New VA

[misty_davis25]

I have a Bachelor's in Business Administration. I have experience as an adminstrative assistant and as an assistant manager. I've been at home since I had my daughter 18 months ago. I'm trying to go back to work from home.

From what i've seen a virtual assistant job would fit my skill set the best, though not necessarily my toddler. I saw someone post that they had a boss who was very understanding about her having a "noisy family setting". Is this something that could really happen or should I focus on other avenues?

Thank you for the input!!!

[Dugsmom]

This is definitely doable. You will probably have to go out and get clients. Maybe join some clubs. I have 2 clients right now that I met at work (I am a realtor). Both ladies are realtors...one needed help with her property management business and the other one is a top producer who has no time for all the little things but doesn't want a full time assistant. I was there at the right time...It's been a year (in October) since I've been helping both of them and I hadn't really thought about actually doing this full time until recently so I am in the process of expanding.

I do about 95% of the work from home and most of it isn't phone work. I do data entry (inputtng receipts, managing database)writing letters to clients, doing paperwork, emailing clients, creating and emailing flyers, listing coordination, advertising online, etc.I do follow up calls and sometime clients call me but you could easily do that while the baby is napping. It only takes about 10 minutes of my time to do follow up calls and when I receive a call it takes at most 5 minutes (per call) of my time.

When I have to work outside of the home, it's to meet with their clients to go over paperwork or to take pictures of the homes (you could take baby with you when u take pics)

The great thing about working from home is that you can choose what projects you want to do. If you don't want to make calls because of background noise, don't. Start off by offering services that you can do exclusively online and once the baby is older, you can add more services.

[misty_davis25]

Thanks Dugsmom!! I appreciate the reply. It's definately given me food for thought. There's a lot I can still do with the baby here. (I've been blessed with a very good baby.) I just can't dedicate 8 straight hours to any 1 task with mealtimes, naptime, etc. Thank you so much for the advise. You've given me hope!!

[AMNicole]

I am in a very similar situation. I too have a Bachelor's of Business Admin. I have a 21 month old and I am now looking to work part time from home. With a similar skill set as listed above, I am just wondering how do I go about making those contacts with clients? Since I am home most of the day I am not usually networking with others. What type of groups can you join to meet others that may need my services? I'll be the first to admit that I am terrible at "marketing" myself. I don't doubt my capabilities at all, but I am just not one to jump up and down and scream how great I am either. Any suggestions?

[charmed]

vanetworking dot com has a really good job board with people who pay realistic fees to contractors such as Virtual Assistants. Check them out, you do have to pay in order to see the jobs posted but whenever I am short clients I pay the fee, then I apply to every job that comes open for a month before I cancel my membership. This has landed me many times more dollars than it cost me. If the forum was more active there I'd keep paying my monthly fee but since I really only use them as a way to find a job I don't stick round.

Another way I have been hired is to hang out where people who need me are. If you want to work with authors, for instance, where are authors hanging out online? Be helpful, have a good signature line, a great website, and people will come to you.

[4theboys]

I am not a VA anymore...but I was just passing through and this thread interested me. I just wanted to add my "two cents". Years ago, when I was a VA, many of my clients were real estate agents. I can imagine with the economy the way it is, that there would be an increased need now. Realtors want to spend their time in front of their customers or networking, etc. There is always a lot of back office work in this particular industry. I had some really great clients and they always kept me busy!

If I were you...I'd go hang out where the realtors are! Good luck and Happy Holidays!

[lindsayhogan]

I am totally agree with 4theboys in matter of working as VA for real estate clients as there are lots documentation to do in back hands.

Thanks a lot for the idea.