4 questions to ask yourself before becoming a VA

Leaving the comfort of a permanent full-time job is often a daunting task. Walking out on a familiar position you could have held for years is a difficult decision, even after months of consideration. When trading in a PA job for a freelance or virtual PA position the leap of faith can be scary, but if you’re planning on making the jump to self-employment, freelancer Kat Boogaard has four questions you should ask yourself to ensure you’re making the right choice for you.

Do you need security?
Taking on contracts as they come doesn’t exactly ensure stability. Depending on your contact book and a tremendous amount of luck, it’s entirely possible for you to stay in work for months but there are no promises. Often a case of ‘when it rains, it pours,’ the converse of this is there’s always the threat of a drought. For many this can be part of the adrenaline-pumping thrill of finding your own work, but for others it can cause anxiety, depression and stop you from putting yourself out there.

Are you self-motivating?
When it’s crunch time and you have several looming deadlines for various contracts, or it’s been several weeks without work, do you have the get-up-and-go to keep fighting the good fight? Without a boss breathing down your neck or busy business environment, can you keep yourself motivated, or are you more likely to avoid the responsibility and tarnish your valuable reputation in the process? Even if you know you’ll crash without guidance, can you rely on your friends and family to give you the push you need when the going gets tough?

Are you doing it for the right reasons?
Do you want to become your own boss to escape the daily grind and avoid the boring commute, or are you fuelled by passion? Most people want to work less hours and not get shouted at by a superior, but you need to be driven by what you care about, not what you hate. Regularly, working freelance means working longer hours and weekends without the promise of overtime or benefits. You need to be sure that you’ll be fulfilled by the challenge of harder but more rewarding work, not sleeping in and watching TV.

Is there a plan B?
For some, the thrill of walking the tightrope without a safety net is what they need to drive them, but that’s not for everyone. Do you have an alternative to fall back on if this all falls through? Perhaps securing a part-time job, having the financial support of a family member or loved one, or making sure you’ve saved up enough to live on for a number of months before you decide it’s not for you. Going freelance is a major shift in your day-to-day life, so having a back-up is a smart move, even if it means staying in contact with your old employer.

Thinking of going freelance? What’s driving you, and what’s holding you back? Let us know on twitter @PALifeMag