Prabha, who used to work full time for a telecom company, had to give up her job thanks to the regular transfers that were part of her Army officer husband’s job profile. Then, two years back, a friend of theirs who ran his own company, impressed by her organisational skills, hired her freelance to draw up some sales quotations and make some presentations. What started out as a favour to a friend, turned into a rewarding career option for Prabha. As she says, ‘I still work with Naren but thanks to the opportunity he gave me, I now also freelance for two other firms. And now my career continues irrespective of where my husband’s job takes us.’
Build Up a Reputation
Virtual assistants are usually paid either by the hour or by the project.
If you really want to make this as a career option, the best way would be to work with one firm, take up one project, and meet all expectations and deadlines.
As you get familiar with the work and you build a reputation, you will find companies knocking on your door to hire you.
Accept commitments as per your flexibility and do not over promise and under deliver. Be visible to companies that support work-from-home or remote employment. Choose industries which function in your areas of expertise or interest.
And do not hesitate to refuse requests that you are uncomfortable with or you feel are out of the scope of your job.
And as Vivek adds, “’Last month, Shraddha got herself a smart phone, and I was amazed that she even sent me some reports while she was on a holiday. She is an invaluable part of my team and I owe a large part of my success to her. She allows me to chase the sales leads while taking care of the essential but time consuming tasks. She is pure value for money!’
