Remote Assistant Job Description

Note: A remote role may have the same or less compensation than an “in office” role. Many roles have gone “remote” over the last few years; changes in compensation reflect company attitudes and adjustments in role responsibilities.

A remote assistant, or virtual assistant, is responsible for providing remote assistance to professionals within organizations and companies. Duties may reflect that of a typical assistant or executive assistant who went “remote” or may have been designed to be remote from the beginning given an employer’s needs or location. .

The assistant’s job is to carry out various administrative tasks to support an individual or team so that the team can execute their own duties effectively. In addition to scheduling, calendaring, interacting with customers and clients by phone and email, a remote assistant’s duties might include new customer outreach, conducting research, and organizing data.

The role requires extensive software skills, problem solving skills  and strong communication skills. In a virtual context, email and phone communication skills must be especially strong. A remote assistant leans more heavily on computer systems and software as well as the phone, therefore comfort with technology is a must. Chat, calendaring, and video management skills are also important. A Virtual Assistant may be responsible for helping an employer maintain social networking platforms or customer support channels.

Soft skills tend to be valued more than technical skills however technology savvy is an increasingly important requirement. Discretion is also key, as an administrative assistant often has exposure to confidential information about people and the company.