Top 12 Virtual Assistant Skills to Put on Your Resume

In today's fast-paced digital world, virtual assistants are becoming increasingly indispensable, making it crucial for candidates to highlight the right mix of skills on their resumes. This guide outlines the top 12 skills that can make your resume stand out, ensuring you're well-equipped to meet the demands of remote administrative and support roles.

Virtual Assistant Skills

1. Microsoft Office
2. Google Workspace
3. QuickBooks
4. Salesforce
5. Slack
6. Trello
7. Zoom
8. Asana
9. Shopify
10. WordPress
11. Canva
12. Hootsuite

1. Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office is a suite of productivity applications that includes Word for document creation, Excel for spreadsheets, PowerPoint for presentations, and other tools for various tasks.

Why It's Important

Microsoft Office is crucial for a Virtual Assistant as it provides essential tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) for creating documents, managing data, preparing presentations, and handling email communication efficiently, essential for supporting and streamlining administrative tasks and client communication.

How to Improve Microsoft Office Skills

To enhance Microsoft Office for a Virtual Assistant, focus on automating routine tasks, integrating AI for predictive typing and data analysis, and enhancing collaboration tools. For automation, learn to use Office Scripts in Excel and Quick Steps in Outlook for repetitive tasks. Explore AI tools like the Ideas feature in Excel for insights and PowerPoint for design suggestions. For improved collaboration, utilize Microsoft Teams integration across Office apps for seamless communication.

• Automate tasks in Excel
• Quick Steps in Outlook
• AI features in Office
• Microsoft Teams integration

How to Display Microsoft Office Skills on Your Resume

2. Google Workspace

Google Workspace is a collection of cloud-based productivity and collaboration tools developed by Google, including Gmail, Docs, Drive, Calendar, and Meet, designed to help individuals and teams work together more efficiently, even remotely.

Why It's Important

Google Workspace is crucial for a Virtual Assistant as it provides an integrated suite of productivity tools (like Gmail, Docs, Calendar, and Drive) for efficient task management, seamless collaboration with clients, and secure data storage, all accessible from any device.

How to Improve Google Workspace Skills

To enhance Google Workspace for a Virtual Assistant, consider the following concise strategies:

1. Leverage Add-ons and Extensions: Integrate productivity-boosting add-ons and extensions from the Google Workspace Marketplace to streamline tasks and improve efficiency.

2. Automate Tasks with Google Apps Script: Use Google Apps Script to automate repetitive tasks across Google Workspace applications, saving time and reducing errors.

3. Optimize Email Management: Employ filters, labels, and advanced search operators in Gmail to manage emails efficiently.

4. Utilize Google Calendar Features: Maximize scheduling and time management by leveraging Google Calendar's features, such as appointment slots, reminders, and shared calendars.

5. Enhance Collaboration with Google Drive: Organize files in Google Drive with shared folders and set appropriate permissions for seamless collaboration.

6. Master Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides: Utilize templates, explore add-ons, and employ voice typing in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides for efficient document creation and editing.

7. Stay Informed with Google Workspace Updates: Regularly visit the Google Workspace Updates blog to stay informed about new features and best practices.

8. Implement Keyboard Shortcuts: Learn and use keyboard shortcuts in Google Workspace apps for faster navigation and task completion. A comprehensive list can be found in the Google Workspace Learning Center.

By adopting these strategies, a Virtual Assistant can significantly improve productivity and effectiveness within Google Workspace.

How to Display Google Workspace Skills on Your Resume

3. QuickBooks

QuickBooks is an accounting software designed for small and medium-sized businesses, offering features for managing invoices, expenses, payroll, and financial reporting, suitable for Virtual Assistants managing clients' financial tasks.

Why It's Important

QuickBooks is important for a Virtual Assistant because it provides an efficient way to manage financial records, process invoices, track expenses, and prepare financial reports for clients, ensuring accurate and streamlined bookkeeping tasks.

How to Improve QuickBooks Skills

To improve QuickBooks for a Virtual Assistant, follow these concise strategies:

1. Utilize QuickBooks Online: For ease of access anywhere, anytime, ensuring seamless collaboration with your clients. QuickBooks Online

2. Automate Processes: Set up automatic invoicing, bill payments, and bank transactions to save time. QuickBooks Automation

3. Integrate Apps: Use apps compatible with QuickBooks for enhanced functionality, like time tracking or inventory management. QuickBooks App Store

4. Regular Training: Stay updated with new features and best practices through QuickBooks Training. QuickBooks Training

5. Optimize for Mobile: Utilize the QuickBooks mobile app for managing finances on the go, providing flexibility and efficiency. QuickBooks Mobile

6. Secure Data: Implement strong passwords and two-factor authentication to protect sensitive financial information. QuickBooks Security

By embracing these strategies, a Virtual Assistant can significantly enhance their efficiency and effectiveness when using QuickBooks.

