Virtual assistant jobs are one of the many home-based jobs that you may want to look into if you are good at doing clerical work. However, there are some skills you'll need for getting virtual assistant jobs. They are as follows.

Skill #1: Data Entry

There are a lot of people who are seeking data entry jobs that they can do from home today. While these jobs are difficult to come by, since there is so much competition, this is one of the many skills that you should have as a virtual assistant. Data entry tasks include typing and entering data into forms, editing current information, proofreading text and updating databases.

Skill #2: Desktop Publishing

Desktop publishing is needed for creating books, brochures, business cards, calendars, envelops, letterheads, logos, magazines, menus, name tags, newsletters, postcards, price lists and even websites. While these things can be done with MS Word, MS Publisher is oftentimes preferred since it provides ready-made templates.

Skill #3: Good Communication

It is imperative for a virtual assistant to have good communication skills. Without them a virtual assistant will become a liability instead of an asset. This is because as a virtual assistant you will constantly be interacting with people to fix meetings, create schedules, make appointments and relay messages for your "boss." Since you will be working in a virtual environment, this means that your writing skills will need to be excellent. After all, you will be communicating mainly through email and instant messaging.

Skill #4: Typing

You must have good typing skills since most of the work you do will be dependent upon them. Not only should you be able to type accurately but you should also be able to type at least 60 words per minute. Sometimes you may be asked to do transcription work in addition to your other work as a virtual assistant. This simply means that you will need to take your client's audio content and type it into a written document. Good typing skills are imperative here.

Skill #5: Writing

As a virtual assistant you should also have good writing skills. Clients will need a wide variety of projects written for them (everything from articles to business letters and email messages). Such projects not only showcase your own professionalism but your client's as well since you are doing their writing tasks for them.

Skill #6: Computer

Since all of your work is going to be done on your computer, you will need to have excellent computer skills. Not only will you need to know how to run the various programs that you will need to use as a virtual assistant but you will also need to know how to do basic computer maintenance as well. This is important because if your computer goes down, both you and your client's work will come to a halt.

Skill #7: Organization

Good organizational skills are also important because you may be working on several different projects for several different clients all at the same time. You will need to be organized in order to ensure that everything goes smoothly.

These are just some of the many skills that virtual assistants should have because these skills are in such great demand. If you have worked as an administrative assistant or a secretary in an office in the past, then you should already have the skills to be a successful virtual assistant.