Virtual Assistant provide support to professionals who are conducting experiments or gathering and analyzing information and data. Common employers include medical research centers, think tanks, consulting firms, public interest groups, colleges, polling organizations, and market research firms. Duties will vary greatly based on the type of research setting in which they work.
What Is a Virtual Assistant?
Definition and Examples of a Virtual Assistant
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A virtual assistant is a person who provides support services to a business from a remote location. Administrative tasks are most common for virtual assistants, but they may also assist with any other elements required by the business.
Here, you’ll learn more about what virtual assistants do, how to become one, and how to hire one.
What Is a Virtual Assistant?
A virtual assistant is simply an assistant who works remotely. As technological advancements in the 1990s brought reliable internet to more homes, businesses realized they didn’t have to bring an employee into the office to get work done, and this led to the first virtual assistants.
Virtual assistants are especially in demand by entrepreneurs and online businesses that need help but don’t want to spend the money on an office space for staff. However, many small and mid-size businesses use virtual support, especially for specific tasks, such as social media management.
Theoretically, a virtual assistant can do anything that another support staff might do. There are limitations, but technology is increasingly offering ways to work around those limitations. For example, they may not be able to physically bring you coffee in the morning, but they can place a coffee or lunch order through a food delivery service.
Virtual support duties are not limited to clerical work. They may provide assistance with marketing, web design, bookkeeping, and many other services. Some virtual assistants specialize in a specific skill set, and they only perform duties related to those skills. Other virtual assistants specialize in an industry, such as a virtual assistant whose niche is assisting realtors.
How Does a Virtual Assistant Work?
Though it isn’t a defining aspect of virtual assistants, many of them work as contractors. They may run their own home-based virtual assistant business. Clients hire a virtual assistant by signing a contract with that assistant’s business.
Virtual assistants may also simply work as employees for a company. Other virtual assistants will jump from company to company with short-term contracts found through freelance sites.
How to Start a Virtual Assistant Business
If you decide you want to create a business for your virtual assistant work, the first step is to determine the type of service you want to offer and to whom. Will you specialize in a specific task, such as graphic design or bookkeeping? Will you focus on a niche market, such as online entrepreneurs or realtors? Once you know what you’re offering, you can set up your price for services. You may choose to charge by the hour, or you can sell service packages.
Starting a virtual assistant business is fast, affordable, and easy to do. There is a growing need for virtual help, and if you already have the skills and equipment to get started, you can quickly find your first client and be on your way.
Check with your city or county regarding a business license. If you’re already fully equipped to provide virtual support services, the fees associated with obtaining your license could be your only start-up expense.
Once you’re all set up, you can begin finding clients by contacting your network and searching through online job boards for freelance and telecommuting jobs. Consider setting up a LinkedIn page and building a website to make it easy for people to learn about and hire you.
How to Hire a Virtual Assistant
While virtual support is a great home business idea for assistants, getting virtual help can also be crucial for home business owners seeking to maximize income and facilitate growth. As a home business owner, there may come a time at which it’s impossible to do everything by yourself. And if you’re still able to do everything yourself, you may lose the ability to do it all as efficiently and effec
Research Assistant Duties & Responsibilities
The job generally requires the ability to perform the following duties:
- Carry out experiments and research according to protocols laid out by primary researchers
- Collect and log experimental data
- Conduct statistical analyses of data sets
- Prepare graphs and spreadsheets to portray results
- Create presentation slides and posters to help researchers present findings
- Review print and online resources to gather information
- Check facts, proofread, and edit research documents to ensure accuracy
- Maintain laboratory equipment and inventory
Research assistants usually work under the supervision of primary researchers who lead research projects. They’re responsible for assisting the main researcher in a number of tasks that support the research activities. Those tasks vary depending on the type of research that’s being done and the field that they’re in.
Research Assistant Salary
A research assistant’s salary can vary depending on location, experience, and employer. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides salary data for research assistants in the field of social sciences:1
- Median Annual Salary: $47,510
- Top 10% Annual Salary: $78,800
- Bottom 10% Annual Salary: $28,190
The BLS also provides salary data for biological technicians, which include research assistants in that field:2
- Median Annual Salary: $45,860
- Top 10% Annual Salary: $29,540
- Bottom 10% Annual Salary: $73,350
Education, Training, & Certification
- Education: Research assistants are usually required to have at least a bachelor’s degree in the field of study that the research is in. Coursework varies greatly depending on that field.
- Experience: Prior work experience isn’t always needed to be a research assistant, but for scientific research, prior experience working in a laboratory, even during school, is often required.
Research Assistant Skills & Competencies
To be successful in this role, you’ll generally need the following skills and qualities:
- Analytical skills: Research assistants are often asked to collect and analyze data and to manage and update existing databases. They might also conduct literature reviews or field research.
- Technical skills: Research assistants may need to set up and operate lab equipment and instruments.
- Observational skills: Research assistants need to be able to work in a highly accurate manner, paying close attention to detail and keeping records of their work.
- Time-management skills: When dealing with data and statistics, it’s important to be able to meet project deadlines and manage your time to accomplish your goals.
Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for biological technicians, which include research assistants in that field, will grow 5% through 2029, which faster than the overall employment growth of 4% for all occupations in the country.2
Work Environment
Research assistants typically work in laboratories and offices, but some may conduct fieldwork related to a research project.
Work Schedule
Research assistants can work full time or part-time. Their working hours usually depend on their employer and the field they’re in, but they usually work during regular business hours.
Comparing Similar Jobs
People who are interested in becoming research assistants may also consider other careers with these median salaries:3
- Forensic science technician: $59.150
- Chemical technician: $49,260
- Environmental science and protection technician: $46,540
