Secretarial Services - Virtual Assistants Career Outlook

Career Outlook for Virtual Assistants
By India Jordan

Government career outlook predictions aren't developed yet for the Virtual Assistance industry, whether that's because it's a relatively new field or because the tasks done by VAs are as varied as the VAs themselves remains to be seen. One has to examine similar fields and skill-sets to see how VAs will fare in the years to come. By looking at these similar fields, you can see that the growth outlook for Virtual Assistance is above average. The question of "Will this job still be around in 20 years?" can be answered by looking at the services that a specific VA is offering and closely-related "traditional" employment fields.

The most important thing to remember, though, is to keep current with technology and software that can progress your business. If you only know outdated technology, then you and your business are outdated and your clients may go elsewhere for service. Keep adding to your services and learn everything you can about your niche market and what they currently need.

With many businesses restructuring and downsizing (getting rid of middle managers), companies are utilizing more and more secretarial and administrative support staff to take over those duties. If you offer administrative support as a VA, and market yourself as an off-site solution to those downsizing companies, your "job security" looks pretty good. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that you will have competition from on-site employees for these positions.

If you offer more specialized services than administrative support, you have different chances for sustaining an ongoing career. Here are two examples:

If you offer Public Relations (PR) services, your occupational outlook is rosy. With so many different types of organizations -- such as businesses, nonprofits, universities, hospitals and more - looking for media specialists and PR specialists to do more than just "tell their story." Creativity, initiative, good judgment and the ability to communicate effectively are some of the skills necessary to succeed in this job. There's lots of competition in this role, but employment/contracts for PR specialists is expected to grow faster than average, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

If you offer Desktop Publishing services, your occupational outlook is also great. Many companies are beginning to outsource these services, as opposed to having in-house staff. With experience and/or a degree in graphic design or a related field, desktop publishers have a variety of different organizations to market themselves to. VAs offer an affordable alternative to hiring a graphic design firm.

Whether you specialize in desktop publishing and graphic design or public relations or another niche specialty, it's clear that Virtual Assistance is catching on and the VAs who are out there aren't going anywhere. With more and more employers and companies looking to outsource projects turning to offsite personnel to fulfill these needs, the view of using "virtual" workers is changing. It's no longer as common to hear objections such as "How do I know you'll really be working?" when proposing using a VA to someone who never has before. Many people have heard of VAs now or know someone who uses theirs. In most cases, once someone has a VA on their team, they don't turn back to in-house staff to fulfill those duties.

To check out similar fields' occupational outlooks, visit the Occupational Outlook Handbook (2006-07 edition) put out by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics at http://www.bls.gov.

If you're an aspiring Virtual Assistant, claim your free e-report "Virtual Assistant Business: A Basic Guide to Start Your Own" at http://www.virtualassistantbusiness.com. VirtualAssistantBusiness.com is a resource site for current and aspiring Virtual Assistants.

Secretarial Services-Becoming an entrepreneur

Key Secrets to Becoming a Great Entrepreneur
By Laurie Hayes

You may have an exceptional product that can improve the lives of many.

You may provide a service that is second to none.

BUT …

if you don't have exceptional sales skills, you will lose out on many an opportunity to demonstrate or provide value to anyone.

The most important, yet least developed business skill in many small and home-based business owners is selling.

You may associate selling to undergoing a root canal because of the bad experiences you have had with sales people.

Lack of effective sales skills is a major contributor to the demise of a business.

The great thing to realize is that selling is a skill. It is not something you are born with. It is a skill that is learned and cultivated.

Do some people seem to be naturals at it? You bet! I am in awe of some people who seem to just learn a technique and after practicing it once, are off to the races like they've been doing it for years.

For others, a little more practice and polishing may be required, but in the end, they can be just as effective and successful as those who seem to have it mastered right out of the gate.

A major block in selling is the stereotype of salespeople. When I say, "Salesperson" to you. What immediately comes to mind?

Do you see a fast talker in a bad suit?
Is this person arrogant and pushy?
Does this person hear a word you're saying or does he/she speak over you?
Does this person ignore your questions?
Is this person a know-it-all?
Will this person not take "No" for an answer?
If you raise a concern will this person make you feel stupid?

I had first titled this article, "Key Secrets to Being a Great Salesperson," but recognized that just by using the word, "Salesperson," fewer people would read the article.

The negative or positive association of a word is powerful!

Although you are an entrepreneur, you are also a sales person. You are in the business of selling a product or service to others.

How would you like to be viewed as a salesperson? Would you like others to see you as:

Authentic?
A good listener?
Genuinely concerned for the best interests of the buyer?
Understanding?
Professional?
A person of high integrity?
Trustworthy?
Knowledgeable?
Honest?

These are not only skills. They are behaviors; behaviors that must be embraced and practiced.

Others may have a better product or service, or lower price than you, but clients and customers will naturally gravitate to the seller who makes them feel valued, respected and heard.

I'm sure you have been in a situation where you opted for a product or service you didn't originally have in mind because of the way the salesperson made you feel.

I know I have.

Buyers need to know the facts and benefits of a product or service, but they also need to have a sense of relationship with the salesperson.

Take a look at yourself from the buyer's perspective. How are you coming across? Does the prospective customer or client walk away from your interaction feeling empowered, valued and understood?

These skills are not only necessary for selling products or services. You sell yourself to others every single day.

How you make people feel determines whether or not they want to do business or have any other type of relationship with you.

Keep these thoughts in mind as you go throughout your day.

Become aware of the impression you create for others and if you are not satisfied with the results, modify your behavior, measure again and keep fine-tuning until you see positive results.

Become the kind of salesperson people will recommend to their friends and acquaintances and watch your business grow.

Laurie works with home-based business owners who face the distinct challenges presented when working from home. She is the author of numerous articles and a bi-weekly newsletter, "The Heart of Living."
Website URL http://www.wheretheheartis-lifecoaching.com