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major task was completing audit reports for the head office in Texas. This company was one of the first to use the internet for international communications. I left the company to start a family, and took on voluntary positions at their schools and organisations. I also helped a friend with his start-up business, supporting him from my home office. This arrangement worked well until he had to open an office. Once my youngest child started pre-school I went to TAFE to upgrade my skills, and started looking for work near home. But positions with family-friendly hours were scarce. Finally I decided to pursue freelance work.


What does a typical day involve? I don’t really have a typical day – it depends on client needs – but I do have routines. I check my emails in the morning for job requests, and do further checks mid-morning, mid- afternoon and early evening. I also check my social media profiles about four times a day when time permits. I also monitor a client’s social media profiles and update his website.


What is the biggest challenge you face? Isolation can be a big challenge, but I am involved with several online forums and Facebook groups where I can interact with fellow VAs. We help each other with business and technical issues. Networking events are a great help. I interact with clients, gain new ones and keep up to date with business news.


MONIKA NEWMAN Virtual PA at Absolutely Virtual in Sydney.


Tell us about your career path so far. My career in administration started off in typical fashion, as an office junior straight from business college. As my expertise, experience and confidence levels grew, I moved up to more demanding roles, enabling me to add to my skills and learn how the business world works. Returning from six months’ overseas travel, I rejoined the


workforce after being approached by a temporary employment agency to join its team. Over my years with this agency I gained valuable experience and skills that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. After the agency closed because of the owner’s health issues, I joined a multinational mining company with a small office in North Sydney. Several years later I joined a far larger multinational oil


company, supporting a manager and team of auditors as well as standing in for my manager whenever he was away. Another


18 APR/MAY 2013 I WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM.AU


What do you love about your role? The best part is definitely the variety. I also go out to shoot and edit videos, as well as attend trade shows with clients [Newman is pictured with a Singapore-based client, international speaker Rob Salisbury, at ABEE in Sydney]. My clients and their businesses are different and mainly consist of SMEs, “solopreneurs” (such as speakers and PR consultants). I also do project work for corporations. I love the flexibility to take time out during the day for appointments, and catch up on work in the evening.


What is the downside of your job? You have to wear all the hats – take care of marketing, PR, branding, tech issues, accounting – and also keep abreast with what’s happening in the business world. Constantly having to learn new skills may be considered a downside for some people, but I love this and always have one or two courses on the go. Another downside can be the fluctuating income.


Would you ever consider working as an in-office PA? If the right role presented itself and the company resonated with my values, ethics and gave me the chance to develop and extend myself, I would consider returning to an onsite position.


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