My Definition of what a Virtual Assistant is:

A Virtual Assistant is a person who works for many clients, providing office administration tasks, communicates with clients via telephone, email, skype; we may never meet our clients face to face. A person who works independently from his/her own virtual office.

An office administration person, with at least 10 years worth of office experience as a PA/Secretary or Office Manager. A person who can work alone.

A person with exceptional time management and prioritisation skills.

Someone who can run an office and liaise with clients on an ongoing basis.

Someone with a bit of management experience, can learn quickly and who is at ease with software.

We have to be pro-active and assertive.

Virtual Assistants are Business Owners, who run their own companies, do their own marketing, networking, bookkeeping etc.

There are many VA definitions around the world, but what I have wrritten above is what I believe a VA is and what we do. Alison Fourie