How to Display QuickBooks Skills on Your Resume

4. Salesforce

Salesforce is a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) platform that helps businesses connect with their customers, streamline processes, and improve profitability. For a Virtual Assistant, it can be a tool to manage customer interactions, track sales, and automate tasks.

Why It's Important

Salesforce is important because it provides a comprehensive customer relationship management (CRM) platform, enabling Virtual Assistants to efficiently manage, track, and analyze all customer interactions and data, improving client engagement and optimizing workflow.

How to Improve Salesforce Skills

To improve Salesforce for a Virtual Assistant, consider these concise steps:

1. Automate Tasks: Utilize Salesforce's Automation Tools like Process Builder and Flow to streamline repetitive tasks, enhancing efficiency.

2. Integrate AI: Leverage Salesforce Einstein, Salesforce's AI, for predictive analytics, helping in decision-making and prioritization.

3. Customize with Apps: Explore the Salesforce AppExchange for applications specifically designed to enhance productivity for Virtual Assistants.

4. Use Salesforce Mobile: Enable on-the-go access through the Salesforce Mobile App, ensuring updates and communications are timely.

5. Improve Data Quality: Regularly clean data using tools like Data.com to maintain a high-quality database for accurate insights and decision-making.

6. Enhance Communication: Implement Salesforce Chatter for internal collaboration, enabling quick information sharing and updates among team members.

By focusing on these areas, Salesforce can be optimized for more effective virtual assistance.

How to Display Salesforce Skills on Your Resume

5. Slack

Slack is a digital communication platform designed for businesses, facilitating instant messaging, file sharing, and collaboration among team members and external partners.

Why It's Important

Slack is important for a Virtual Assistant as it streamlines communication, facilitates real-time collaboration with team members, and organizes work-related conversations, ensuring efficiency and productivity in remote work environments.

How to Improve Slack Skills

To improve Slack for a Virtual Assistant, focus on:

1. Integrating Bots: Use Slack's API to integrate custom bots that can handle tasks such as scheduling, reminders, and fetching information.

2. Streamlining Notifications: Customize notification settings to prioritize messages. Use Slack's built-in features or third-party tools to filter and manage alerts effectively.

3. Optimizing Search: Leverage Slack's search modifiers to quickly find messages, files, or conversations.

4. Using External Integrations: Incorporate productivity tools like Trello, Asana, or Google Drive to streamline workflows directly within Slack.

5. Customizing Workspaces and Channels: Organize channels effectively, use private channels for specific tasks, and customize Slack's sidebar to enhance navigation. Customizing your workspace is key.

6. Implementing Workflow Builder: Use Slack’s Workflow Builder to automate routine tasks without coding, saving time and reducing manual effort.

7. Enhancing Security: Apply security best practices by managing user permissions, enabling two-factor authentication, and using secure connections.

8. Educating through Slack Channels: Dedicate channels for tips, updates, and training on using Slack more effectively, ensuring continuous improvement and learning.

By focusing on these aspects, you can enhance productivity, streamline communication, and ensure a more efficient workflow within Slack for a Virtual Assistant.

How to Display Slack Skills on Your Resume

6. Trello

Trello is a web-based project management and collaboration tool that allows users, including virtual assistants, to organize tasks, projects, and deadlines using boards, lists, and cards in a highly visual and customizable interface.

Why It's Important

Trello is important for a Virtual Assistant as it organizes tasks, tracks project progress, and enhances collaboration with clients through its user-friendly interface and visual boards, ensuring efficiency and effective communication.

How to Improve Trello Skills

To enhance Trello for a Virtual Assistant, consider these concise improvements:

1. Automate Repetitive Tasks: Use Butler to automate common tasks such as moving cards, creating tasks, and setting reminders, improving efficiency.
2. Integrate External Tools: Leverage Power-Ups to integrate external links and tools directly into Trello cards. For instance, integrate Google Drive or Dropbox for file management and Slack for communication.
3. Enhance Organization with Labels and Filters: Utilize labels for task prioritization and easier navigation. Use filtering options to quickly find relevant tasks or information.
4. Use Calendar View: Implement the Calendar Power-Up for a visual overview of deadlines and tasks, facilitating better time management.
5. Custom Fields for Detailed Information: Add Custom Fields to cards to include essential details specific to the tasks, such as client names, project status, or due dates.

