Do you feel like you’re constantly behind on your work?
Are there tasks that you don’t have time for?
If so, it might be time to hire a virtual assistant.
A VA can help take care of tasks that are eating into your day.
It will free up more time for you to focus on important projects.
This article will discuss how to hire a virtual assistant, what to look for in one, and the pros and cons of doing so.
We’ll also give you tips on finding the perfect VA for your business.
How To Know if You Need a Virtual Assistant
Use the following tips to help you decide if hiring a virtual assistant is the right move for you.
You’re Working Long Hours
If you find that you’re working long hours and still can’t keep up with your workload, it’s time to hire a VA.
A virtual assistant can take on some of your tasks and help lighten your load.
You Can’t Focus on the Important Tasks
It’s time to hire a VA when you’re having trouble focusing on the tasks most vital to your business.
A VA can help you prioritize your tasks and ensure that you’re taking care of the most crucial things.
You Can’t Respond to Clients in a Timely Manner
Consider hiring a virtual assistant if you’re falling behind on client communication.
Adding a virtual assistant to your business will more effectively help you stay on top of communicating well with your clients.
Your clients will leave if they sense that you can’t adequately care for their needs.
You’re Getting Burned Out
- Are you showing signs of burnout?
- For example, are you having trouble sleeping or eating?
- Feeling anxious or depressed?
If so, start the process of hiring a virtual assistant.
Your VA will work to take some of the pressure off of you.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Virtual Assistant?
Most virtual assistants are hirable at a reasonable rate.
Business owners usually find they can cover their VA costs with the freed-up time.
If you can get a virtual assistant to do tasks that currently keep you from making sales, consider how creating additional revenue will easily pay for the VA fees.
How Much Does a VA Cost per Hour?
Virtual assistants are relatively affordable.
You can expect to pay anywhere from $15-$50/hour, depending on their skills and experience.
Some VAs will also offer discounts if you hire them for a set number of hours per week or month.
What To Look For in a Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants help with many tasks.
Below, you will find the most crucial soft skills and hard skills to look for so you find someone to perform your tasks well.
1. Communication
Communication skills help a virtual assistant manage client expectations, understand assignments, and keep projects on track.
Look for a virtual assistant who shows they can remain responsive to your emails and phone calls.
2. Experience
While a VA doesn’t need to have experience in your industry, look for some level of experience working remotely.
Your VA should also have some experience in certain aspects of the virtual assistance world.
For example, project management is a must for most VA roles.
3. Time Management
A quality virtual assistant will have time management skills.
Look for someone who can take on multiple tasks, prioritize their workload, and meet deadlines.
4. Computer Skills
You want to hire someone who feels comfortable using computers and various software programs.
They should also have a high-speed internet connection to avoid any communication issues.
5. Excitement About the Work
Look for a virtual assistant showing excitement about working with you and your business.
Find someone who exhibits a positive attitude and is willing to take on new tasks.
6. Flexible Hours
The most effective virtual assistants are flexible with their hours and can work around your schedule.
It is especially crucial if you need to communicate with them outside of normal business hours.
7. Professionalism
You’re looking for a professional virtual assistant.
You should notice it in their communication, appearance, and work ethic.
If you find a VA who takes pride in their work, you will find an ally who will excitedly help your business grow.
Where To Hire a Virtual Assistant
Once you understand how to identify a quality VA, you’ll discover that finding virtual assistants isn’t hard.
The next step is going to the proper virtual assistant websites to hire one.
1. Upwork
On Upwork, virtual assistants abound who want to work for you.
Create a detailed job post and watch for the applications to come in.
You can then read over each virtual assistant’s proposal, qualifications, reviews, and more to get an idea of who would be the best fit for your business.
2. Fiverr
Like Upwork, Fiverr is a place to find virtual assistants.
The difference is that Fiverr gears itself towards freelancers who offer fixed-price services.
It is a beneficial alternative if you want to hire someone for a one-time project or task.
3. LinkedIn
If you have a LinkedIn account, you can use it to hire a virtual assistant.
Post a job listing on your profile.
You can also look for potential VAs by conducting a profile search. Â
4. Job Sites
Several job sites exist that help with hiring virtual assistants.
