I had the personal experience of going from teacher to Virtual Assistant, and truthfully, I don’t think ANY job after teaching would have fit me better. I could have never imagined that I would find a career where I could use all my Teacher ‘magic,’ while not doing any of the less-than-fun duties that came with being in public education. In those early days of transitioning from teacher to Virtual Assistant, I remember feeling so defeated as I realized I had spent six years and countless dollars in credit hours earning my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees… just to not use it. I wish I could tell that defeated and scared girl – that it was never about the degrees, it was about the skills I developed. That in courageously leaping (or more like crawling) out of Teaching, I would find myself working with people who truly valued what I brought to the table, while also getting my life back.
These are the skills that are MOST transferable from teaching to Virtual Assistance:
1. Creativity
Every teacher I’ve ever met has a creative side to them. Whether it’s creating fun and engaging lesson plans, or becoming innovative on how to best handle that tough student- Creativity is the lifeblood of teachers. As a Virtual Assistant, a great amount of creativity is required. From making beautiful Instagram posts to writing captivating emails, your creative side will be used daily.
2. Organization
Teachers are known for their organizational skills. From having to manage multiple classes and subjects, to having to help 30+ kids each year with their own organization… there’s no question that teachers are the experts in this area. Virtual Assistants help business owners stay organized through all things backend. They even can offer file or email organization as a service!
3. Flexibility
Virtual Assistants need to be flexible with each and every client. Every business will have a different personality, purpose, taste, dream, mission and more. What one client loves, the other may hate. But, teachers already know how to deal with this. Think about all of the different learning styles teachers have to adhere to in the classroom. Managing the needs of a handful of clients feels like nothing after you’ve been in the classroom!
4. Technology
If COVID-19 did anything helpful, it was accelerating the knowledge and ease of technology for teachers. When everything moved virtual, teachers had to learn how to adapt *literally* everything they’ve ever known + built over the years, within weeks… And they did just that. Now, with all of that techy wisdom, navigating through the basic platforms that are used as a Virtual Assistant will be a breeze. And if you don’t know how to use something, teachers know how to learn it & learn it fast
5. Problem Solvers
Teachers are faced with obstacles on a daily basis. Dealing with random disruptions, student behavior, parent’s crisis like emails fire drills and more. They are experts in getting to the bottom of issues and figuring out ways to overcome them, and fast!.That’s the job of a VA, friend! Small businesses will come to you with a challenge, and your job is to fix it or make it easier on them.
All that to say… be encouraged! If you’re going from teacher to VA, you’re already one (or five) steps ahead of the game, bestie! You have so much inside of you, that makes you the girl for this job. You lack no skill to build a thriving business and kick butt while doing it!
If you’re in education and thinking about either starting a side hustle or leaving the classroom, download my FREEBIE on how to get started in this AMAZING career. While you’re at it, join The Early Access Club for the course I’ve built specifically for teachers wanting to launch their Virtual Assistant business!
