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January 2004

What Exactly is a Virtual Assistant?

by Sharon Williams

Purpose

The Virtual Assisting industry is a growing and evolving industry. The Alliance for Virtual Businesses commissioned a survey to identify the VA industry’s growth patterns, trends, clientele, best practices, buying patterns, and other demographically relevant data.

The comprehensive survey consisted of almost 100 questions and was completed by practicing Virtual Assistants located in countries across the globe. Approximately 500 respondents participated, of which a brief sampling of questions and replies are represented below.

The Virtual Alliance magazine will continue to provide informative data about the industry and the results of this first-of-its-kind survey.

Survey Results

We asked respondents, “How do they define the term VA?” A small sampling of the 354 responses is below:

  • An independent entrepreneur who offers administrative, creative and technical services to busy individuals, entrepreneurs and small business owners, from his/her own office.
  • Self-employed, home-based workers who serve their clients remotely, providing word processing, bookkeeping, and other administrative tasks by E-mail, file transfer, FAX, web sites, and other technological routes.
  • Administrative support provided off-site.
  • Global, electronic, executive support and solutions conducted from a VA’s home based office.
  • Independent business provider who knows today’s business challenges and who is able to offer an attractive offer to the expense of hiring an employee.
  • A person who is able to provide quick and accurate support services to any business that wishes to have a seamless flow of communication with its customers.
  • Capable, dependable, reliable professionals, meeting the administrative needs of businesses and professionals.
  • Personnel or Businesses associate who provides services from an offsite location.
  • A Virtual Assistant is one who can do “virtually” everything an in-house administrative professional can do, except make the coffee (for a premium fee we can deliver it)!

We also asked respondents to “Describe any training you have received in preparation for or since becoming a VA.” One hundred and twenty-nine responses were recorded for this question. Only a few have been identified below:

  • MSc in Entrepreneurship
  • Virtual Training Program, Graduate AssistU Certification – CPVA
  • Virtual Assistance U, Graduate Virtual Assistant – GVA
  • Real Estate Transaction Coordination
  • Accredited Secretary OnLine, A Clayton’s Secretary, Australia
  • Computer Applications Diploma
  • MSVAs/Staffcentrix Certification
  • Realtor.com Certification
  • IVAA Ethics Certification
  • CRESS
  • MOUS Certificate
  • Technical Web Development Courses
  • Ecclectic Academy
  • Master Virtual Assistant, VA Certification.com – MVA
  • Keyboard Concepts in Hampton, Victoria, Australia
  • Personal Coaching
  • CPS, CAP from IAAP
  • Human Resources Development, Canada

One of the interesting questions was: “What do you prefer to be called?” Fifty-one percent of the respondents chose “Virtual Assistant,” but a group (inclusive of some that chose Virtual Assistant as their preferred identifier) responded that the name did not cover the variety of tasks they can perform and may be limiting their specialty. Others like it because it’s “clear and concise.” Most use it because it is the name the industry has used to define itself since its inception, and it would be difficult to change now, after members have worked very hard to make it household known.

Source: VA Industry-wide Survey, conducted by the Alliance for Virtual Businesses, September 17 through September 28, 2003.

Observations

It became apparent, as is represented by this sampling of just nine questions, that Virtual Assistants are a diverse group, and run their business based on their own personal preferences and lifestyles. Virtual Assistants work varying numbers of hours, with more than 50% of the respondents working full-time, from 6 to 10 hours or more a day. They work with many industries, (more than 400 actually identified) and are based in various countries. Most works with clients located in the United States and are willing to work with clients located in other countries. Virtual Assistants that reside outside the United States have local and international clients as well, proving that Virtual Assisting services can be provided from any location in the world.

When it comes to offering a definition of the term Virtual Assistant, key words were identified in almost every response: an independent entrepreneur, work-from-home, administrative support, capable, dependable, expert, global. So, in brief, a Virtual Assistant can be defined as an independent entrepreneur who works from home, providing expert and dependable administrative support, globally. At least, this is what this writer has summarized from reading 354 definitions.

Similarly, there was a wide range of responses to the question regarding VA training. Many respondents endorsed “formal training,” but others sought training outside of the industry or rely on their “prior work experience” and background. Several commented that because there are many training options available, interested Virtual Assistants select training based on their particular needs and expertise. Others, however, suggest that a single certifying entity should be created so one recognized certification can offer “the standard” for all Virtual Assistants.

Statistics regarding VA buying habits, technology usage, office practices and other information will be provided in future articles. Information will also be updated on the www.AllianceforVirtualBiz.com website on a regular basis.

Often called an emerging or cottage industry, information such as the data collected in this comprehensive survey will document the virtual assisting industry’s growth. It provides succinct and factual insight into whom Virtual Assistants are and how and why partnering with a Virtual Assistant positively influences clients and their administrative operation.