Let’s set the scene.
You want to become a virtual assistant (VA) but don’t know how to get started.
So, you did a quick Google search and soon found results.
They’re from VA coaches telling you to sign up for virtual assistant courses so you learn all that there is to know.
Should you do it?
More importantly, are these courses worth it?
Getting Started on Your Virtual Assistant Career
Breaking into the virtual assistance industry is a lot more difficult these days than it was a few years ago.
The pandemic essentially made remote work mainstream, which means many traditional office workers are looking for opportunities to work from home.
This also means that there’s more competition for jobs, and premium-paying clients are snatched up almost immediately by veterans.
Still, not all hope is lost.
Becoming a virtual assistant is still possible. You just need to know where to look for opportunities—one of which is virtual assistant courses.
However, ask yourself these questions before buying any VA course.
“Can Virtual Assistant Courses Help You Find a Job?”
Check whether or not these courses will help you with being job-ready before spending actual time and money.
They might equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to kickstart your career, but they might not give you the resources on where to look for clients.
Of course, taking online courses doesn’t always guarantee landing any job afterward.
However, these virtual assistant courses should allow you to make connections with other professionals, which can help find clients.
“Can You Apply As Soon as the Course Ends?”
Again, assess whether you’re ready to take on virtual assistant jobs as soon as you’ve completed the course.
If not, evaluate and see how you can improve your skills to land a VA gig.
Some staffing agencies recommend that you have a one-year experience in an office job before transitioning to remote work.
This way, you develop a vital work ethic that can help you better adjust to a work-from-home environment.
Also, see whether or not the VA coach assists you with building your portfolio.
A portfolio, after all, is important when applying for jobs these days because it shows your skills and potential to a client.
You can take previous outputs to include in your portfolio but just make sure you aren’t violating any NDAs.
“What If the Virtual Assistant Courses Don’t Meet Expectations?”
It can be tricky filtering which are legit VA courses from scam ones, especially because of the industry’s popularity.
Or, you can also sign up for a course that just doesn’t live up to your expectations.
That’s why you must read up on any reviews before spending money.
You wouldn’t want your hard-earned cash to line up a scammer’s pocket or waste time on something you don’t enjoy.
Another Solution…
If you’re still keen on becoming a virtual assistant but don’t want to spend money on any virtual assistant courses, try specialized training instead.
For instance, if you’re interested in applying for online writing jobs, you can look up copywriting courses.
Or you might want to try your hand at online bookkeeping jobs. If so, research where you can get bookkeeping or accounting certifications to legitimize your skills and prior work experience.
Spend Your Money and Time Wisely
In all, virtual assistant courses won’t be an entirely waste of time and money.
You just need to be careful and sign up for VA coaches with an established reputation.
Don’t give in to the hype because you might end up paying heavily for it.
Always, always do your research.
So, if you’re looking to work online for legit clients, you can also head to Remote Staff’s job listings. It’s always updated and has open roles in several different industries.
Remote Staff has also been around for 16 years (and counting)! The company always vets its clients before posting job openings for its pool of remote workers.
Want to know more? Register with us today!
