How to Choose the Right Job Title (Virtual Assistant Guide)

As an employer actively seeking for virtual assistants, I’ve encountered numerous profiles with confusing and sometimes misleading job titles. Here’s some tips.

Understanding Job Titles

A job title is a concise designation that identifies your professional role and position within an organization or as an independent professional.

It serves as a quick snapshot of your expertise, level of responsibility, and career trajectory, helping employers and connections immediately grasp your professional identity.

It’s no longer than a sentence or two (at the max).

Why Your Job Title Matters

• Your job title significantly impacts your visibility in professional networks when people search you. Your profile appears in relevant searches by potential employers or clients.
• A well-crafted job title establishes your professional credibility, reflects your career progression, and helps align your profile with industry standards, making it easier for recruiters to understand your experience level and skill set in less than 3 seconds.
• The right job title can influence salary negotiations, career advancement opportunities, and your ability to network effectively within your industry, as it immediately communicates your professional standing to others.

Tips for Writing Effective Job Titles as a Virtual Assistant

1. Keep It Concise and Clear

Writing lengthy job titles can confuse employers and even drive them away. Avoid using long phrases such as “Virtual Assistant Who Can Handle Multiple Tasks and Work Under Pressure.” This is more suitable for your profile description but not a job title.

Instead, focus on brevity and clarity. A concise title like “Multifaceted Admin Virtual Assistant Skilled with Excel and Powerpoint” or “Experienced Executive Virtual Assistant (Slack, Trello)” immediately communicates your role without unnecessary elaboration.

2. Avoid Using Outdated Titles

Using outdated job titles can make your profile appear behind the times and potentially limit your career opportunities. Terms like “Webmaster,” “Secretary,” or “Administrative Assistant” have evolved into more contemporary titles that better reflect modern roles and responsibilities.

Instead, opt for current industry-standard titles. For example, replace “Webmaster” with “Web Developer” or “Web Operations Manager,” “Secretary” with “Executive Assistant” or “Office Manager,” and “Personnel Manager” with “Human Resources Manager.”

3. Optimize for Searchability

Consider how employers search for candidates with your skills and experience. Include relevant keywords that are commonly used in your industry and align with the positions you’re targeting like specific skills, tools, and industries.

Research job postings for roles you’re interested in and note the titles used by leading companies in your field on our job search page. This helps ensure your profile appears in relevant search filters and matches what employers are looking for.

4. Align with Your Experience & Objectives

Being honest about your professional level helps set appropriate expectations and builds trust with potential employers. It also helps you attract opportunities that truly match your expertise and career goals. If you’re an expert, say expert. If you’re not, don’t add adjectives to make you seem better than you actually are- it will leave a sour taste with a potential employer.

Words like “versatile,” “strategic,” or “technical” can add value when they genuinely reflect your capabilities, but you can likely use better words describing your specific skills or experiences. Focus on showcasing what you actually bring to the table.

Choose adjectives that enhance understanding of your role rather than just trying to sound impressive. These modifiers should provide meaningful information about your expertise or specialization.

6. Indicate Seniority Level

Including your professional level helps set clear expectations and targets appropriate opportunities. Terms like “Specialist,” “Senior,” or “Lead” can effectively communicate your experience and responsibility level.

Be honest about your seniority level and ensure it aligns with your skills and experience. This helps employers quickly identify whether you match their requirements for specific positions.

Real Examples

Good Job Titles

1. “Senior Executive Virtual Assistant (Asana, Slack)”
2. “Financial Virtual Assistant | QuickBooks Specialist”
3. “Technical Virtual Assistant – WordPress & SEO”
4. “Executive VA | Calendar & Email Management”
5. “Administrative Virtual Assistant – CRM & Data Entry”

Bad Job Titles

1. “Hardworking Virtual Assistant Who Can Handle Any Task You Need Done With Great Attention to Detail and Fast Turnaround Times” (Too long and unfocused)
2. “Secretary/Virtual Helper” (Uses outdated terminology)
3. “Best VA in the World!” (Unprofessional and lacks specificity)
4. “Virtual Assistant Who Never Sleeps and Always Available” (Unrealistic and unprofessional)
5. “Super Amazing Multi-Talented Secretary Virtual Assistant Master of All Tasks” (Overly promotional and vague)

Final Thoughts

I can’t stress enough how important it is to get your job title right. Employers notice when candidates put genuine effort into presenting themselves professionally (and accurately). 

Take a moment to review your job title. Is it helping you attract the right opportunities? A small adjustment today could make all the difference in your professional journey tomorrow. If you don’t have an account yet, sign up now at HireTalent.ph!