By focusing on automation, integration, and enhanced organization, a Virtual Assistant can significantly improve productivity and task management in Trello.

How to Display Trello Skills on Your Resume

7. Zoom

Zoom is a video conferencing platform that enables virtual meetings, webinars, and collaboration online.

Why It's Important

Zoom is important because it enables virtual assistants to communicate effectively with clients and teams through video conferencing, facilitating remote collaboration and decision-making efficiently.

How to Improve Zoom Skills

To improve Zoom as a Virtual Assistant, focus on these key areas:

1. Enhance Meeting Management: Utilize Zoom's scheduling features, enabling seamless integration with calendars (e.g., Google Calendar, Outlook). Learn more at Zoom's Scheduling Guide.

2. Boost Security: Activate waiting rooms and passcodes to prevent unauthorized access. Detailed instructions at Zoom Security Features.

3. Optimize Audio and Video Quality: Encourage the use of HD video and high-quality microphones. Tips available at Improving Video and Audio Quality.

4. Leverage Zoom Integrations: Integrate Zoom with productivity tools like Slack, Trello, or Asana for improved efficiency. Explore options at Zoom Marketplace.

5. Utilize Breakout Rooms for Smaller Discussions: Facilitate smaller group conversations within a larger meeting. How-to guide at Breakout Rooms.

6. Implement Polls and Surveys for Engagement: Use Zoom's polling feature to engage participants and gather feedback. Instructions found at Polling for Meetings.

7. Record Sessions for Future Reference: Record meetings for those who cannot attend live. Learn more at Recording Meetings.

8. Customize Your Virtual Background: Personalize your appearance with virtual backgrounds. Guide available at Virtual Background.

9. Stay Updated: Regularly update the Zoom application to access the latest features and security enhancements. Update instructions at Zoom Update.

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly enhance the Zoom experience for you and your clients.

How to Display Zoom Skills on Your Resume

8. Asana

Asana is a web and mobile application designed to help teams organize, track, and manage their work and projects, facilitating better collaboration and productivity for virtual assistants and their teams.

Why It's Important

Asana is crucial for a Virtual Assistant as it streamlines task management, enhances organization, and facilitates clear communication with clients, enabling efficient project tracking and delivery.

How to Improve Asana Skills

To improve Asana for a Virtual Assistant, focus on these key strategies:

1. Automate Repetitive Tasks: Use Asana’s automation features to streamline repetitive tasks, such as assigning tasks, setting due dates, and updating project statuses.

2. Integrate Tools: Leverage Asana integrations with other tools like Slack, Google Calendar, and Zapier to centralize workflows and reduce app switching.

3. Optimize Task Management: Utilize Asana’s custom fields and tags for better task categorization and prioritization, ensuring important tasks are easily identifiable.

4. Enhance Communication: Make the most of Asana’s comment and collaboration features for clear, in-context communication, minimizing the need for external communication tools.

5. Use Asana Templates: Adopt Asana’s project templates for common workflows or create custom templates to save time on project setup and ensure consistency across tasks and projects.

6. Improve Time Management: Implement time tracking integrations available in Asana to better manage time spent on tasks, enhancing productivity and accountability.

By focusing on these strategies, a Virtual Assistant can significantly improve efficiency and productivity in Asana.

How to Display Asana Skills on Your Resume

9. Shopify

Shopify is an e-commerce platform that allows individuals and businesses to create online stores to sell their products and services.

Why It's Important

Shopify is important for a Virtual Assistant because it offers a user-friendly platform to manage and assist with various aspects of e-commerce businesses, such as inventory management, order fulfillment, and customer service, enhancing efficiency and productivity.

How to Improve Shopify Skills

Improving your Shopify store involves several strategies, tailored to enhance user experience, optimize for search engines, and streamline operations. Here are concise tips for a Virtual Assistant:

1. Optimize Product Listings: Ensure product descriptions are detailed, and use high-quality images. Incorporate keywords to improve SEO. Shopify SEO Guide.

2. Improve Site Speed: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to test and enhance your store’s loading times.

3. Utilize Social Proof: Add customer reviews and testimonials to your site. Tools like Yotpo can automate this process.

4. Enhance Customer Service: Implement live chat support with Tidio or Zendesk.

5. Email Marketing: Build and maintain an email list. Use Klaviyo or Mailchimp for automation and campaigns.

6. Leverage Social Media: Automate and schedule social media posts with Buffer or Hootsuite.

7. Inventory Management: Keep track of your inventory efficiently with Stocky or TradeGecko.

8. Use Analytics: Regularly review your store’s analytics via Google Analytics and Shopify’s own reports to make data-driven decisions.

