If, lately, you have felt overwhelmed by the daily grind at the office and you are itching to do other more important tasks to propel your business forward, then you might want to consider hiring a virtual assistant. Many have already had a great experience with hiring VAs and are enjoying the benefits of having someone to depend on for all the mundane tasks without having to invest in additional office furnishings and equipment.
Hiring virtual assistants can be daunting for the first time employer as the idea of managing remote employees and delegating tasks to someone you may never meet may be a scary option. Nevertheless, many businesses have done it and to this day, the industry has never been more popular.
Although this may sound like a great way to achieve your business goals faster, you should not dive headfirst into hiring a VA without the following considerations:
Preparation is a crucial part in hiring a VA, whether overseas or domestically. It sets the ground for the job you want the VA to fill and ensures that you are going to achieve your business goals. Be fully prepared before posting the job to any job sites or VA companies.
Identify specific tasks you want to delegate to the VA.
Set your budget according to ongoing market rates and the expertise the VA must possess.
Write a detailed job post indicating the qualities, equipment, schedule, and salary rate you require.
Review applications thoroughly. To find the candidates who have the right qualities, read each application and examine resumes or work samples carefully. This ensures that you do not miss a potentially good VA.
Interview your top picks through online chat or video call. You may also communicate through e-mail based on the type of work you are outsourcing. Through the interview, you will be able to determine which applicant is a good match. Just by having a conversation with them, you can determine the one who can communicate well and understand instructions. You will also be able to verify the applicant’s professional and educational background.
A trial run is an excellent way to gauge the ability of the VAs you are looking to hire. You can conduct a trial period from 10hours to a week just to see if the VA can deliver the quality of work you are looking for.
By following these guidelines, you can find good VAs to hire according to your requirements and expectations.