Virtual PA jobs? Please help!!

cookiemonster33

Hi all, I am new to the forum so I hope I am posting in the right place...

I am currently unemployed with two young children and a friend of mine told me about virtual PA jobs.

This would be ideal for me but can anyone recommend a reputable company that recruits for this sort of thing? Or has anybody worked as a virtual PA before?

Any advice on this matter or any other tips to up my income from home until I can find permanent employment would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Barney30

Try looking at the website People per hour. I think you can bid fro jobs and I think there are a few virtual PA jobs that you can find and bid for. It's quite competitive though, so be prepared to get your profile right!

Hope this helps!

cookiemonster33

Thank you, there seems to be so many that I don't know where to start. Have you had any experience in the virtual PA world yourself?

Barney30

I have a friend who works as a Virtual PA. She seems to do quite well, but she's been doing it for a while. I think a lot of her work is created through recommendations. Have you got any experience in your past that you can use and will anyone provide you a reference. If I was n your position I would look to build on this first.

Shah79

Do you have any friends who have small business etc? You could always offer to do a few jobs for them (maybe free of charge) just to get some recommendations. You may also be able to take internet based exams on basic typing etc

cookiemonster33

Hi, yes I do have experience and recommendations as I was a PA before I was made redundant. I've advertised locally and think I may have some work with my previous employer

Fingers crossed! If anyone knows of a reputable company that recruit virtual PAs please let me know.

Thanks

InsideInsurance

Are you actually wanting to be truly self employed - ie having to generate your own clients? Certainly there is more money in it if it goes well but you need more well rounded business skills.

There is the middle ground, which seems to be more that you were asking for, where you work for/ with a company and just do the actual working at a lower rate but they are the ones generating the business for you.

What skills do you have in the PA space? Do you have the proper peddles etc for doing audio transcriptions?

I did do a small amount of work for one of the work from home call centre/ receptionist type outfits. The problem I found was that you had to give your availability and be available for that time but would only get paid if they actually had calls to send you. The rate was ok for what it was but there really wasnt the volume of calls.

bobfromlondon

I have used virtual PAs for short contracts. Usually less than three weeks. I always put a limit on my spend, but I know that the VA is multi tasking for several clients.

If you use a site like Elance, then you are competing on cost against a vast Phillipino market who charge the equivalent of £2 an hour. So your value added has to be 1. your perfect English and 2. your genuine knowledge of British culture. Those are worth paying for.

If you want to have your clients delivered to you, rather than bid on jobs, then Moneypenny is a company who have an excellent reputation. For clients they are more expensive, but the VAs have a reputation for being of good quality.

You could always contact your ex-employers and say what you are planning and why. You may get business. If you do not get business, then it is a networking opportunity for your skills to be spread around.

On 12th to 13th September is The Office Show at Olympia. Free to get in. Some companies who do VA work will have stands.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

cookiemonster33

Hi all, thank you so much!

I've actually managed to find employment no but a friend has been asking about virtual PA jobs as she knew i was looking. I will pass your advice on.

All the best

jenniemiller177

Interesting info Bob, thanks for details on the websites to check out. I'm going to take a look