Having the right virtual assistant in the Philippines will ensure you enjoy the maximum benefits of hiring one. To find the right virtual assistant with the skills you need for your next job, consider their reviews, skill in the job position, experience in your industry, pricing, and payment model to determine if it works for your needs and budget.
Below are some tips to help you find the right virtual assistant to improve your business efficiency rather than give you headaches.
- Know what skills you’re looking for
You must understand that the right virtual assistant doesn’t always mean the best or the most experienced out there. And what works for Entrepreneur A may not work for Entrepreneur B. So finding the right virtual assistant typically involves matching their skills with your unique needs.
Do you need a virtual assistant to manage your social media? Or will they be doing your writing or bookkeeping? You want to have a virtual assistant specialized in that area for such tasks. On the other hand, a generalist may work well if you only need someone to handle your calendar, appointments, and calls.
- Find a VA with experience in your industry
Are you a startup? Hiring a virtual assistant with years of experience in your industry is a significant advantage. That’s because they bring their wealth of knowledge garnered while working with other successful businesses in your niche. As a result, they can be beneficial for your decision-making.
While you can work with a newbie VA or someone experienced in some other industry, a person with solid industry experience will be more proactive in helping startups.
- Check testimonials, references, and reviews
One of the most reliable ways of finding the right virtual assistant is through words from past clients. Testimonials and reviews will help you gauge what to expect from the VA. For example, did past clients commend their communication and problem-solving skills? What are clients saying about their personality and work ethic? Fortunately, some virtual assistant services in the Philippines have review and rating systems. So you can check before hiring any VA from the platform.
- Decide if you want a proactive or reactive VA
Again, finding the right virtual assistant boils down to your unique needs. There are two types of virtual assistants:
- Proactive ones who take up an active role in your business, dishing out suggestions.
- Reactive ones who take whatever task you delegate and complete it without your involvement.
If you rather have someone who can run off with a task without your interference, giving you time to focus on other things, a reactive VA would be best. On the other hand, if you prefer one who acts more like a partner, consider looking for a proactive VA.
- State your needs in the job description
You can post job descriptions to virtual assistant companies and hiring agencies. Ensure you state clearly your requirements so that only suitable candidates apply. For example, you should include skills, language, proactive/reactive qualities, etc. The clarity in your job posting will ensure you find the right virtual assistant who can meet your needs.
- Do a test run
It’s worth mentioning that anyone can pass an interview by saying all the right things. A VA candidate can tick all the boxes of your requirements, but you only get to ascertain their true qualities when they get to work.
So do a paid trial run to have a feel of how the relationship with your virtual assistant is going to turn out. Watch out for:
- Their attention to detail
- How they ask questions
- Their problem-solving skills
While at it, you also have to understand that your virtual assistant may need time to ease into your unique business. So you want to start with basic tasks before delegating the top-of-the-line.
The more time your VA spends working with you, the more nuances they pick up about your operations.
- Choose a VA you can get on with
Your relationship with your virtual assistant will likely be a long one. In short, consider them your personal assistant. It would be best if you had a virtual assistant you could get on with because there would be times when corrections need to be made. If there’s a good relationship, correcting mistakes, asking questions, and making suggestions would be easier for both parties.
That involves choosing a virtual assistant whose personality is compatible with yours. You can determine the compatibility from the very first conversation you have. If possible, schedule a zoom meeting.
- Find a VA willing to learn
No matter how experienced a professional is, no one knows it all. The right virtual assistant will be ready to learn the nuances of your business and adapt so they can contribute positively.
A relatively less experienced VA willing to learn can easily be groomed, and you also enjoy their comparatively low cost.
- Choose a suitable payment plan
The lowest cost doesn’t amount to the poorest quality service, as the highest price doesn’t denote the best quality. So, in essence, price isn’t a determinant of quality level. However, ensure it is within your budget. If the cost outweighs the benefit, it isn’t a good deal. Finally, ensure the payment model works for you. While some virtual assistants charge hourly rates, some work per task. If you’re going with hourly rates, ensure you have time tracking software to monitor your VA’s productive hours to avoid paying for nothing.
