As we start approaching the end of 2020, we can all agree that things are unlike ever before. In times of uncertainty, we are all looking for a sense of stability. That is why finding a job that you feel safe in is so important.
Working at home has become a major trend in 2020. The ability to stay home while still earning a pay check is liberating.
That is why so many people are trying to find jobs that are designed to be done from their couch. This need is causing more work at home jobs to be created so more people can stay home. This is also leading to the increased popularity of virtual project managers and virtual assistants, which leads me to today's topic.
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What is a Project Management Virtual assistant?
Contents
Before we get started, I want to take a moment to describe what a project management virtual assistant is and what goes into the job.
A project management virtual assistant is going to have the focal point of managing client projects and act as the point of contact between the clients and the team. The client may need a month's worth of social media posts written and scheduled.
The virtual project manager will work closely with the client to determine what the posts need to entail and will then delegate the tasks to the copywriters to be written. A project manager then checks in regularly with the writers to ensure that everything is on track and will be completed by the deadline.
In a nutshell: A Project Management VA oversees the tasks and productivity of specific projects.
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How to work from home as a Project Management Virtual Assistant
Ok, so let's dive in and talk about what you need to become a project management virtual assistant! Essentially, to become a project management virtual assistant you will need to score projects. In order to find and engage leads, you will need the following skills in order to attract paying clients.
There are few ways you can score projects as a virtual project manager:
- Referrals: Reach out to people you have worked with in the past and ask for referrals
- Cold Pitching: Getting in touch with total strangers, whether through calls or emails
- Networking: Engage with people across various industries, online and offline. LinkedIn is a great tool and social media marketing platform where plenty of entrepreneurs hang out
- Lead magnet: Offer to create a project plan as a freebie or what is known as a “lead magnet” to nurture a cold lead into a warm lead
What are the skills I will need as a project management VA?
Here are some skills of the job that are foundational to your success.
1. Good Organizational Skills
This is one of the most important skills this job requires. If you are the type of person who could be a professional organizer then this first step should be no issue at all!
You must be able to prioritize creating streamlined systems before you have multiple clients that all have different deadlines. If you aren't naturally an organizer but are willing to adopt an organized work structure then having initiative and remaining teachable will help you to succeed. The key is to always be moving forward and making progress. When someone hires a project manager VA they are hopeful that the person will meet deadlines, provide quality work, and be orderly. If you are willing to commit to becoming more organized then you can be a successful project manager VA.
2. A Strong Desire To Succeed
This one seems a little obvious, but can be challenging when you're just beginning your journey.
While this type of job does have the potential to make a good salary if the salary is your sole motivation the job can be hard. A project manager virtual assistant position can take a lot of work and will require you to be open to constructive criticism. You will need to spend time looking for new clients as well as time completing tasks for your existing customers. If you don't like the work, then you are going to struggle to dedicate the time it needs. This can cause you to miss deadlines and lose clients. If you want to be truly successful as a virtual project manager then you will be as long as you have a desire to do the hard work and be self-motivated.
3. A Good Knowledge of Business Practices and Tools
As a project management virtual assistant, you are going to be leading businesses in how to get organized and how to best utilize online business strategies.
This will require you to have some knowledge of how to do that. It includes knowing programs and methods to get that business organized and doing research to create a plan to accomplish your clients' goals. Every client you work with will be different which means a thorough understanding of client management systems, invoicing platforms, scheduling systems, and other regularly used business tools are vital.
Other important qualifications for virtual project management
- The Ability To Work Independently
Unlike a virtual assistant, you are required to have a superior understanding of the systems in place. You may not be given a direct set of instructions from your client at each step of the project. Once you get to know your client well, they will trust you to get the job done with little instruction. That means you will have to learn how to take the lead and ensure that your team has a clear understanding of the tasks.
As a virtual project manager, you will need to actively listen to your clients' needs and create your assignments and directions to get the needed results. This requires you to keep yourself on track and disciplined. Your client is trusting you with their business's future so it is up to you to make sure everything gets completed on time.
Get organized with the Virtual Assistant Binder here before it gets crazy busy with your project management VA business. You can easily plan your daily, weekly and monthly tasks as well as your business budget with this printable for just $5!
- You Make Communication a Priority
Ask other virtual project managers on how to organize and streamline communication with their clients. These amazing client communication strategies and best practices from experienced project managers and VAs will give you plenty of useful insights.
It is important to remember that your customers are paying you to help them with tasks that are vital to the success of their businesses. They are trusting you to take their vision and bring it to life. That is why it is so important to have an open line of communication with your client. Doing so will allow you to ask questions about the project and it will allow them to share feedback.
Ultimately, the goal of a virtual project manager is to efficiently produce work that will help the client. To do that you have to make communication seamless. Being accessible will also help you bring in more customers!
Can you really make a living as a project management virtual assistant?
The answer is definitely yes!
I highly recommend Horkey Handbook's Booked Out VA course to set yourself up for success. An example of a student success story is Hailey Thomas who went from $0 and no experience to her first project management client within 30 days of investing in the course.
What Hailey really liked about the Project Management for VA course is its comprehensive training project management skills, as well as how to present yourself to potential clients and communicate with clients effectively.
Related:How To Jumpstart Your Virtual Assistant Business With $19
How long will it take you to make your investment back from this course?
Believe it or not, as a virtual project manager you have the potential to charge up to $100-800 a day! That means you can potentially make your investment in the course back in less than a week of project work.
If you are determined and work hard, you can definitely make all your money back within landing your first Project Management gig.
Helpful Tips for Becoming a Virtual Project Manager
It’s important that you begin your journey to becoming a virtual project manager with some helpful tips on hand. I encourage you to make a list of these tips or print this page out to have in your workspace.
1.Set Aside Time to Search for Clients
This time will be easy to find when you first start because you won't have the distraction of incoming projects or client interviews. Use this precious free time to search for clients and grow your project management virtual assistant business. As you do start to grow it may get a little harder to carve out time to search for new clients. Your assignments will start to come in pretty steady, but if you want to continue to grow then you will need to take some time every week to keep searching and meeting with prospective clients.
You can find virtual project manager positions in numerous ways, but I encourage you to begin on platforms such as Fiverr. You will be able to filter your job search according to your availability and desired pay.
2.Network With Other Virtual Project Managers
Following other virtual project managers on social media or joining a VA Facebook group can help you to prepare for the journey ahead. You will be able to take advantage of a wealth of resources and get real-time feedback on the questions you have.
If you're serious about becoming a virtual project manager, this complete guide shows you how to find clients and close projects. I even direct established VAs here for tricks of the trade that help take their business to the next level. HorkeyHandBook is a phenomenal resource! Make sure that you bookmark it!
Being a virtual project manager doesn't have the same cut-throat competition you may have witnessed in previous jobs. Studying what other VAs do can help you grow. It is like “on the job training”. Observing others can help you get a good idea of where you can improve and also encourage you to imagine where you can be! Remember other virtual project managers are your peers, not your prey. Utilize their resources for your growth.
Wrapping Up
Being a virtual project manager is a great way to make some serious money without the stress of the 9-5 grind!
The role will require you to show up every day with a desire to help fellow business owners. If this post sparked a light in you then being a virtual project manager may just be your dream job. I encourage you to start today by reading the blog I mentioned earlier and then moving forward with looking for your first client.
Do you have any questions about being a virtual project manager?
Please comment below, I would love to hear from you!