Virtual Assistant Tips for Communication

First and foremost, remember that you are performing a service. You are not your employer's friend! Therefore, it is important that you be and sound professional at all times. When you send work-related emails, always use proper grammar. How you write is a reflection on you! Do not use informal language or insert emoticons, such as smiley faces, into your emails. Remember the manner in which you wrote when you applied for the job. No doubt, it was very professional and showed you at your very best. You need to keep up that level of professionalism for the duration of your employment. These guidelines go for phone conversations as well. When on the phone with an employer or client, speak professionally and properly. Make sure that you are in a quiet room with no background noise and that you speak clearly and slowly.

Another thing that you should think about, ideally before you even take the job, is understanding exactly what is expected of you. Make sure that your employer has laid down clear guidelines for what he or she wants and needs, for how you are to interact with clients, and for everything else in between. If you are ever unsure, do not be afraid to ask. Many people don't ask questions because they think this will make them look incompetent. On the contrary, however, seeking clarification shows that doing a good job is important to you and that you will take every measure to ensure that you do so.

If your work involves deadlines, always, always meet them on time. If you can ever deliver prior to a deadline, that's even better. The quickest way to lose a job is by not being reliable. When working "virtually," people often don't take their work as seriously as they would if they were actually traveling to work each day. Don't make this mistake. Just as the salary you earn is real, your work is very real and serious and should be treated as such at all times.