The traditional in-office permanent employment model isn't the only path available to you if you are job hunting. Across South Africa, professionals at every career stage are discovering that independent contracting work offers something increasingly valuable: the freedom to design work around your life.
You might be early in your career, navigating the transition to becoming a mom, and looking for flexibility. Maybe you're mid-career, looking for more flexibility around family responsibilities or you might be a senior professional wanting time and work location autonomy after years of climbing your career ladder.
Whatever your experience level, learning how to become an Independent Contractor or Virtual Assistant opens doors to viable and rewarding career paths.
Let’s unpack what this might look like as a career option.
Understanding how Independent Contractors and Virtual Assistants work
Independent Contractor and Virtual Assistant jobs are available in many forms, suiting different skills, experience levels, and lifestyle needs.
An Independent Contractor works for organisations without being an employee. You're essentially running your own small business, providing services to clients under contracts rather than an employment agreement.
This could mean a graphic designer working on a three-month branding project, a project manager overseeing a system implementation, a financial consultant helping with year-end accounts, or a software developer building a custom application. Clients value Independent Contractors for their specialised skills and ability to deliver results without the overhead and commitment of permanent employment.
Read: https://www.recruitmymom.co.za/blog/have-you-considered-working-independent-contractor
Virtual Assistants provide remote administrative, technical, or creative support. The job can be permanent or an independent contractor. For the sake of this blog, we will assume the job is an independent contracting role. Virtual Assistants have evolved far beyond only admin support work. Today's VAs manage social media accounts, handle bookkeeping, coordinate projects, provide customer service, create content, or offer specialised technical support in a particular industry. One of the benefits of VA work is its scalability. You can start with basic admin tasks and build toward more specialised, higher-paying services as you develop your skill sets.
Both paths share key characteristics:
- You control your time as an independent contractor.
- You choose who you want to work for.
- You get to work remotely.
- You build a portfolio career rather than climbing a single career ladder.
What independent contracting work looks like at different career levels
Your ideal starting point depends on your current skills, experience, and what you want from choosing this path.
If you're early in your career or re-entering the workforce, virtual assistant work offers a practical entry point. You don't need decades of experience or advanced qualifications. What matters most is reliability, strong communication skills, initiative and the ability to learn quickly. Many successful VAs start with general admin tasks such as email management, diary scheduling, data entry, and gradually build specialised skills and experience that command higher pay rates.
If you have recently graduated from your studies, independent contracting work will give you varied experience with a variety of clients to build your experience.
If you have mid-level experience, you are likely to have specialised skills that translate well into contract work. Marketing professionals can offer campaign management or content creation. HR specialists can provide HR consulting or training services. IT professionals can take on implementation projects. Financial professionals can assist with high-demand contingency work, budgeting, forecasting, or compliance work.
The key is identifying which of your skills are project-based rather than requiring daily, ongoing presence.
If you're senior or executive-level, your experience positions you for higher-value consulting and advisory work. This might include fractional executive roles that are more hands-on in a business, strategic consulting, interim leadership during transitions, or specialised project work that leverages your years of expertise. Senior contractors often work fewer hours but command significantly higher rates due to the strategic value you bring.
Regardless of your starting point, the principle remains the same: you're packaging your expertise into project-based or retainer-based offerings that clients can access without permanent employment obligations.
How to become an Independent Contractor or Virtual Assistant: Getting started
The transition to independent contracting work requires more than just deciding to make the change. Here's what you'll need to establish:
1. Set up your home office and business structure
Set up a private home office with fast fibre installed. Cellular and ADSL connections are often not stable enough to sustain a remote working job from home. Understanding the distinction between employee and independent contractor under South African labour law is critical. Consult with an accountant about the best structure for your situation and understand your tax obligations to SARS.
2. Build your service offering
What specific problem do you solve? "I'm a virtual assistant" is too vague. "I help small business owners manage their social media and respond to customer enquiries within two hours" is specific. "I'm a consultant" doesn't stand out. "I help manufacturing companies reduce supply chain costs through process optimisation" does. The more specific you are about what you deliver and to whom, the easier it becomes to find and attract clients.
3. Create proof of your capability
Clients need evidence you can deliver. If you're starting out with limited client work, create sample projects or present successful case studies. Build a mock social media calendar, draft sample customer service responses, create a financial forecast template, or document a process improvement you implemented in a previous role. Your portfolio demonstrates capability more convincingly than your CV ever could.
4. Find your first clients
Your initial clients often come from your existing network. Former colleagues, previous employers, professional contacts. Let people know that you are available for contract work. RecruitMyMom is a leading recruitment company in South Africa that helps Independent Contractors and Virtual Assistants find work. Update your job-seeker profile to reflect your new offering and actively follow our social media channels and newsletters to get the latest job opportunities.
Here is how to become a Virtual Assistant for RecruitMyMom.
5. Manage the business and compliance side of your work
You're not just doing the work, you're also running your own sole-proprietorship business. This means sourcing clients, invoicing clients, tracking expenses, managing cash flow, maintaining client relationships, and continuously marketing your services. Some contractors find this energising, and others find it overwhelming. Always ensure your personal income taxes are compliant with SARS.
Running your own contracting administration is a learnable skill set that becomes easier with practice.
What makes Independent Contractors and Virtual Assistants successful
Regardless of your experience level or service offering, certain traits consistently predict success in independent work:
- Self-discipline and structure. Without a manager or office environment, you need to create your own routine and hold yourself accountable. Successful contractors often maintain regular working hours, have a dedicated workspace, and establish boundaries between work and personal time, even though they technically could work from anywhere, at any time.
- Business development mindset. You're always thinking about your next client, even while serving current ones. This doesn't mean aggressive selling; it means maintaining relationships, staying visible, delivering excellent work that generates referrals, and consistently putting yourself in positions where opportunities can find you.
- Financial responsibility. Income can fluctuate, especially when starting out. Successful contractors maintain financial reserves to cover slower periods and resist the temptation to increase lifestyle expenses immediately when their income rises. Save and invest wisely.
- Continuous learning. Markets evolve, tools change, and client needs shift. Contractors who invest in staying current whether through courses, certifications, or simply staying informed about their industry, remain competitive and can command premium rates.
- Clear communication. You'll work with clients remotely, often across time zones. Setting clear expectations and availability, providing regular updates, and addressing issues promptly build trust, leading to ongoing work and referrals.
Is becoming an Independent Contractor or Virtual Assistant right for you?
Independent Contractor and Virtual Assistant jobs aren't for everyone. This path will suit you if you value autonomy over financial security, prefer variety over routine, and are comfortable with the responsibility of generating your own income. It works particularly well if you have in-demand skills to offer, can manage your own time effectively, and enjoy the challenge of running your own business.
It may not suit you if you thrive on in-person team collaboration, prefer a predictable income or find the idea of self-promotion uncomfortable. Both paths are equally valid, and one isn't better than the other, just different.
The encouraging news is that the independent contracting job market continues to grow. Whether you're seeking flexible work in South Africa or looking for remote experience with global organisations, the opportunities exist across all industries.
RecruitMyMom successfully fills thousands of independent contracting jobs from our talent pool, and we're here to support your journey. Browse our current opportunities or register your profile to connect with companies actively seeking the skills you bring.
