Choosing between a virtual administrative assistants and a virtual executive assistant can be difficult. While these two types of virtual assistants have many similarities, there are also some important differences between them. Both types of assistants can impact your organization differently, so it’s important to understand the services each position provides before adding an assistant to your team.
When making your decision, it is important to be very clear about what you need within your organization. This will allow you to hire the VA best suited to your goals.
What does a virtual executive assistant do?
We highlighted virtual executive assistants as one of the 5 most in-demand VA skills for 2022 . A virtual assistant is an administrative specialist who optimizes the workflow of a small number of executives (usually one or two). Most executives want a virtual executive assistant who they can trust to represent them when they are too busy to represent themselves.
A working relationship with a virtual legal advisor is a partnership; he often has flexible hours that allow him to be available when you need him. You can trust them with confidential information and ask them to answer questions on your behalf that arise when you are unavailable. If you are an executive or manager who needs an assistant to manage your personal and professional schedule and communications with maximum efficiency, a virtual personal assistant should be right for you.
What does a virtual administrative assistant do?
Like the Virtual EA, the Virtual Administrative Assistant (Virtual AA) is a versatile professional capable of handling a wide variety of projects and processes.
If you need help with a wide range of administrative and office tasks, a virtual AA will ensure that all work is completed according to your guidelines and expectations. Consider hiring a virtual AA if you feel overwhelmed with tasks such as organizing online files, scheduling meetings and taking minutes, or coordinating events and projects.
Differences Between a Virtual Executive Assistant and a Virtual Administrative Assistant
The level of responsibility is one of the main differences between a virtual EA and a virtual AA. A virtual EA has a high level of responsibility and knowledge of the organization. You can usually trust a virtual EA to cover for you and keep things running smoothly in your absence, whereas a virtual AA will usually not have the autonomy to cover for you in the same way.
Examples:
- A Virtual EA can manage and lead a group meeting, and a Virtual AA can schedule the meeting, send all attendees a calendar invitation, and take meeting minutes.
- A virtual EA can analyze and implement changes in administrative processes, while a virtual AA knows the different administrative processes in order to adapt and follow guidelines when managing the processes.
- A virtual AE can communicate with important stakeholders to share critical information, while a virtual AA can assist stakeholders by scheduling meetings with employees who are able to share this information.
Which one to hire?
Both virtual executive assistants and virtual administrative assistants can be beneficial to organizations. If you simply need a versatile VA who will follow your direction to manage established processes, you will want to hire a virtual AA. If you are looking for an assistant who will take initiative, manage your schedule, hold you accountable, and communicate on your behalf, a virtual administrative assistant will be the best fit for your needs.
Whatever you decide, we have a large number of Virtual EAs and Virtual AAs ready to help your organization grow. And if you're still not sure which solution is best for you, our Solutions team will be happy to help you make your choice. Contact us today to find the virtual assistant you need.
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