When it comes to hiring a virtual assistant, there are a lot of things to consider. After all, this person will be helping you with a wide range of tasks, so you want to make sure you’re making the right decision.
Having a good and dynamic relationship with your VA can set you up for long-term success. In this post, we’ll share five things to consider before hiring a virtual assistant. By keeping these things in mind, you’ll be able to find the perfect VA for your business.
What Do You Need Help With?
Before you go out and hire a virtual assistant, take some time to think about what tasks you would like them to help you with. Are there certain things you struggle to find time for? Are there areas of your business that could use some extra attention?
Once you have a good idea of what you need help with, you can start thinking about what kind of virtual assistant would be the best fit for your business. Do you need someone skilled in social media marketing? Or maybe someone great at bookkeeping? Take the time to find someone who has the skills and experience you need.
What Are Your Communication Preferences?
When hiring a virtual assistant, one of the most important things to consider is your communication preferences. Do you want to be able to communicate with them via email, phone, or Skype?
You can have regularly scheduled team meetings. These may be once a week or twice a month. You can also decide how frequently you would like to get reports, updates or feedback from your VA. Communication ensures the right message gets out and would smooth over rough spots and conflicts.
What Is Your Budget?
When it comes to hiring a virtual assistant, one of the biggest questions you’ll need to ask yourself is what is your budget? VAs can range in price, so it’s important to find one that fits your needs and your budget.
Few things you’ll want to keep in mind when setting your budget.
- How many hours of work do you need to be done each week?
- The kind of work you need to be done.
- What you’re willing to pay for these services.
It’s important to remember that you get what you pay for, so don’t be afraid to invest in a quality VA who can help take your business to the next level.
What Are Your Expectations?
Your expectations must be clear and realistic. Are you looking for someone to take on general administrative tasks, or are you looking for someone who can help with specific projects? Do you need help with social media, email marketing, or bookkeeping?
You also need to be clear about the hours you’re expecting them to work. Will they be working full-time, or just a few hours a week? And what kind of work schedule do they need to follow?
By taking the time to consider these things before hiring a virtual assistant, you’ll save yourself some frustration in the long run.
What Are Your VA’s Qualifications?
When looking for a virtual assistant, it’s important to make sure that they have the right qualifications. After all, you’ll be entrusting them with a lot of important tasks!
Here are some things to consider:
- What are their skills and experience?
- Have they worked with clients in a similar industry or do they have experience in your specific niche?
- What type of work are they capable of doing?
- Do they have the necessary tools and resources to do the job?
These details will help you want to make sure they have the experience and expertise required to complete the tasks you need help with.
Systems And Processes
Delegation is probably the hardest thing to get used to and find success with when working with a virtual assistant. For many, it’s a steep learning curve. I mean, you’re excellent at everything you do, have high standards and expectations, and have been doing it all solo for some time. However, systems and processes can not be overemphasized. Here are the things you need to do.
- Create and understand Your Process: You cannot effectively teach or delegate what you do not understand and know yourself. Make sure you and those involved understand your expectations and provide the necessary training to set everyone up for success. So before delegating you must have a specific workflow.
- Details Matter: Make sure to record everything so that there is a clear line of communication that everyone can refer to. You might consider doing this in a collaborative project management tool like Basecamp or Trello. This way, everybody has access to the files there that they post, including emails, UIdocuments, photos, and other types of data.
The Perfect Fit
Is the virtual assistant the right fit for you? Ideally, you want to be working with someone you feel aligned with. Someone whose values are similar to yours, who will care for your business (almost) as much as you do.
Simply put, are they the right fit for you?
If you are looking to work with an established virtual assistant there will be enough information online about them to help answer this question.
Conclusion
When you’re ready to take your business to the next level by hiring a virtual assistant, make sure you keep the following five things in mind:
- The type of work the VA will be doing.
- Your budget for hiring a VA.
- The skills and experience the VA has.
- Ensuring you have your systems and processes in place.
- Whether the VA is a good fit for your company culture.
VirtualKarette VA Service supports business owners with the effective management of the day-to-day operational activities involved in running their business so that they can focus their skills and expertise on growing.
Contact us to find out how we can support you with the growth of your business.
