The world has definitely changed since the pandemic.  People have learned to work from home and companies have adjusted to working with remote teams.  With all these, businesses should start to consider outsourcing their work to a Virtual Assistant.  A virtual assistant is a remote worker who can help with a variety of tasks, from administrative work to social media management. 

In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about hiring a virtual assistant in 2023.

Step 1:  Understanding Your Need

Based on past experience, many clients want to hire a Virtual Assistant because they feel that a VA can help them unload a number of tedious tasks so they can focus more on income-generating activities.  While this is true, many of them end up not knowing what to delegate.  It is, therefore, very important that you understand if you really have a need.  You must be able to list down all the tasks that you will need your Virtual Assistant to do and it should be divided by daily tasks, weekly tasks, periodical tasks, etc.

Step 2: Determine Your Budget

Once you have a clear idea of what tasks you want your virtual assistant to handle, you need to determine your budget. Virtual assistants can vary in cost depending on their experience and the tasks you want them to handle. Keep in mind that while you want to find a virtual assistant that fits within your budget, you don’t want to sacrifice quality for the price.

Step 3: Conduct a thorough analysis and comparison of VA services.

There is a wide range of VA services, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. To determine the best service that meets your needs, it is important to conduct extensive research and comparison among VA companies.  

At Outsourced VA, we make sure to schedule a discovery call with every client to see if we are what they are looking for.  If we feel that we are not the best fit, we let them know.

Step 4: Create the Job Description

Writing the job description will make you articulate what type of person you are looking for.  You are not just looking for someone who can do the tasks that you have listed, but you also want to let candidates know the type of person you are looking for.  Since you will be working side-by-side with this remote worker, it is better that you share the same values.

Step 5:  Build Up a Workflow

Once you have hired the Virtual Assistant, do not expect that she knows what you want her to do immediately.  You have to consider that she needs training from you in the first weeks.  My suggestion is for you to build up a workflow for your new VA to get used to.  Give tasks in progression – do not bombard the VA with tasks immediately.  Let her see how you work and how you want her to work for you.  Build a relationship.

Step 8: Foster Communication.

To cultivate a productive and positive working relationship with your virtual assistant (VA), it’s essential to establish open and honest communication. Regularly check in to ensure that both of you are aligned and working towards the same objectives.

It’s also crucial to demonstrate sincerity and empathy by taking a genuine interest in your VA’s life and personal interests. Even though this may be a virtual relationship, treating it with the same level of importance as any other professional stakeholder is essential.