Survey Says Virtual Assistants Love Their Jobs!

Administrative professionals are leaving the corporate workforce to start and operate their own businesses as Virtual Assistants. This article looks at the phenomenon, and provides a foundation for future assessment.

Its that time again; its Administrative Professionals Week, formerly known as Professional Secretaries Week. Begun in 1952, the third week in April is set aside for the worldwide observance that recognizes the administrative professionals contributions to the workplace.

Over the years, many things have changed in the profession, however, one recent change warrants examination. Administrative professionals have almost always worked in what the United States Department of Labor (DOL) calls the traditional" workplace; that is in a typical large or small office environment and as someones employee. Increasingly and for a variety of reasons, administrative professionals are choosing to leave the traditional workplace and strike out on their own to become part of the non-traditional*" workplace. In other words, they are leaving the traditional workplace to start their own businesses, and in the process, they are creating a new profession -- that of the Virtual Assistant.

Virtual Assistants, or VAs as they call themselves, are micro business owners who provide administrative, secretarial and personal support while working in long-term, collaborative relationships with only a handful of terrific clients. Using phone, fax, email and other collaborative technologies, VAs support their clients without ever having to step foot inside their clients offices**. A boon to the increasing numbers of sole proprietors, consultants, contract workers, freelancers and micro businesses, VAs are meeting the demand created by layoffs and corporate downsizing. Many downsized and laid off workers decide that the time is right to start their own business. What they dont realize, however, is how much time and energy operating a business encompasses. Not only do they have to work in their area of expertise, but they also have to be their companys receptionist, secretary, purchasing and shipping department, accounts receivable and payable, sales force, marketing department, public relations, human resources, travel coordinator, scheduler, etc. At some point, the solo entrepreneur realizes that she/he cant continue to do it all" alone. In steps the Virtual Assistant. Possessing a mastery of office skills, VAs are able to assume responsibility without constant supervision, exercise initiative and judgment and respond in place of their client. Well educated, many VAs have sought additional training to prepare them for working virtually.

I first became aware of virtual assistants close to five years ago, but it wasnt until 2000 that I decided to join their ranks and enrolled in the Virtual Training Program (VTP) offered by AssistU. I know what my reason was for leaving the traditional workplace, but I have been intrigued by the reasons of my fellow VAs. As virtual assistance is a fairly new profession, statistics for the profession are scarce, and I decided that it was time to benchmark the profession, and so, I conducted a virtual survey. Utilizing the services of an internet survey site (http://www.advancedsurvey.com), I invited the members of four VA organizations to participate in the survey. Of the four organizations, 149 members of two organizations (AssistU and the Virtual Business Group) participated. Although the sampling is small, I believe that this years survey lays foundation for future surveys and benchmarking of the profession.

Participants were asked 17 questions ranging from why did you become a VA" to age, gender and geographic location.

Reinforcing that virtual assistance is a fairly new profession, 41.6% of VAs have been in business for 1 -- 3 years, followed by 32.9% having been in business for less than 1 year. Only 21.5% of survey respondents have been in business more than 5 years.

Reasons for leaving the traditional workplace, included work hours (54%) closely followed by 53% who cited the work environment. Interestingly, salary was at the low end (27.5%) of reasons for leaving the corporate world. This is borne out by a recent survey conducted by the Society of American Florists (SAF). The SAF survey found that 86% of administrative professionals want their bosses appreciation and acknowledgment for work well done.

When respondents to the VA survey were asked for detailed reasons for leaving the traditional workplace, their responses included:

• I wanted to work for myself.
• I wanted to spend more time with my children.
• I wore all the hats without the pay.
• I need complete control over my work schedule.
• I lost two jobs through downsizing, and I was
tired of not having control of my career.
• The corporate world would not allow me the
opportunity to utilize all my skills and
talents.
• The ability to make my own decisions and work
more humane hours.
• The condescending attitude of most male
executives toward the women who do the actual
work that keeps their office/business running
like a well oiled machine.
• Freedom to select who I work with.
• Working in the corporate box" stifled my
spirit.
• I was under valued and was given no respect
for the work I do.
• My boss was not acting ethically, and I didnt
want to be a part of that.
• I just plain got tired of being treated like I
was stupid or incompetent because of my job
title.
• Corporate politics.

Speaking of salaries, the majority of participating VAs, 40.2%, have gross revenues between $10,000 and $20,000. Twelve VAs cited gross revenues of $41,000 to $50,000 and only two VAs cited gross revenues of more than $75,000.

Would a VA return to the traditional workplace if the conditions were right? The answer is a fairly resounding no; 61% of the VAs surveyed said they would not go back. One respondent went so far as to say, Are you kidding! Whod want to go back to regular" work after THIS!"

Other survey results include:

• Women dominate the VA landscape at 98%.
• The majority of VAs are Caucasian (73.8%)
with the next large group being Blacks at 7.2%.
• The highest concentration of VAs reside in the
United States (71.1%) and the state with the
most VAs is California (11.4%).
• The popularity of virtual assistance is
highest among the 41 -- 50 age group (32.8%),
and the 31 -- 40 age group (31.5%).

Will virtual assistance survive as a profession? Because administrative professionals are the heart of virtual assistance, their foundation is strong, however, only time will tell. Next years survey results should prove more telling.

*The DOL defines the non-traditional workplace as the domain of sole proprietors, freelancers, contract workers, etc.
**Definition courtesy of AssistU (http://www.assistu.com), the premier training organization for Virtual Assistants.

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Donna Caissie is the owner and founder of ExtraOrdinary Assistance, a virtual assistance located in Worcester, Massachusetts. For more information about virtual assistance or how to find a VA, you can contact Donna via email at dmcva@extra-assist.com. Complete survey results will be available at the ExtraOrdinary Assistance web site (http://www.extra-assist.com) or by request.