What Is a Part Time Virtual Assistant and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

Part-time virtual assistants help their employers with administrative tasks and other job duties. They do not go into the office; they complete all of their tasks from home or another location outside of the office. Part-time virtual assistants may not even work in the same city or state as their employer. There are agencies that have part-time virtual assistants on staff to fill employer job requests for virtual assistants. As a part-time virtual assistant, your specific job duties vary, depending on the company and industry. In general, a part-time virtual assistant responds to emails, arranges appointments, and returns phone calls for their employer. They also set travel plans, book tickets, and make travel reservations. Other job duties include organizing electronic files, editing presentation documents, and assisting with the creation of PowerPoint presentations or other sales materials. Part-time virtual assistants typically work thirty hours or less a week.

There are no formal education requirements to become a part-time virtual assistant, but most have a high school diploma or equivalent. Some also earn an associate or bachelor's degree to open up opportunities for promotion. Many employers prefer candidates who have held previous roles in administrative positions that required similar skills, such as organizing, filing, scheduling, and responding to emails and phone calls. To develop your administrative skills, acquire an entry-level position in an office setting. You may want to cultivate specialized skills, such as managing cloud services or social media accounts, to make yourself stand out in the job market. Become proficient with standard office computer programs and master other office assistant skills before seeking part-time virtual assistant positions with a company or through an agency.

The job of part-time virtual assistants is the same as full-time virtual assistants, except that part-timers work thirty hours or less per week. They help their employers with daily administrative tasks, scheduling, and outside communications. Part-time virtual assistants work outside of the office; they may work from home or another location of their choice with internet connectivity. As a part-time virtual assistant, you manage organizational and administrative details to allow your employer to focus on larger company goals. Job duties may include organizing electronic files, answering emails, scheduling meetings, booking travel reservations, and handling expense reports and other financial orders. Because you do not work in the office, you communicate with your employer on multiple channels, such as phone calls, emails, video messaging, and instant messaging.

Part-time virtual assistants must be self-motivated and able to work independently because they perform their tasks outside of the office. Many who become part-time virtual assistants have experience as administrative assistants or in positions with similar job duties. Part-time virtual assistants must be organized and know how to multi-task; you may be called to coordinate several projects or events at the same time and be responsible for scheduling your employer's appointments and meetings, and making travel arrangements. Excellent communication skills are also necessary to keep your employer updated on the status of your tasks. Part-time virtual assistants must be proficient in standard office computer programs and be able to learn other programs used by the company quickly.