Baltimore City Community College (BCCC), VBU, and subject-matter experts, have modeled an online training program, completed from the student’s home computer, specifically designed to prepare admin assistants, office workers, and executive assistant position holders to become Virtual Assistants. "Once-a-week sessions are led by instructors in online meeting rooms and all assignments are conducted via the Internet. “Students never leave home to attend classes or face the inconveniences of inclement weather, traffic or other factors associated with traditional class attendance,” comments Deborah Peoples, Director of BCCC's Continuing Education Division.

What is a Virtual Assistant?

Virtual Assistants or VAs as they are familiarly called, are primarily women (97%) who work from a home office, via the Internet. They are traditionally corporate-trained office and executive assistants losing jobs to downsizing, retirement, choosing to spend more time with their children or, holding traditionally underpaid and overlooked positions. These office workers transition corporate-honed skills and experiences into profitable Internet-based businesses.

This industry has already captured the imagination of more than 15,000 virtual assistants, worldwide, as documented by the Alliance for Virtual Businesses, a virtual assisting industry advocacy group. Sharon Williams, its Chairperson and president of The 24 Hour Secretary states, “You can live in Maryland and work with clients as far away as California or even Australia. Geography is no boundary because VAs employ software and Internet technologies to communicate and complete assigned duties.”

VBU President Sharon Williams, goes on to say, “Virtual Assisting is the wave of the future and a perfect opportunity for individuals with entrepreneurial spirit to work from home, running an administrative services business. This training program is unique because all students participate in a practicum experience – applying knowledge and classroom instruction to real-world situations. These entrepreneurs obtain access to technologies that can reduce time on tasks, improve their competitive position and edge, as well as impact their revenue and business capacity.”

BCCC and VBU help individuals enhance already acquired skills, transitioning them into a profitable virtual assistance business. VBU offers a variety of classes designed specifically for the virtual business owner including: Managing Your Virtual Office, Providing Exceptional Customer Service, Documenting Company Procedures and Policies, Writing an Effective Business Plan, Writing a Persuasive Marketing Plan, Developing Powerful Negotiation, Persuasion and Influence Skills, Dreamweaver, Work-Life Balance, and many others. All 12-week classes include practicum participation, CEUs and a Certificate of Completion through the BCCC/VBU partnership.

BCCC will host an Introduction to Virtual Assistance seminar during September at BCCC Harbor Campus, 701 E. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. Call 410-521-7001 for more information.  Registration is now open. Visit the VBU Web site (http://www.virtualbusinessu.net) for more information and for the registration form.

Classes begin October1! Sign up today and step towards your greatness at VBU!