How to become a virtual assistant in the Philippines: Get started as a beginner

Becoming a virtual assistant is a popular career choice among Filipinos as it allows for remote working arrangements and a high degree of flexibility. Virtual assistants are highly sought after by international clients, particularly from North America, Europe, and Australia.

Wondering how to become a virtual assistant in the Philippines? Read on to find out more and how to get started. We'll also introduce the Wise account, a handy companion to make your money go further with low, transparent fees.

What is a virtual assistant?

According to job portals Indeed¹ and FlexJobs², a virtual assistant is someone who provides remote administrative support services. Their clients can be anyone from big companies, to entrepreneurs, in various industries who outsource this function instead of hiring full-time employees. As freelance workers, virtual assistants enjoy independence and can work outside the client’s office.

What is a typical virtual assistant job description?

The virtual assistant job description is similar to that of an administrative professional in the office, just that the person is not working in the office.

Website VirtualStaff.ph³ lists some functions that a virtual assistant takes on, which include calendar management, billing and accounting support, customer service and replying to emails, providing transcriptions of meetings, and even helping out with personal matters.

Job portal Indeed also mentions that a virtual assistant job description can include handling travel arrangements, organising files and documents, doing data entry and spreadsheet management, as well as proofreading reports and handling social media accounts.

Salary for virtual assistants

As a virtual assistant is a remote worker, companies can hire them from anywhere in the world. This means that if you want to work as a virtual assistant, you will need to set up an account that can receive foreign currency. In addition, an account that can convert these currencies to Philippine pesos at the best rate possible, without high and hidden fees, is also preferred.

According to Indeed, the average virtual assistant salary in the United States is USD 27.14 per hour (about PHP 1,549). Jobstreet⁴ reports that the average monthly salary for Virtual Assistant jobs in the Philippines ranges from PHP 30,000 to PHP 40,000. This works out to about PHP 170 per hour.

Job listings on Upwork⁵ show rates from USD 5 an hour to USD 13 an hour, with some needing help for project management tool Asana, customer relationship management support and other professional functions.

Virtual assistant jobs for beginners

Based on the various virtual assistant job listings on job portals, entry-level virtual assistant work typically requires soft skills such as impeccable organization, the ability to multi-task, and use a variety of scheduling and project management tools.

The person also needs to have an excellent command of the English language, and some employers may request a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree. Past administrative experience is preferred, but not a must.

Virtual assistant jobs for beginners can be demanding, so starting off in a more general role is easier. Jumptask⁶ recommends general admin, customer support, social media management, and data entry as beginner-friendly roles that require common skills and don’t require specialized knowledge to get started.

How to become a virtual assistant

In this section, we lay out some steps on how to be a virtual assistant. With a strong foundation and a ready mindset, you will get a good headstart on getting your first virtual assistant job suited for beginners.

Step 1: Define your services and skills

The first step to becoming a virtual assistant is to define your services and skills. Looking at your past work experience, identify the skills you have – or if coming from a different industry, any transferable skills from previous jobs.

It would also help if you have any specializations you may have amassed, as this can help you gain an advantage in your niche and command higher pay. For instance, you may have specific technical skills that might help you when transcribing minutes of a meeting in the same industry, a flair for sales and customer service duties, or past experience in managing social media accounts.

If needed, you can also upskill with online courses. Some websites like Coursera⁷ and VA Training PH⁸ offer courses targeted for virtual assistants, with modules that touch on project management, data organization, bookkeeping and calendar management.

As a new entrant to the virtual assistant space, your starting rates might be lower, an average of USD $10 per hour (about PHP 570) based on a Fiverr⁹ search. As your skills grow, and you become more experienced, you can take on more intermediate jobs with higher rates.

Step 2: Set up tech and home-office essentials

To begin offering virtual assistant services, you will also need a functioning home office to carry out your duties for your clients. The basics include a work desk, fast internet connection, laptop or desktop computer, headset for calls with clients, as well as software such as Zoom for meetings, Asana for project management, and Excel for your spreadsheets.

You may also need to prepare a quiet room with fewer distractions so you can focus on your tasks. Photo editing software, a printer and even a dedicated phone line may also be required.

Step 3: Build your portfolio

Just like any other employment opportunity, even virtual assistant jobs for beginners require you to submit your resume, portfolio and go for an interview. Even if you have had extensive experience in your past field of work, it is key to select the most relevant achievements for your new virtual assistant career.

Create your CV/resume and portfolio of online services that you are offering. If possible, keep the resume to just one page, in a neat and legible format. Common formats include your full name, and previous jobs in chronological order, from newest to oldest. Other easy-to-read formats place your contact information, skills and education in the column on the side.

As this is a remote, global position, it would also be helpful to include your timezone and available hours upfront. If you have experience in using certain tools or want to showcase your specialization and professional certifications, sections can be dedicated to those as well.

For aspiring virtual assistants offering creative work such as designing of marketing materials or social media posts, consider creating an online portfolio and including the link in the resume.

Step 4: Find your first client

Some good starting points to find virtual assistant jobs for beginners are on international platforms Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer¹⁰ and Indeed where you will be paid in USD. You can also look for virtual assistant jobs on employment portals, word-of-mouth or via LinkedIn.

Career portal Indeed advises that new virtual assistants can start with small, lower-paying jobs. As your clout, positive testimonials, and experience as a virtual assistant grows, so can your salary.

Step 5: Get paid and grow your business

If you are receiving payment for your virtual assistant services in a currency other than Philippine pesos, you will need to be able to receive international payments securely.

To ensure that your hard-earned money does not get eroded by high transaction fees and poor foreign exchange rates, consider using a multi-currency service such as Wise. More on this below.

Grow your business by expanding your services, and gain recognition by asking for positive testimonials from your happy clients. You can also use social media, professional networking sites like LinkedIn and create your own website. Consider also attending networking events, to expand your professional network.

Get paid in USD, GBP and more with local account details and convert to PHP at the mid-market rate with Wise

Sa Wise, makakakuha ka ng 8+ local account details, kasama ang PHP, USD, GBP, AUD at marami pang iba. Kaya, mas madali at convenient na makatanggap ka ng pera direkta. Mag sign-up ka lang ng libreng account, at mae-enjoy mo nang i-manage ang pera mo gamit lang ang phone mo.

Kapag natangap mo na ang pera mo, madali mo itong i-convert sa 40+ na currencies, with low fees, at sa mid-market rate - ito yung totoo at nakikita mong rate sa Google. Kasama na dito ang pag-exchange ng peso na may one-time conversion fee na nagsisimula sa 0.57%. Kitang-kita na agad yan upfront, walang patong o hidden fees.

Kaya, tumanggap, mag-exchange, at ilipat ang funds mo sa iyong local bank account gamit ang Wise. Get the most out of your money in an easy and seamless way.

✍️ Sign up for a free account now

1. Indeed
2. FlexJobs
3. VirtualStaff.ph
4. Jobstreet PH
5. Upwork
6. Jumptask
7. Coursera
8. VA Training PH
9. Fiverr
10. Freelancer