They include Indeed, Monster, and Glassdoor.
Type “virtual assistant” or “remote worker” into the search bar on these websites to locate candidates.
5. TaskRabbit
While TaskRabbit is typically used to hire people for in-person tasks, you can also use it to find a virtual assistant.
Ensure you post your job listing in the “Online Tasks” category.
How To Hire a Virtual Assistant
Have you selected the resource you want to use when doing your virtual assistant search?
If so, let’s review how to go about the hiring process.
1. Figure Out What You’re Looking For
You can’t perform the hiring process without knowing what you want from a virtual assistant.
Answering the following questions will give you an idea of the type of person you should hire.
- What qualifications do you need?
- What type of tasks will your VA perform?
- How much time do they need to spend on each task?
- What is the budget for this hire?
2. Write the Job Post
Now that you know what you want, it’s time to write the job post.
The post should include all of the information that a potential virtual assistant would need to know.
Your job post might include the following information.
- The job title
- A description of the company
- The qualifications you are looking for
- The type of tasks the VA will perform
- Estimate of time required to complete the project
- The pay rate
- What the schedule will look like
- Where to apply
- When you will conduct interviews
- When the position will start
3. Filter Candidates
After you have written the job post and posted it, you will start to receive applications.
The next step is to filter through all of the candidates.
Narrow your list down to a handful of people.
4. Conduct Interviews
Choose the candidates to interview.
Typically, you will conduct your interviews over video chat.
Once you have talked to all the candidates, it’s time to hire somebody.
5. Hire Somebody
Carefully consider your final hiring decision.
Select the candidate who best exemplifies their qualifications and eagerness to work and is a good fit for your company.
Is It Worth It To Hire a Virtual Assistant?
Are you still a little concerned about whether you should hire a virtual assistant?
Think about the advantages and disadvantages.
Pros of Hiring a Virtual Assistant
Here are the advantages a VA can make to your business.
- Higher Productivity: A VA can help you become more productive. With this common productivity hack, you will no longer have to worry about small tasks that weigh you down.
- Increased Efficiency: Increase your efficiency by using a VA. Your assistant can take care of customer inquiries and avoid scheduling mistakes. Â
- You Can Focus On More Important Tasks: When you hire a virtual assistant, you can spend more time on business activities you enjoy.
- Filled In Talent Gaps: If you’re not good at a specific task, hire a virtual assistant to take care of it. It will help prevent mistakes made by working on tasks you aren’t fit to perform.
- They Require Minimum Training: VAs are professionals that require little to no training. Therefore, you can hire them and expect them to start working immediately.
- Cost Effective: Hiring a freelance virtual assistant is more cost-effective than hiring an in-person employee. You don’t have to worry about benefits, office space, or equipment.
Cons of Hiring a Virtual Assistant
You should also consider the following three disadvantages of hiring a VA.
- Potential for Language or Cultural Barriers: Understand going into the process that hiring a non-English speaking native means you could run into communication difficulties.
- No In-person Meetings: You will never meet your virtual assistant in person. Therefore, it can sometimes make it difficult to build trust and a relationship with them.
- Lack of Focus if You Hire a Busy VA: If you hire a virtual assistant who already works for several clients, they may not give your project the attention it deserves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers to two of the most commonly asked questions about the VA hiring process.
How do you pay a virtual assistant?
You can pay your virtual assistant hourly, per project, or retainer.
The way to pay your VA will depend on the type of work they will do and how much you’re willing to spend.
Always make sure your budget can support the required type of payment.
Is becoming a VA worth it?
Yes, becoming a virtual assistant is worth it.
The pros of being a VA include having a flexible schedule, working from home, and taking care of important tasks, especially outsourcing content.
The cons of being a VA include not having a regular paycheck and having to find clients.
Wrapping Up
Now that you understand the basics of what a VA is and how it can help your business, it’s time to hire one.
Note that not all businesses need to hire a virtual assistant.
Only businesses experiencing growth and struggling with time management issues should go into this process. Â
Do you still have a few questions about hiring your first VA? Ask us in the comments, and we’ll answer.
If you’re ready to hire a virtual assistant, use our tips to get started.
