General task of a virtual assistant are:

• Manage contact lists and customer spreadsheets
• Maintain a calendar and set up meetings
• Take transcription and handle correspondence
• Make travel arrangements
• Handle billing and accounting
• Prepare and send out e-mail newsletters
• Prepare, collate and ship proposals and meeting materials
• Send out requested information to customers
• Handle client inquiries by phone or e-mail

Training provided to the right people.  

Need to have:

• Drive and determination to see clients succeed
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Excellent customer service skills
• Basic understanding of business operation, including budgeting, creating business and marketing plans, contracts and agreements and time management
• Willingness to admit and correct mistakes
• Respect for others' intellectual property (no plagiarism or software piracy)
• Good organizational skills
• Good spelling, grammar and punctuation skills