Why Office Managers Make Exceptional Virtual Assistants

So COVID-19 shut down a bajillion offices across the country. You may be thinking it’s pretty hard to be an office manager when there is no office to manage.

This COVID thing might be temporary, and you might be able to wait it out.

Or maybe your company has already decided they aren’t going to re-open the doors. They are going to go virtual all the way and save on a ton of overhead costs associated with the physical space. Maybe you are already feeling like it’s only a matter of time before they let you know you’re no longer needed. Don’t despair.

First

First, if they’re thinking that (“We no longer need her/him.”) then they have totally underestimated what you can do for them regardless of a physical office or not.

Second

Second, I’ve got great news for you. There’s a career option just waiting for you. (Like as soon as you’re done reading this post you can click and be on your way to the next step.)

You can become a Virtual Assistant (VA).

Office Managers make exceptional VAs, and here’s why:

As an office manager, you are a behind-the-scenes person that is ensuring the supply closet is stocked, the vendors are paid, the office resources — such as the conference/meeting rooms and A/V equipment — are shared. You also ensure the items needed for employee onboarding are available.

You were the one keeping the office in tip-top shape for all the people to operate within it, having everything they need without even having to ask.

Well, just because companies are going virtual, doesn’t mean the “office” ceases to exist. The employees that were sent home are now setting up home offices and those things still need to run optimally for employees to be successful.

If you’re an office manager looking to become a Virtual Assistant, much of the same responsibilities can be applied. You may just need to take a moment to re-imagine the “office”.

A VA’s clients still need supplies, equipment, and furniture … even when they’re working from home. Or, even if the VA works from home but the client’s office is still brick and mortar, that ordering can still happen.

There are still accounts payable/receivable to be managed as it pertains to vendors. There are still operations and systems that can be designed to help a business function more smoothly even if that business operates now from multiple homes (of its employees).

Here are five services the office manager can provide as a VA:

1. Ordering and tracking
2. Accounts payable/receivable
3. Client or employee onboarding support
4. Systems and operations support
5. Business resource management

If you’re at a point where you’re feeling like life as an office manager doesn’t make sense because there is no “office” to go to, and you’re wondering what to do next or how you can leverage all the years of experience into something that pays – become a VA.

Visit my YouTube channel where you’ll find the videos that will help smooth your new career transformation. (Like, comment, and subscribe while you’re there.)