Social Network for Virtual Assistants (& Their Clients) Since 2003
The Market Leader For Virtual Assistants
15000+ Members & Growing! Enter Forum
Not a member yet? FREE to Join!

Hiring Tips

Get Dozens of Skills With One Virtual Assistant

There are so many benefits to working with a Virtual Assistant. One of those is that in most cases you get a lot more brains than one!

No, Virtual Assistants aren’t two-headed creatures, but most are very well connected through the VA networking forums they frequent.

Let me explain.

If you wanted to hire one employee who could maintain your website, manage your bookkeeping, design brochures, draft up sales letters and maintain your filing how much do you suppose you would pay that person if he or she did indeed exist?
Read more...

Posted by on October 6, 2008 in Administrative Services, All Topics, Hiring Tips | Comments closed

What’s The Worst Question You Can Ask a Virtual Assistant?

Easy…

“Can you send me a resume?”

Even though people ask this question to VAs all the time, as a general group, we don’t like it.

I think it’s because it means we’re being thought of as employees. Remember, administrative assistants don’t get paid very well and often have to take a lot of orders and abuse from bosses. When we leave that world to start our own businesses we want to leave that world far far away! Being asked for a resume is something that happens when you apply for a job, not when someone approaches you looking to hire a contractor.
Read more...

Posted by on September 25, 2008 in All Topics, General, Hiring Tips | Comments closed

Ready to Let a Virtual Assistant Hold Your Blankie?

I need to finish that darned book. You know, THE book everyone is talking about (and some are really really whining about, but more on that another post). The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss is a must read, even if you are the type who has a hard time just “letting go.” And that would include pretty much every entrepreneur I’ve ever known in my life.
Read more...

Posted by on September 21, 2008 in All Topics, Hiring Tips | Comments closed

Make a Plan Before Working With a Virtual Assistant

When you think you’re ready to choose a Virtual Assistant to start taking care of your administrative headaches, there are some things you should do on your end to make things a bit easier for everyone.

The most important thing you can do before you get into a contact with a VA is to clearly lay out everything you would like to delegate so you know what you want done and it will be easier for your VA to dig right in and start working.
Read more...

Posted by on September 21, 2008 in Administrative Services, All Topics, Hiring Tips | Comments closed

The Importance of Personality

Far more important than rates and almost equally important as skill when selecting a Virtual Assistant, is personality.

If you need website updates, assistance with your Internet marketing efforts and database management, you can find handfuls of VAs that provide those services and most will fall within the same price range.

How do you choose after you’ve narrowed it down to a couple?
Read more...

Posted by on September 2, 2008 in All Topics, Hiring Tips | Comments closed

How Important are Testimonials?

As you browse through Virtual Assistant websites you will find that many of them will feature testimonials received from satisfied clients. That can make it easy for you to make a decision if you are having trouble deciding between the VAs who have made your short list. But, what if someone you’re interested in doesn’t have a ton of glowing testimonials? Should you discount them?

Absolutely not!
Read more...

Posted by on August 27, 2008 in All Topics, Hiring Tips | Comments closed

VAs and Training

It shouldn’t be up to you to train your VA. The VA you choose to work with should already be experienced in the work you want them to do. That’s one of the big benefits of partnering with a Virtual Assistant.

If you find someone great who hasn’t any experience in the services you need, if it’s specific to your business – a very specialized tool or service, you should expect to pay your VA for training.

If it’s a skill that’s generic that could benefit the VA’s business by being able to offer a new service to other clients, s/he will probably agree to train at no cost.
Read more...

Posted by on August 22, 2008 in All Topics, General, Hiring Tips | Comments closed

What to Look For in a VA’s Proposal

When you decide to partner with a VA, it can be overwhelming. It’s a very big decision because you will be working very closely with this person and you want to make sure you choose the best VA for you that you possibly can.

I’d like to address a couple things you should keep in mind after you have submitted an RFP (Request for Proposal).

If you submit an RFP (Request for Proposal) for a virtual assistant at a place like VAnetworking.com, you will probably get dozens of responses. How do you even begin to weed through them?
Read more...

Posted by on August 16, 2008 in All Topics, Hiring Tips | Comments closed

Common Policies and Procedures of Virtual Assistants

There are a few key things to look out for when you initiate the process of working with a Virtual Assistant.

First of all, the VA should provide you with a contract or client agreement to sign before you start working together. This should outline his/her hours of operation, your rate, different policies and procedures which are put in place to protect both parties involved. Look at the agreement carefully and make note of payment terms, termination and non-compete clauses.

If your VA doesn’t send you an agreement that’s a bad sign!
Read more...

Posted by on August 11, 2008 in All Topics, General, Hiring Tips | Comments closed

Understanding How a VA Operates

Most people who are searching for a VA have just heard of the industry and are overwhelmed when they find themselves faced with the task of hiring someone.

By understanding a few basics about Virtual Assistants, the entire process should be easier for you.

The first thing you should realize is that a Virtual Assistant is not an employee. You have to make that change in your brain from the get-go because it’s not something that comes naturally to many people and VAs often take a great deal of offense to being thought of and/or treated like an employee.
Read more...

Posted by on August 4, 2008 in All Topics, General, Hiring Tips | Comments closed

Recent Posts

Categories

Blogroll

Tags

Administrative Services affiliate marketing bpo business business goals business process outsourcing clients communication copywriting delegate to a virtual assistant email management entrepreneur facebook Featured Posts growing your business hiring a virtual assistant how to work with a virtual assistant marketing networking outsourcing overwhelmed partnering with a VA partnering with a virtual assistant recession RFP SEO small business small business outsourcing small business owner social media social media marketing social media virtual assistant social networking twitter VA VAnetworking VAnetworking.com VA rates virtual assistance Virtual Assistant virtual assistants virtual assistant training webinar Weekender Report working with a virtual assistant