9. Implement Upselling and Cross-Selling: Increase average order value with apps like Also Bought for recommendations.

10. Optimize Checkout Process: Minimize cart abandonment by streamlining the checkout process. Test different strategies with Shopify’s Checkout.

Each improvement area should align with the overall business strategy, focusing on enhancing user experience, optimizing for conversions, and maintaining operational efficiency.

How to Display Shopify Skills on Your Resume

10. WordPress

WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) used for creating and managing websites, including blogs, business sites, and online stores. It offers customizable templates and plugins for added functionality.

Why It's Important

WordPress is important for a Virtual Assistant because it enables easy website creation and content management, essential for maintaining an online presence, managing blogs, or updating website information for clients efficiently.

How to Improve WordPress Skills

To improve WordPress for a Virtual Assistant, follow these concise steps:

1. Optimize Performance: Use caching plugins like W3 Total Cache to enhance page speeds.
2. SEO Enhancement: Implement SEO tools like Yoast SEO to optimize content and improve search engine rankings.
3. Security Measures: Secure your site with plugins such as Wordfence Security to protect against threats.
4. Regular Updates: Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated for security and new features.
5. Backup Regularly: Utilize UpdraftPlus for automated backups to safeguard your data.
6. Use a Reliable Hosting Service: Choose a reputable WordPress hosting service for better performance and support.
7. Optimize Images: Use Smush to compress images without losing quality, speeding up page loads.
8. Implement CDN: Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN) like Cloudflare to distribute content faster globally.
9. Customize with Quality Themes and Plugins: Select high-quality themes and plugins to enhance functionality without compromising speed.
10. Mobile Optimization: Ensure your site is mobile-friendly for better user experience and SEO ranking.

By following these steps, a Virtual Assistant can significantly improve the performance, security, and user experience of a WordPress site.

How to Display WordPress Skills on Your Resume

11. Canva

Canva is a user-friendly online design and publishing tool that enables users to create visually appealing graphics, presentations, and documents for various purposes, offering templates, images, and design elements.

Why It's Important

Canva is important for a Virtual Assistant as it provides an easy-to-use platform to create professional-looking graphics and materials, enhancing the quality of digital content creation and communication without needing advanced design skills.

How to Improve Canva Skills

Improving Canva for a Virtual Assistant can focus on enhancing efficiency, collaboration, and design capabilities. Here are concise suggestions:

1. Integrate with More External Tools: Enable deeper integration with popular productivity tools like Slack, Trello, or Asana for seamless workflow and communication.

2. Expand Template Library: Continuously update and expand the template library to include more industry-specific and event-specific designs to cater to a wider range of client needs.

3. Enhance Collaboration Features: Improve real-time collaboration features to allow multiple users to work on a project simultaneously with better version control and commenting capabilities.

4. Offer Advanced Training Resources: Provide advanced training resources or webinars specifically tailored for Virtual Assistants to master Canva for professional use, including tips on branding, design principles, and Canva's latest features.

5. Improve Customization with AI: Leverage artificial intelligence to offer more personalized design suggestions based on the user's past projects and preferences, streamlining the design process.

How to Display Canva Skills on Your Resume

12. Hootsuite

Hootsuite is a social media management platform that allows users, including virtual assistants, to schedule posts, monitor conversations, and analyze performance across multiple social networks from a single dashboard.

Why It's Important

Hootsuite is crucial for a Virtual Assistant as it streamlines social media management, enabling efficient scheduling, monitoring, and analysis of social media content across multiple platforms, thus improving productivity and effectiveness in managing a brand's online presence.

How to Improve Hootsuite Skills

To enhance Hootsuite for a Virtual Assistant, focus on:

1. Automation and Integration: Leverage Zapier to automate repetitive tasks and integrate with over 3,000 apps, streamlining workflow.
2. Advanced Scheduling: Utilize the Hootsuite Bulk Composer for efficient scheduling of multiple posts across different platforms, saving time.
3. Analytics and Reporting: Employ Hootsuite Analytics to measure performance and generate reports, aiding in strategy refinement.
4. Team Collaboration: Use Hootsuite Team features to collaborate effectively, assign tasks, and manage permissions for better coordination.
5. Learning and Development: Access Hootsuite Academy to stay updated with the latest social media strategies and tools, enhancing service offerings.

By focusing on these areas, a Virtual Assistant can significantly improve efficiency and effectiveness when managing social media through Hootsuite.

How to Display Hootsuite Skills on Your Resume