Planning to be a virtual assistant and thinking of what hardware you need to equip yourself? Say no more because I will enumerate the “tools of the trade” you need to equip yourself and be a successful VA.
But let me tell you, it doesn’t come cheap. Tech gadgets usually come with price tags that many Filipino people can’t easily afford. And the expense goes higher depending on your chosen field of specialty. At least the plus side is most of the equipment you need is fairly manageable and common, which I am sure you already have few of this stuff. All you need is:
A dependable laptop
It’s obvious that on becoming a VA, a laptop is your main arsenal. But the keyword there is “dependable” which mean a laptop that can efficiently handle most of the software you will use.
If you already have one then make sure it still perform smoothly and fast even you open multiple applications. But if you know it’s already doing poorly then sometimes just a little of maintenance and update can turn your slow and irritating laptop into turbo fast. So better bring your laptop to a computer specialist and hope it can bring back some performance on it.
If you don’t have one? Simple, buy one. But it doesn’t mean you need to spend a huge amount of money to make sure it has a good performance. Many of those high-end laptops are specially made for gaming since gaming requires a top of the line hardware. We will not play Crysis or PUBG when working as a VA so no need to spend ₱30,000+ for a laptop (although if budget isn’t an issue for you, then it’s better to invest in a high-end model). There are lots of inexpensive laptops around ₱15,000 that works great. Make sure it has not less than 4 GB of RAM and has the latest installed OS on it.
A good quality headset with microphone
Communication is vital in any business or work. So it’s proper to invest in a pair of good quality headset. Using earbuds/earphone is ok but since its cord is not that long. And also you will miss the better noise cancellation offered by headsets and since it microphone can be adjusted conversation is much clear on both ends.
A smartphone
This device is vital also because not all the time you have your laptop open and what will happen if one of your clients needs to contact you? The smartphone is a must because they can video call you and ever receive email on the go. Also, you can use your smartphone as Wi-Fi hotspot for your laptop so will always be connected anywhere. Not to mention you can use your smartphone to take some Instagram worthy shots.
A fast internet connection
Not only one should consider its speed but also the availability. There are times when we need to get outside and go to places and just finding it’s a dead zone. Consider the network coverage area also. Better internet connection and availability means you’re always online which is a must for being a VA.
A mouse
This one is optional but a must if you want to be more efficient in using your laptop. The corded mouse is fine but if one can afford then go for the wireless mouse. Fewer cords you carry, much better.
A flash drive, microSD or external hard disk
For file storage, data backup and file sharing. Saving and retrieving files saved on portable storage devices are much faster than on cloud, not to mention it won’t consume you any data.
Virtual assistant career is not just all about skills and knowledge but also needs reliable equipment for them to perform their task efficiently and within their client’s expectations. And just like working in an office, you need more than just a pen and paper to perform your work. VA offer their services worldwide, so it’s natural that we need to be competitive along with our equipment.
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