With rising unemployment numbers and companies looking to find ways to meet their needs while lowering their costs, a trend has started capitalizing the internet.  Enter the keywords “Work at Home” or “Telecommute Positions” and many results are found by your browser.  Sadly, a good number are just scams looking to make an extra buck from those desperate for work.  One positive is the growing field of virtual assistants.

 

You might ask yourself what exactly a virtual assistant is and what benefits would come from utilizing one for your business.   Virtual assistants work for clients in their offices or homes rather than the workplace.  This creates an ideal situation for both parties in this transaction.  Businesses are able to outsource their work to qualified professionals without the hassles that come from finding and hiring permanent employees.  There are no worries about all the details that go into an employer/employee relationship, such as overhead costs for the necessary equipment, or office space needed for additional employees.  This can be especially important for small businesses that need the extra assistance, but just cannot afford the other incidentals.  Entering into an arrangement with a virtual assistant leaves the business owner free to find the perfect virtual assistant without the problems that can come about with hiring.  This advantage is because if the first one does not work out as needed there are plenty more to try to find that perfect fit. 

 

The benefits for virtual assistants are various and of course unique to each individual.  With the recent recession, it is not only blue collar workers that have a tough time getting back into the marketplace, but professional find themselves out of work, as well.  Professional virtual assistants are finding their own niche online where they can offer their services to businesses working from their fully equipped office or even home offices.  Working as an independent contractor has many advantages.  Being able to pick and choose which tasks to focus on creates an environment of specialists and generalist.  A virtual assistant is able to take their particular talents, and offer those strengths to the public.  Virtual assistants are not only able to offer their particular services, but they are also able to determine their own schedule to fit their customer’s needs along with their own needs.  There are various virtual assistant professional organizations such as the Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce or the International Virtual Assistants Association.  These professional organizations are there to assist newcomers to the field in getting started or helping veterans brush up on their skills. 

 

Tough times call for creative solutions, whether those tough times are from a nationwide recession or a small company struggling to keep up with their everyday workload with a smaller work force.  The unemployed qualified professional has another option to pursue if they so choose by going into business for themselves offering their unique services.  More and more individuals and businesses are discovering the benefits of working as and with professional virtual assistants.  Have you looked into it today?