11 Virtual Assistant Hard Skills Should Have

Virtual assistants who have a broad range of hard skills and take their training seriously are more than likely to move up the ranks and get promoted. This is because their ability to learn new techniques and improve daily makes them a valuable asset.

If you want to become a more senior virtual assistant, these hard skills can really set you apart and improve your chances of being promoted.

These hard skills include a variety of tools and programs that can be used both in the productivity aspect and the technical aspect.

Here are 11 hard skills every virtual assistant should have:

Communication

Good communication is at the heart of any successful business and virtual assistant. 

Excellent oral and written communique capabilities are crucial as emails, reports, and call are key methods wherein virtual assistants communicate with clients, clients and team members.

Problem-Solving 

Problem-solving is one of the best hard skills if you’re looking to be more than just a virtual assistant. It involves identifying the problem, investigating possible solutions and implementing a solution, then evaluating if the solution worked. It often involves more than one person working together to solve a problem.

Problem solving requires critical thinking skills, creativity and a willingness to take risks. It also requires the ability to plan ahead and make decisions based on information gathered through research or experimentation.

Virtual assistants need problem-solving skills that allow them to quickly analyze situations and come up with solutions.

Time Management 

This is a HUGE deal. A virtual assistant needs to be able to manage their time efficiently and effectively so they can complete tasks in a timely manner. This is an important skill for all types of virtual assistants, even if they do not have a lot of clients or projects to work on at once.

A virtual assistant needs to be able to juggle multiple projects at once, while also keeping track of deadlines and other important details.

Project Management 

This is the skill that puts it all together. When you’re working with clients, it’s important to be able to keep track of all of their projects and deadlines. This can be tricky if you’re working with multiple people and need to stay organized.

A good VA who can manage projects will ensure that everything gets done on time and within budget. Project management software like ClickUp, Trello or Asana can help you stay on top of everything.

Research Skills

Research is a critical skill for virtual assistants because it involves finding information on the Internet and extracting it from various sources, such as databases. Virtual assistants need to be able to conduct research on behalf of their clients. This could involve locating information about a topic or finding answers to questions that may arise during the course of their work.

A good research VA can also use online tools to track down contact information for key people in your industry who might be able to provide valuable insight into your business or industry as a whole.

Computer Skills

The most important hard skill for any VA is computer proficiency. VA is going to need to know how to use a computer and the Internet. This means that the person can use a variety of software, including email and Microsoft Office.

They should also be able to navigate the Internet and troubleshoot any issues that come up and programs and save information on your hard drive or in cloud storage systems like Dropbox or Google Drive.

You’ll also need to be able to use email programs like Gmail and Outlook 365.

Leadership Skills

Leadership skills are critical for virtual assistants because they are often responsible for managing the work of others. Virtual assistants should be able to solve problems independently and be able to work collaboratively with other team members.

They should also have strong interpersonal skills, so they can motivate their team members and resolve conflicts when they arise.

Leadership skills are critical also in this role because a good leader can motivate his or her team members to perform well.

Marketing Skills

Marketing is the foundation of any business. Virtual assistants have to have a solid understanding of marketing strategies, including how to develop and implement a marketing plan. Virtual assistants can also help their clients with online marketing efforts, such as email campaigns and social media management.

They can also develop landing pages and optimize them for search engines, which can help improve organic search traffic. To promote themselves and their work, virtual assistants create physical ads and promote their businesses on social media, writing blog posts and other content, and offering tips on how to improve their websites’ rankings in search engines like Google and Bing.

A virtual assistant needs to consider the following elements of marketing while promoting clients work:

1. Search engine optimization
2. Email promotion
3. Public speaking

Microsoft Office

This is the most important software in the business world. It’s also a must-have for any VAs who plan to take on more advanced tasks, such as data entry or proofreading. Virtual assistants should know how to use Microsoft Office products such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Other popular software programs include Gmail, Google Docs and Salesforce.

Presentation Skills

Presentation skills are one of the most important skills a virtual assistant can have. Presentation skills involve being able to present information clearly and correctly, whether that’s in person or online.

For example, if you’re giving a presentation at a conference, you need to know how to set up an effective slide show, use the right software for making presentations and be able to speak confidently and clearly.

If you don’t have good presentation skills, you may find yourself struggling with tasks like delivering training sessions or creating tutorials.

Basic Social Media Skills

The ability to use social media effectively can be one of the most important skills for any virtual assistant in the Philippines to have.

VAs must be able to post content on a regular basis, respond to customer inquiries and engage with followers in order to grow their businesses on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. From Facebook and Twitter, to LinkedIn and Instagram, the world has become a lot more social over the years.

Having some basic knowledge of these platforms will help you communicate with clients and build trust in your business.

Conclusion

A virtual assistant with the above hard skills is a jack of all trades. They know how to be an expert in every area they speak with their client, but they should also be able to transfer those skills over to talk with parallel industries.

Those who are the best stay current with the latest trends and technologies.

Virtual assistants are more in demand than ever before, due to the growth of companies that have obtained both a national and global focus. It’s paying off big time for individuals who are highly skilled in those 11 areas and can balance the needs of various clients effectively.