5 Things to Consider Before You Hire a Virtual Assistant:
Are you thinking about hiring a virtual assistant? The number of people who work remotely is on the rise, so chances are you know someone who works from home. But before you hire an assistant, it's wise to consider the following five factors.
#1) Virtual assistants aren't for everyone - You'll need to both have a specific project in mind and be comfortable delegating tasks that require considerable effort. Hiring an assistant may not be worth it for small projects or if you find yourself micromanaging them every step of the way.
#2) Virtual assistants aren't cheap - While many tasks can be completed for an affordable price, other assignments are going to require a higher hourly rate. You should also account for taxes and mileage when budgeting since both virtual assistants and telephone calls may incur charges.
#3) It's important to stay organized - When you're hiring a virtual assistant, it's in your best interest to be as detailed as possible so they can understand what you expect from them. A good way to organize each task is by putting them on a checklist and adding deadlines. Your assistant should know when they need to complete their tasks by, which will allow them to stay on task throughout the week.
#4) Virtual assistants are great for everyday tasks, but you may want to hire a full-time employee for some projects - Things like scheduling appointments, making phone calls and sending emails often don't require a lot of thought and can be completed while your assistant is handling other tasks. Expect to spend more money on someone who is available at all times rather than someone with a set schedule.
#5) If you hire a virtual assistant make sure they understand the culture of your company - This includes things like the tone of voice that you use in emails, expectations about responding to messages within an hour and what type of work attire is appropriate for particular occasions.
Whether you decide to hire a virtual assistant or not, it's wise to have a checklist of things that need to get done on a weekly basis. After all, it's going to take some time for you and your assistant to get comfortable with each other. Spending the time upfront will save you a lot of headaches in the long run.
- See more at: http://www.articlesbase.com/career-articles/5-things-to-consider-before-you-hire-a-virtual-assistant--3495424.html#sthash.4sPQH4X9.dpuf
The above article was published by Articlesbase.com. For more blog posts like this, please visit Articlesbase.com
7 Reasons Why I Don't Hire Virtual Assistants: in which I am not just speaking from experience, as I actually have a virtual assistant from time to time. So here are the reasons why: 1) Because of the tremendous amount of work it takes to find a good one... 2) Because of other people's disappointments with their choices. 3) Because too many assistants don't understand good customer service and the customer is not always right... 4) Because your assistant needs training ... 5) Because you can't be who you are when you're working for someone else's rules... 6) ... 7) Because it doesn't take much to be a virtual assistant; and for most people, being a virtual assistant is not worth the time put into it.
There you have it. I think my reasoning is pretty well thought out and concise.
I can tell you from personal experience that many of these reasons are correct, though they are not the only reasons I have no need for a virtual assistant at this time.
Virtual assistants do have their uses and can be beneficial to many businesses, however the best thing that can happen when hiring one was touched upon in #5: because of the culture of your company... The way you hire your team or office should reflect that culture as well.
Unless you've never had a "real" business, or you have successfully built one from the ground up and understand the culture of success you are looking for, there is a large risk that the culture of your business will not fit with what you are looking for within a virtual assistant.
This is not to say that virtual assistants can't be successful, because most are and many are just as dedicated and hard working as their "face-to-face" counterparts. It does mean however, that if you hire them as a part of your workforce that they must do everything possible to fit into the culture of your team/office/business. Otherwise, it is a wasted resource at best.
I'd like to suggest that to hire a virtual assistant your business must first have a well defined set of rules and boundaries that are understood by everyone in your organization. This can be a problem for small startups but it can also be difficult for larger ventures as well due to their size and sometimes the speed with which they become successful. Whether you're the owner of a small or large venture, or if you are looking for a job now, here are The Rules of Engagement You Should Know: The Top 10 Rules For Virtual Assistants
10) Always remember that your assistant works for YOU and not the other way around... The reason for all of the rules on this list is that your assistant must know exactly what you expect from them and what you will accept, whether it be good or bad! If they are not willing to follow your rules then it is not worth their time as a virtual assistant if they do not feel comfortable with the way you run your business or if you can't meet their expectations.
9) You are the boss and so is your assistant... This really is a mutual thing... You must always remember that you are the boss and your assistant follows your rules just like any other employee. No matter what the "rules" are in the virtual world, they should still apply and you should enforce them. If you do not, then your virtual assistant will be looking for another job in no time at all! Any good assistant will respect their boss and follow their lead just like any other employee would, or else they wouldn't want to work for them anyway!
8) Your Virtual Assistant should be able to work on their own... This builds upon number 10... If you want to be able to do things on your own and not have your assistant looking over your shoulder then you must give them the freedom to do as they will... Just like with any employee/boss relationship, if you can't trust them then it is a bad match.
7) You have access and control of your virtual assistant's time... This one gets me every time! I tell my clients that I am at their beck and call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, but I've had many clients that don't feel it's right for them to call me late at night or on the weekends and expect me to answer their emails.
Conclusion: If your client is willing and able to accept the rules of engagement then they will be a great employer. If they are not, you have to ask yourself if it's worth it to take their business.
6) Your Virtual Assistant must use the same tools as you do... I know of many assistants that don't like using only email, phone and Skype for communicating with their boss... They prefer face-to-face communication through video chat or even a good old fashioned phone call. This can cause a problem for your clients though if they are trying to work on something during business hours and find them self being disrupted by an assistant that does better work in person.