Virtual Assistant Role Flourishing In A Changing Workplace

Recent labour market research conducted by Purple Co in several Australian capitol cities has shown that Virtual Assistants (VA’s) are flourishing not just in India or Philippines but all over Australia as well.

As an example, you may be interested to know that there are 306 VA’s listed on LinkedIn in the Melbourne area alone.

We have found that the roles of Receptionist, Secretary, Personal Assistant and even Executive Assistant are being cut back in many companies. On the Australian Government website Job Outlook they state that receptionists have average prospects over the next 10 years. Our research would indicate that this may be true in smaller businesses but in corporate Australia things have already shifted.

One Sydney employer in conversation this week indicated that they have one PA serving 7 income producing staff, whereas not long ago the ratio was closer to 1:1. Their strategy has been to replace secretaries with younger graduates who are keen to get ahead in their industry and thus don’t mind sharing some of the duties of reception and some PA work (like research and analysis) for senior staff as part of gaining experience in their role.

If you have the requisite skills and are interested in becoming a VA then we would suggest that there are at least three ways to go forward:

Start your own business.
Buy a franchise (yes, we are aware of at least one VA who is offering training under license for $8000 guaranteeing your first clients, and stating that with 3 fulltime clients you can make up to $80,000p.a. as a VA.
Start out working for an another VA who is already busy.
One sign of the rise in the number of VA’s are the number of forums available online. Forums, where VA’s register and ‘hang out’ in virtual community and where job opportunities are often advertised, include: A Clayton’s Secretary, Australian Virtual Business Network, Working Women’s Network and Vyva. There is usually a membership fee to join these forums of between $100 and $200 per annum.

At Purple Co we use two awesome VA’s who make really significant contributions to our business model and efficiency.

We are seeing this as a powerful opportunity for people with injuries and disabilities who want to pursue income generation, with skills easily transferable into this role. Just as we are seeing the rise of self employment and solo business operators, VA’s fall really neatly into a a reasonable, realistic and achievable incoming producing role.

Purple Co will be launching Business of 1 in 2012 to assist people make a successful transition to this and other types of contractor, solo business types of “work”.

What has been your experience working with a VA? Leave a comment below and let us know.

We would also be really keen to know your thoughts on this business endeavor to assist people with injuries and disabilities create their own earning capacity.