with you on how often they want these items completed.

Once you have all the information, create your schedule and plan out how many hours you will need to dedicate in order to complete everything on time.

This can be a challenge if you're working for someone who is not local or if your employer expects these items completed immediately. Remember that you are still working for yourself. Because of this, most VA's choose to work in shifts to avoid working for too long hours. They can be as short as an hour or two, or you may choose overnight shifts (3-4 hours).

It's time to get everything done! You'll want to start by taking a look at all the materials that your employer will need and begin creating files, labels, and folders.

This will help you stay organized and not lose any materials. You should ask your employer how they would like everything labeled, or if they even need labels at all. Once you have these items completed, you'll want to start creating documents and emails based on the instructions provided by your VA employer.

Technically speaking, a virtual assistant just needs a computer and internet access. This means if you're just starting, you can either use your home office or purchase a laptop to work on the go.

Once you are working more hours though, this may not be feasible since not all businesses have WiFi-enabled areas. If possible, try to find a location that will allow you to work there as a freelancer.

So don't forget to start your side hustle now!