What does a work-from-home administrative assistant do?

In the U.S., 30% of people work from home. And, over 60% of people work for companies with a mix of in-office and remote work arrangements.

If you’re thinking about working from home, you may enjoy working as an administrative assistant.

To help you decide if this is the right career choice for you, we’ve put together the following guide. We’ll tell you what a work-from-home admin assistant does and the skills you need to be successful.

And, we’ll give you a list of the top remote administrative assistant duties and show you where you can start your job search.

What is a work-from-home administrative assistant?

A work-from-home administrative assistant performs different office tasks for a business owner. For example, they may make telephone calls, transcribe documents, make travel arrangements, and manage social media accounts.

Some positions are fully remote, while others may be hybrid arrangements. Hybrid admin assistants need to spend a portion of their time in the office, and the rest of their work can be done at home.

Work-from-home administrative assistants may work full-time, part-time, or as needed.

Some freelancers offer administrative services and may have multiple clients. Freelancers bill clients and are responsible for their own taxes. Freelance admin assistants are also known as virtual assistants.

Remote administrative assistants work in a range of industries. For example, they may work in real estate, healthcare, tech, marketing, legal, or education.

What skills do you need to do admin work from home?

To be a work-from-home administrative assistant, you'll need experience in an office environment. Most virtual admin assistants have a high school diploma or equivalent.

If you want to increase your chances of getting a remote job, you can consider enrolling in a short course. If you have a local technical school or community college, they may offer courses in administration or office management.

If you have a degree in business, marketing, communication, or finance, it may be beneficial.

You’ll need to be confident using online tools. For example, you may need to use communication apps and video conferencing software.

Most virtual admin assistants have experience using the Microsoft Office suite and Google Drive.

To be successful, you’ll need good communication skills, research skills, and organizational skills. Remote workers need to be self-motivated with good time management skills.

(Image Source)

What tools do you need to work from home?

If you want to work from home, you’ll need a quiet workspace. And you’ll need a computer with a reliable internet connection.

Depending on the job, you may need headphones, a voice recorder, and a telephone.

An ergonomic desk with a comfortable chair is recommended. The role includes long hours in front of the computer, and you’ll want to be comfortable.

The software you need will depend on the job. Some managers may give you access to the tools you need, while others will expect you to have your own resources. For example, you may need to purchase the Microsoft Office suite or sign up for Zoom.

What are the top responsibilities of a remote admin assistant?

Let’s take a look at some of the top job responsibilities for remote administrative assistants.

1. Answering phone calls

Some remote workers are responsible for answering phone calls. They may also call customers on behalf of the business owner.

They may take orders over the phone and process sales. And they follow up with clients and make sure they’re satisfied with their service.

Remote administrative assistants may need to handle complaints. They may also answer customer queries and help with troubleshooting.

2. Transcribing documents

A home administrative job may include transcription duties. For example, an admin assistant may listen to recordings and turn them into text documents.

The types of recordings that need to be transcribed can vary. For example, it could be a podcast, letter, or case notes.

If the company has a virtual meeting, the admin assistant may attend. And they may be responsible for taking the minutes. After the meeting, they’ll format the minutes as a shareable document.

There may be other typing projects, and admin assistants may need to edit documents.

3. Responding to emails

Remote admin workers use their excellent communication skills to respond to emails.

They may answer customer queries, manage complaints, and process customer orders.

In some administrative support roles, admin workers correspond with suppliers.

They may receive invoices via email, order supplies, and keep up to date with industry news.

The remote office assistant may need to communicate with the client and other team members using email. They may also need to manage weekly or monthly email newsletters.

All email communication needs to be professional. Emails need to be addressed to the appropriate person and be free from spelling and grammatical errors.

(Image Source)

4. Scheduling appointments and managing calendars

Some remote admin assistants are responsible for calendar management and appointment setting. They may work with clients to schedule meetings and book appointments.

Customers may make an appointment via phone, email, or a website form. Or they may use a dedicated booking system. In addition to scheduling appointments, workers may allocate tasks to other team members.

Work-from-home administrative assistants may also make travel arrangements. They may book accommodation, flights, and itineraries for senior staff members.

When scheduling appointments and bookings, administrative assistants need to check that they won’t clash.

5. Social media management

These days, most businesses have social media accounts. A remote admin assistant with tech experience may be asked to manage these accounts. Common platforms include Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, and Twitter.

Some of the top social media administrative tasks include uploading images and videos, writing status updates, and interacting with other accounts.

Remote admin assistants may also have to moderate comments and communicate with customers via instant messenger.

This isn’t a responsibility that an administrative assistant always has, though. Often, companies will hire a separate social media manager.

What is the difference between an administrative assistant and an executive assistant?

There is a range of office jobs you can do from home. You know what an administrative assistant does, but what is a remote executive assistant?

A remote executive assistant and administrative assistant do many of the same tasks. For example, they both make phone calls, answer emails, and schedule appointments.

The main difference is a remote administrative assistant will perform general duties for the whole office.

In contrast, an executive assistant works closely with senior company leaders. For example, they may work with the chief executive officer, vice president, or company director. Or, the executive assistant may work with their boss one-on-one.

They also often deal with sensitive information. And they attend leadership meetings and give their input during the decision-making process.

What is the average salary for a work-from-home administrative assistant?

The average remote administrative assistant salary is around $40,000 per year for a full-time worker. The salary can vary depending on your experience and the expectations from the company.

Experienced work-from-home administrative assistants can make more than $50,000 per year.

The salary will usually be included in the job summary.

Where to find a remote administrative assistant job

Is a work-from-home administrative job right for you? You can browse vacant positions on Jobcase’s job board.

You may also be interested in remote executive administrative assistant positions and virtual assistant jobs.

Would you prefer to work in a traditional office environment? Search for administrative positions or office jobs in your local area.

(Image Source)

What other admin jobs can you do from home?

There is a range of other admin jobs you can do from home. Virtual assistants, executive assistants, and receptionists all perform similar duties.

If you enjoy working in customer service, you may want to apply for a job as a call-center operator. Remote call-center operators work from home in different industries, such as sales and tech support. They may answer calls, follow up with customers, and provide excellent service.

Or, if you’re good with numbers, you may like to work as a virtual bookkeeper. Virtual bookkeepers are often freelancers and have experience using Microsoft Excel and accounting software.

Getting a job as a work-from-home admin assistant

If you want a good work-life balance, a remote career can be a great option. If you have office skills, you may want to consider applying for a work-from-home administrative assistant position.

In this article, we explained what a work-from-home admin assistant is. Plus, we gave you a list of skills and education you need to get a job. And by now, you’ll know what tools you need in your home office.

We gave you a rundown of the top work-from-home administrative assistant duties. The list includes answering phone calls, transcribing documents, responding to emails, scheduling appointments, and social media management.

And we told you about different remote career options and the average salary for a work-from-home admin assistant.

Ready to start your job search? Visit our job board to browse vacant positions in your area. Want more tips and interview advice? Check out our resource center.