What Is a Remote Assistant and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

Remote assistants provide support to staff and executives at a company. Some organizations use remote assistants as customer service agents who are the first point of contact for clients when they call in for information on products or services. Many remote assistants work exclusively with managers and executives, but some are assigned to help specific teams or departments. As a remote assistant, you may help schedule meetings, coordinate travel arrangements, assign tasks, respond to calls and emails, and set up appointments. You may be required to use virtual office software to coordinate with other employees and prioritize job duties with varying deadlines. If you work for an international company, you may be asked to work unusual hours to provide support to employees around the world in different time zones.

To become a remote assistant, you need at least a high school diploma or equivalent, though some employers prefer candidates with an associate or bachelor's degree. You may also be required to pass a background check. Most remote assistants start their careers working in an office to gain experience before applying for a remote position. Previous training or experience in customer service, proficiency with standard office software, and using telephones for business use can help you stand out from other applicants. Because you work outside of the office, you need to be self-motivated to keep your supervisors informed of your progress and meet deadlines. Additional qualifications include excellent communication skills, a flexible schedule, and attention to detail.

Remote assistants and virtual assistants are very similar positions; both involve working from home to support office staff and executives. Some companies treat the two terms as interchangeable, but there are a few differences between them. The primary responsibilities for remote assistants usually focus on clerical and administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments, responding to emails, answering phone calls, and making travel arrangements. But virtual assistants sometimes provide services beyond clerical work, such as marketing or data entry tasks. These are tasks done alongside the administrative work, rather than the focus of the job. There are no universal guidelines for these two positions; remote assistants and virtual assistants can perform almost any job delegated to support staff.