Home-based work became a norm in the pandemic to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Many assumed that it was a short-lived arrangement and that people would be eager to go back to the office. As you likely know, things haven’t turned out differently.

According to findings from Pew Research Center, 61% of employees are working from home because they want to despite their offices opening again. Over 60% in a Kastle report even declared that they will consider resigning if they’re asked to return to full-time office work – do you think the same?

Tips for remote work productivity

One reason why employers are against home-based job hiring is that it’s not suitable for all personality types. To survive in the top VA jobs, you have to be a self-starter who knows how to get things done without relying on friendship, mutual trust, and accountability of your co-workers.

Even if a person is self-motivated, there are times when they’re unable to function well in a virtual environment. If they get distracted easily and are unfocused on their deliverables, they probably won’t do well in home-based professions.

These people are the reason why you must prove your effectiveness as a virtual assistant. Read on to know about different remote work strategies for greater efficiency.

Send updates periodically

You might think that you need to constantly update your manager how your tasks are coming along and what you’re currently working, but the truth is that it’s unnecessary. If you were chosen for their virtual assistant hiring, it means your boss trusts you to manage your own schedule.

It’s better to keep your updates and reports to a minimum unless they explicitly ask you to communicate more frequently. This way, you give your supervisor more confidence in your ability to get things done on your own. Following through with your deliverables and deadlines is the best way to let your work speak for itself.

Embrace video communication

According to research by psychologist Albert Mehrabian, only 7% of personal communication comes from verbal cues. A huge portion is from body language while the rest is based on voice and tone. This means that, even if you have the best work from home jobs, you mustn’t rely on emails, voice calls, and audio meetings.

In our digitally driven era, video conferences are the best alternatives to in-person discussions. Through video, you’re able to pick up on body language and other non-verbal cues in order to retain more information. Being able to screen-share is also one of the most useful collaboration tools available today.

Mind your workload

Now that you’re working virtual assistant jobs online, you may think you have time to help with extra projects or take on more tasks. When you’re goal tracking, you know that putting unnecessary work between you and your objectives is going to distract you from your success.

You’re trusted to handle your own time management, so be selective about any additional responsibilities you handle. If you really want to get involved with work that’s outside of your current job description, talk to your boss about adjusting your workload to make room for it instead.

Implement collaboration tools

To access the information you need for your job, collaborate with your team more efficiently, and stay connected with your colleagues, leverage project management or communication tools. In the same way that Time Doctor was built for time tracking, Slack was built for collaborative communication.

Being a channel-based messaging tool, it keeps files, conversations, and even third-party applications in one place on the web. This boosts the flexibility and convenience for any home-based work. You may use Do Not Disturb or set a status for better time management with it.

Be available online

In an office setting, your manager sees plain and clear that you’re at your desk working. In a virtual setting, you may send the same message by setting your status to available or by responding to any messages they send. This means paying attention to your inboxes and phone throughout your workday.

There’s no need to drop everything and take care of sudden requests right away. Neither do you have to stay online when you’ve logged out for the day or have the day off. Rather, acknowledge that you’ve received their message then provide a realistic timeline of when you may tackle their request.

Have boundaries in place

Continuing on from the previous point, it’s not necessary for you to be online all hours of the day to show that you’re effective while working remotely. You likely applied to remote VA jobs for work-life balance so be consistent with that choice.

It’s easy for the lines between your personal and professional lives to blur while at home. That’s why you must decide what your working schedule will be like and set rules to have enough time for your self. Talk to your supervisor about this so the entire team knows when you’re in or not.

Participate in gatherings

One of the easiest ways to show your employer that they made the right choice for virtual assistant jobs in the Philippines is by being engaged when you have the chance to interact with them and your other co-workers. Ask questions and get to know them when you’re allowed to have small talk with each other.

If you’re given the opportunity to meet in person, go for it, especially when your boss is paying for the tickets. If some of your colleagues happen to be in the same city, see if it’s possible to meet with them face-to-face if they’re comfortable with it.

Want home-based online jobs in the Philippines?

Do you think you’ll be effective as a virtual assistant? Take the chance to prove yourself by starting your application process now. If you’re worried about the quality and reliability of listings for home-based day shift non voice roles and other openings, you’re in the right place.

We at Remote Workmate are connected to employers from around the world who are looking for online professionals like you. We’ll check your resume, cover letter, and skill set and help you get ready for the position you’re aiming for.