Isn’t it time we reframed the role of a VA?
- The year we saw the biggest shift in remote work. All those that had resisted it up until then, had no choice.
But where does that leave the VAs? Have we lost our biggest USP? What’s special about ‘virtual’ if everyone is virtual?
After spending years championing remote working, flexible hours and the virtual workforce, it’s now a bit So what? – we’re all doing it. And the world around us caught up and, in some cases, overtook.
A remote extension of your team – and?
We work from home – yeah, so?
You don’t need to employ us full time – er, we know, we always work with freelancers.
The history of the VA
According to the Society of Virtual Assistants, the term ‘Virtual Assistant’ goes all the way back to 1992, when it was first used by a life coach to refer to his assistant, probably more like a traditional secretary or PA that works from their own home, rather than a desk in the office.
By the time I started out at the end of 2011, it wasn’t a term I was familiar with. I wasn’t concerned with giving the work a job title, but I found I had to explain myself when people inevitably asked What do you do? We have a fascination for jobs and their titles like it’s a badge of honour. A term such as ‘VA’ or ‘Virtual Assistant’ seemed to fit well.
Within a few years of working that way, my awareness grew of a few others working in the same way. The advancements in technologies and internet speed making it an easier, more accessible option.
Then, by 2016 there was a huge boom. The launch of VA Handbookers and other VA Facebook groups, raised both interest and awareness of the industry, and with it a way of sharing resources, knowledge, learning, and suggesting some industry standards.
What’s in a name?
VA – Virtual Assistant
Assistant:
1: a person who assists someone : HELPER also : a person holding an assistantship
2: a device or product that provides assistance software assistants personal digital assistant
Virtual:
1: being such in essence or effect though not formally recognized or admitted a virtual dictator
2: being on or simulated on a computer or computer network print or virtual books a virtual keyboard: such as
a: occurring or existing primarily online virtual shopping
b: of, relating to, or existing within a virtual reality a virtual tour
What do we offer that’s more?
The term ‘VA’ is wide-ranging, referring more to a method of working ‘virtually’ (remotely) rather than to any specific skill. That said, at their core service offering most VAs have built this up around a background in admin, such as a PA or office manager or coordinator, peppered with a selection of complementary skills.
A VA might be an admin assistant that works from home, but they also might be a social media manager or a project coordinator or an editorial assistant or a marketing assistant or… The term refers more to how they work than what they do.
If the ‘how’ is no longer unique, then isn’t it time we came up with a new name?
The problem with this, is that for many of us, we have a broad variety of skills – admin, project management, marketing, CRM, comms. How can we package that up into one name in a way that still acknowledges the way we work and what we do without playing down or narrowing down our skills and value?
We could simple call ourselves an ‘assistant’?
We could pick one of our specialisms and lead with that – social media manager, CRM specialist, advertising coordinator…?
We might choose to go with Online Business Manager?
It’s complicated. The job I do for my clients is not my job.
For them, I’m:
- Customer service
- Marketing assistant
- Social media manager
- Advertising coordinator
- Membership manager
- Cloud administrator
- Copywriter and more
This year, I’ve been moving away from using the term ‘VA’, although as it’s widely recognised and good for the Google, I need to keep it scattered throughout my biogs, blogs and web copy. I’ve adopted the term ‘freelance assistant’ instead.
I’m not sure that’s still the right term. But what could it be instead? And does it matter?
Do you have any other suggestions? Let me know.