Need a Virtual Assistant?
Posted by aonenetworks On March 5, 2013
As someone who manages and runs a business, you’ve probably noticed that you’re pretty much always busy. You can never just focus on one thing because you have to focus on that thing that was due this morning and that thing that is due this afternoon, and there are so many jobs that should have been done yesterday. Ultimately, it can be incredibly confusing and difficult to manage, and you can feel and become ineffective at any one job because you are spread so thin. One way to make this a bit easier is to simply hire a virtual assistant.
A VA does all of the things that a traditional assistant does, but they aren’t actually in your office to help you with filing or putting things away. Instead, they can help you with replying to emails, proofreading presentations, answering your phones and even writing correspondence to those who require physical mail to get something done. So how do you find the perfect virtual assistant? Here are a few things to look for.
What Don’t You Like to Do?
A virtual assistant can do pretty much anything that can be done digitally for you, but it’s important you know what you don’t like to do. There are probably plenty of things you don’t like doing, but sometimes it’s not easy to remember them all unless they’re right in your face. Because of this, you need to take the time every day to write down the things you hated doing on that day. At the end of the week, check your lists. What did you hate doing more than once? Which of those tasks can be outsourced to your VA?
Screen Your Candidates
The most important thing you can do is choose a candidate carefully. Part of the interviewing process is to simply ask the right questions. See if they have the time to take you on (because virtual assistants often have several commitments) and make sure they have the personality, experience, and rates that you’d like in a candidate.
Try Them Out
Now it’s time to see which candidates work the best for you. If the VA is a good fit for you, then you’ll know it within the first week or so after hiring them. If it doesn’t work, then it doesn’t work, and you can move onto another candidate. Don’t rush the hiring process and take your time finding the right VA for you.
