| nment career outlook predictions aren't developed yet | | | | types of organizations -- such as businesses, |
| for the Virtual Assistance industry, whether that's | | | | nonprofits, universities, hospitals and more - looking for |
| because it's a relatively new field or because the tasks | | | | media specialists and PR specialists to do more than |
| done by VAs are as varied as the VAs themselves | | | | just "tell their story." Creativity, initiative, good judgment |
| remains to be seen. One has to examine similar fields | | | | and the ability to communicate effectively are some of |
| and skill-sets to see how VAs will fare in the years to | | | | the skills necessary to succeed in this job. There's lots |
| come. By looking at these similar fields, you can see | | | | of competition in this role, but employment/contracts |
| that the growth outlook for Virtual Assistance is above | | | | for PR specialists is expected to grow faster than |
| average. The question of "Will this job still be around in | | | | average, according to the Occupational Outlook |
| 20 years?" can be answered by looking at the | | | | Handbook. |
| services that a specific VA is offering and | | | | If you offer Desktop Publishing services, your |
| closely-related "traditional" employment fields. | | | | occupational outlook is also great. Many companies |
| The most important thing to remember, though, is to | | | | are beginning to outsource these services, as opposed |
| keep current with technology and software that can | | | | to having in-house staff. With experience and/or a |
| progress your business. If you only know outdated | | | | degree in graphic design or a related field, desktop |
| technology, then you and your business are outdated | | | | publishers have a variety of different organizations to |
| and your clients may go elsewhere for service. Keep | | | | market themselves to. VAs offer an affordable |
| adding to your services and learn everything you can | | | | alternative to hiring a graphic design firm. |
| about your niche market and what they currently need. | | | | Whether you specialize in desktop publishing and |
| With many businesses restructuring and downsizing | | | | graphic design or public relations or another niche |
| (getting rid of middle managers), companies are utilizing | | | | specialty, it's clear that Virtual Assistance is catching on |
| more and more secretarial and administrative support | | | | and the VAs who are out there aren't going |
| staff to take over those duties. If you offer | | | | anywhere. With more and more employers and |
| administrative support as a VA, and market yourself | | | | companies looking to outsource projects turning to |
| as an off-site solution to those downsizing companies, | | | | offsite personnel to fulfill these needs, the view of |
| your "job security" looks pretty good. One thing to | | | | using "virtual" workers is changing. It's no longer as |
| keep in mind, though, is that you will have competition | | | | common to hear objections such as "How do I know |
| from on-site employees for these positions. | | | | you'll really be working?" when proposing using a VA |
| If you offer more specialized services than | | | | to someone who never has before. Many people |
| administrative support, you have different chances for | | | | have heard of VAs now or know someone who uses |
| sustaining an ongoing career. Here are two examples: | | | | theirs. In most cases, once someone has a VA on |
| If you offer Public Relations (PR)services, your | | | | their team, they don't turn back to in-house staff to |
| occupational outlook is rosy. With so many different | | | | fulfill those duties. |