The virtual assistant industry is a growing industry and how we work is changing and evolving. In this two part series, I’d like to give you an idea of the types of people using virtual assistants, because they are not just for entrepreneurs, anyone can use a virtual assistant, business owner or not. Whether you are an employee, self-employed, running a small business, a large business, or even someone that is retired. A virtual assistant can help you with your personal and private life tasks, such as booking your holiday, buying gifts, arranging dry cleaning (let’s call them lifestyle management tasks) as well as your business related tasks. The key is finding the right virtual assistant, one that has the experience you need to help you.

The Employee

You might be a high flying executive or a social butterfly, who never has enough time to get everything done that you need to on a daily basis. Hiring a virtual assistant to help you with tasks outside of work, such as researching and booking your next holiday, sourcing gifts for friends and family, arranging decorators or even builders to finally start the renovations on your home. Perhaps you also need help with sorting out your personal paperwork? A virtual assistant can help you to regain control and enjoy more time to either work harder or play harder.

The Small Business Owner

As the owner of a small business with staff, a virtual assistant can help you to grow your business. It isn’t possible to keep doing everything in your business, you need to accept that there comes a point where you need to let go in order to grow. Finding the right virtual assistant, can in the long term result in actually hiring someone who turns out to become more of a business partner. Someone who has a deep understanding of your business and your big goals, some who keeps up to date with the constant and evolving online world, giving you a competitive edge. Using a virtual assistant, or even building a team of virtual assistants, with the right skill sets for your business, can help you to spend more time working on your business rather than in your business knowing that the day to day operations are in a safe pair of hands.

The Corporation

The corporate environment is changing and evolving.  Working remotely from home and virtually with teams based all around the world are fast becoming more accepted in the workplace, mainly thanks to technology, which has broadened our means of communication and made life so much easier. Even larger businesses could benefit from hiring VAs. They could be the perfect solution to cover holiday, sick or even maternity leave.  It may be the perfect solution to help out with excess workload especially if your business is very cyclical or project based, where you have a greater need for additional staff at certain times of the year.

Do you fall into one of these categories? Are you currently using a virtual assistant in your business? Perhaps you are considering hiring your first VA? I’d love to hear your thoughts, please leave a comment below.