Now that you have made the decision to hire a virtual professional, you need these tips on how you can build a successful working relationship.

Getting it Right

Hiring a virtual assistant frees up your time, adds new skills to your organization,
and allows your business to scale up. It’s a natural step for solo
entrepreneurs who are ready to grow. Things are much easier with a skilled VA
at your side, but the first challenge is finding the right person.

Skills and Experience

Start by figuring out exactly what you need done. What skills and experience are
necessary to do the tasks you want to outsource? Clarifying this will help you
create a job ad that will attract the right kind of help and it will weed out
those who don’t have the skills you need.

Set Your Budget

Decide how much you’re willing to spend to hire a virtual assistant. You can pay them
a recurring salary or for each individual project they do for you. You should
put the payment details in your job ad. This prevents the back and forth of
negotiating on payment terms.

Location and Language

Your virtual assistant can be located anywhere in the world and some countries offer
cheaper rates than others. As part of the specifications of the job, decide on
location and language. Keep in mind that if your VA is on the other side of the
world, you’ll need to arrange times to communicate. You should also consider
whether native-level English is a must.

Shop Around

Before you write and post your ad, look around at virtual assistants offering their
services online. This will give you a good idea of what they are proposing and
the going rate. You may also want to look at VA job ads to get ideas for
writing your own.

Short List Applicants

Once you post your job ad, start a list of applicants who meet your criteria. Look
at each one carefully and narrow it down. Once you have a few who you
particularly like, make contact with them. Ask for samples of the kind of work
you need done if applicable. You can also vet them by asking for references and
talking to past clients.

The Final Decision

Set up interviews with applicants who seem suitable. Ask them about their work
experience and skills, but also get a feel for their personality. You’ll need
to create a good connection with this person, so it’s important that you can
communicate and that you get along well.

Set Job Standards

Determine standards for the work you need done so your VA knows what you expect. Design
step-by-step processes for the key tasks you want your VA to handle. Go through
each one to examine how you do things now and in what order, and lay this out
in a document. For example, you might turn the information into a checklist or
flow chart.

Think About Scaling

As your business grows, you may need a virtual assistant with additional skills.
Think about this when you hire someone. They might have other skills that you
can use in your business in the future.

Keep in mind that hiring a virtual assistant is a process. If you want to learn how to hire
and work with a VA stress-free, you are going to definitely want to take my upcoming course.
It covers all the steps from beginning to end with learning activities.  You can start by getting my
freebie to see if it’s for you.

If you are still in the market for a VA, let’s talk.  We are ready to help you scale your business
today.