3 Tips to Help You Get Online Jobs Fast as a Virtual Assistant

If you’ve been applying to remote jobs for ages without any results, you’re sick and tired of scams, or you only find underpaid online work, then look NO further. 

Keep on reading for super hot tips to help you land legit, well-paid remote jobs QUICKLY! 

(Newsflash: 1) Yes, it is POSSIBLE, and 2) YOU can do it, too! I’ll tell you how.) 

So many women complain to me that they apply to online jobs but never hear back. It doesn’t have to be that way, ladies. Read on to find out how you can get REAL virtual jobs FAST!

Ready? Here are the TOP 3 tips to get you working from home or your favorite cafe immediately:

Tip 1: ASK People in Your NETWORK

Yep, it’s that simple. Easy-peasy – talk to people! 

A wise man, Confucius, figured out a long time ago that “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” 

Stop underestimating the power of your network! 

Job boards aren’t the only way you can look for remote jobs. Good old face-to-face chit-chat is back in fashion as the most effective way to get work. 

According to a LinkedIn survey, 85% of all jobs are filled through networking. 

I agree with a fellow career expert who tells NPR that “at least 70%, if not 80%, of jobs, are not published.

And yet most people are spending 70 or 80% of their time surfing the net versus getting out there, talking to employers, taking some chances [and] realizing that the vast majority of hiring is friends and acquaintances hiring other trusted friends and acquaintances.” 

Years of helping women getting online jobs as virtual assistants have confirmed over and over again that the quickest way to find online jobs is through networking.

If 80% of jobs are never posted, and networking is the fastest way to find a job, what are you waiting for? It’s extremely easy to start networking:

• Brainstorm all the people you know who have their own business – family, friends, friends of friends, etc.
• Ask your family to keep their ears wide open for you. 
• Put on your networking hat and talk with everyone you know.

Reach out to local businesses too. 

ALL businesses, whether physical or online, need help. YOU can be the one to help them! 

Tell them what you can do for them. Small business owners are buried in work and would be happy to have you take some of their overburdening load. 

Be brave! If you already have some experience working online, reach out to people who hired you in the past. Inform them politely that you’re currently accepting new clients and would appreciate referrals. 

If you’ve never worked remotely before, don’t despair. A program like my 90 Day VA will help you tremendously. 

I created this course to teach women like YOU step-by-step everything you need to know to actually WORK with clients online.

So dig deep into your network! You will be surprised by the opportunities you could find there.   

Tip 2: Use LEGITIMATE Remote Job Boards 

Of course, you can and should be using job boards as well. 

LEGITIMATE job boards are an excellent way to round up your search for remote work. BUT be selective! 

Although Upwork and Fiverr are popular, they have LOTS of shortcomings, including low pay and scams. $3 an hour? NO, thank you! 

You can read more about why I NEVER recommend using Upwork in this blog post. 

Here are 5 LEGIT job boards I DO recommend:

1. Work From Home Jobs + Remote Work Resources

I am a little partial here, but high quality is objectively high quality. My favorite job board is MINE! 

My team handpicks real remote jobs from various niches to post them for FREE in our Facebook group Work From Home Jobs + Remote Work Resources. 

Every Friday, we also send out a compilation of 7-10 jobs. This weekly pack includes only LEGIT remote job postings (and other resources) to help you start working by the pool or from anywhere else QUICKLY. You can enroll via Facebook Messenger here. 

2. Guavabean 

Guavabean is on a mission to help everyone work online. They send a newsletter with TONS of jobs every week. 

One HUGE advantage Guavabean has over the popular middleman job boards (which I do NOT recommend) is that remote workers create it for remote workers. 

3. PowerToFly 

Founded by two tech-savvy moms, PowerToFly is another exciting remote job resource because it’s all about female empowerment and diversity in the tech industry. 

This platform connects Fortune 500 companies and startups with women, especially for remote technical jobs. After going through a vetting process, you have a 2-4 week paid trial test period to make sure it’s a good fit for you and the employer. 

4. Pangian

Created by a woman, Pangian focuses on connecting remote-friendly companies with remote employees. 

Pangian is more than a trusted remote job board. It’s an online community with a massive Facebook group with thousands of members.  

5. Remote Work Hub

Remote Work Hub is another trustworthy resource, run by a friend of mine – Deb. True to its name, it’s a one-stop hub of curated lists of remote job boards, marketplaces, Facebook groups, events, travel programs, online courses, and learning tools.  

These 5 reliable job boards will provide you with plenty of legitimate remote jobs to apply for every week.  

If you only qualify for low-paid customer service, typing, and data entry work, it’s time to consider upskilling. Learning new skills will allow you to get better-paid virtual jobs. 

Watch YouTube videos, tutorials or enroll in a comprehensive program like my skill training course – 90 Day VA so that you can qualify for the online jobs of your dreams.

Tip 3: Have a Remote Resume and a Portfolio  

The last tip is a little different. It’s not about where to look for remote work but more about what you need to have so you can land that dream virtual job. 

A remote-appropriate resume and a portfolio are a MUST!

Sorry to break it to you. Your old-school, black-and-white resumes just aren’t going to get you any closer to your dream remote job. 

Discard any boring Microsoft-Word template resumes you have! Instead, use a tool like Canva to create a stunning modern, colorful resume. 

Don’t be afraid to be creative! Your resume is an opportunity to show you can use design and word-processing programs. Pick 2 or 3 colors and a maximum of 2 fonts to create a captivating remote-ready resume.  

You must customize your resume for each particular job! You can also prepare a couple of resume templates to edit every time you apply for a new position. 

But DO make sure you tailor your resume following the specific job requirements. Highlight your relevant skills and experience by placing them on TOP of the resume!   

If you are after a job in social media, digital marketing, Instagram management, graphic design, web design, or copywriting, you need a portfolio to showcase examples of your work. 

You can keep a well-organized portfolio in Google Drive, Dropbox, or your website (if you have one, but you don’t have to have a website). 

For instance, in Google Drive, you can make different folders for each kind of service you offer. Then, you can send shareable links to potential clients and employers so they can view samples of your work. 

Always format your samples as PDFs!   

Another effective way of displaying your work is recording a short video using Loom or Quicktime. Not only can a video demonstrate your professional work, but it also gives potential clients and employers a glimpse of your personality. 

Ideally, you’ll send both a portfolio and a video along with your remote-ready resume to maximize your chances of landing your dream virtual job.  

If you follow these 3 CRUCIAL tips, you’ll succeed in getting work you can do from anywhere. 

Utilizing your network and legitimate remote job boards along with a kickass remote resume and portfolio is a winning combination. BINGO! 

If you feel overwhelmed or have no previous experience working online, don’t worry. 

This is one reason why I created my Remote Resume Blueprint. I teach you how to stand out from the competition, deal with employment gaps, and how to show off the expertise you DO have.

I also provide you with 5 remote-ready resume templates so all you have to do is pop in your details and you’re ready to go!

So, what are you waiting for? You got this!

In 90 Day VA, Esther teaches her students how to research and repurpose current content into blogs for the VAI website. Martina is the student we’ve chosen this week to feature what she’s learned in the course. Get to know her: