Hello,
This is Cameron in northeastern China - Changchun to be exact. I just found your intriguing site while looking for reviews on VOT, the company. Glad I found you. And I have to say I am amazed to find this little work world going on. But these days I guess nearly everything can be virtual - except money in the bank, ay?

I left SF in Oct 2005, and I stopped in China to teach while travelling around the world. Planned on a 6-month stay and that was 1 1/2 years ago. I like teaching and it pays pretty well for China. But, this term I have 4 out of 7 days a week off and less pay. So I thought I would look for ways to supplment my income apart from more part-time teaching.

I have good office, tech and phone skills so I thought maybe this is a match especially since it is portable.

Wondering, is there a special spot for someone who is on a 12-hour time difference? Wondering how to get in to it if avoiding the companies like VOT is recommended? And can you get more than the $10-20 an hour?

Thanks.

P.S. Read your story, Tess, and thought I might fit in afterall. # ;-)

Hey Cameron, welcome. I'm assuming SF means San Francisco? We're not all US based here so it's often good to spell things out and not use acronyms, just to keep us all in the picture in the first instance. Once we're all on the same page then acronyms work well. The dollars you quote, again USD or another currency?

I'm in Australia and do earn over well over an hour what you quoted. My core offerings are word processing, database management, website management and a few other odds and ends. Most of my work is web based and definitely virtual. My own clients come via the Yellow Pages in Australia, via my website worldwide and through word-of-mouth referrals. I've never signed up at a job site but am listed on a few VA directories for extra exposure.

Hi Cameron, welcome to the forums
Your story is quite similar to mine so I can relate to what you're thinking. We've finally just arrived back to the States this past October and while I can say we're happy to be able to take advantage of first world technology agian I truly do miss the adventure of being abroad. Another few years and we'll jump back out there I have no doubt.

We didn't make it to China - eyed it quite a lot during our five months in Nepal but with my husband's Iranian citizenship were a bit nervous about the border crossing to get back OUT

In any case, I'd suggest brainstorming your list of skills and talents - get started mapping out just what you'd offer in terms of services and then consider your experience with those services as a foundation for determining price.

You'll want to approach it as a business though, and not just a 'side job'. Especially if you're expecting to charge professional rates.

There's lots of great info here to help you get started, not to mention tons of friendly VAs at all levels of business development, so feel free to ask any questions you might have

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