Personal assistants are no more. They have been replaced with a much more version called virtual assistants (VAs). VAs do not work in big city offices dressed in smart black suits. Nor do they work exclusively for one The VA works from home and may help to run the lives of up to 30 business people simultaneously. They are self-employed and paid by the hour allowing great flexibility on both sides. VAs have more equality than PAs; they have customers rather than bosses.
There are a few disadvantages to the job; you work alone all day and so have no colleagues to chat to over coffee and you can the social interaction. But on the plus side, no day is ever the same. There is no boring routine or rigid timetable and the variety of jobs you might be asked to do means it is never dull.
Clients who employ a VA benefit from being able to outsource. Their VA can do the tasks they don’t have time to do; typing, filing, flights, uploading a blackberry and even to clients. VAs are perfect for the self-employed and small businesses, they don’t need annual and might as well be for one-off days or weeks.