What’s a Virtual assistant?
A virtual assistant is an independent or self-employed worker who provides different support services to businesses or entrepreneurs from a remote location. While they might not be on the regular full staff payroll, virtual assistants can access the business’s data and required tools to carry on with their jobs remotely.
As seen over the years, the virtual assistant industry has grown globally and has been in existence as far back as technology has geared up the speed of remote work. As companies grow in size, the administrative needs become overloaded and this could cause derail in operations and company growth.
As a business owner, don’t think that you can handle everything that the business requires, this can only lead you to work longer hours, thus depletes you of energy and enthusiasm.
There are set of various skills possessed by these creative professionals, though must of their common jobs include:
- Online business Manager
- Office administration
- Secretarial work
- Transcription/translation
- Data entry/spreadsheets
- Database management
- Proofreading
- IT services
- Graphic design
- SEO services
- Website design and management
- Blogging
- Social media management and marketing
The list is unending.
Why you need a virtual assistant
Virtual assistants are talented professionals with the ultimate skills in multitasking. They can make your life easier with never-ending business demands and help your business run more efficiently.
Hiring a virtual assistant is probably more affordable than you think. This is someone you hire to work with the team, though remotely and sometimes on a contractual basis to give you professional administrative, creative, or technical business assistant services. You don’t have to extend to him the employee-related insurance, taxes, and benefits you usually give full-time employees.
Moreover, a virtual assistant does not require a physical office space, hiring one will enable you to build your team while keeping the budget low.
By hiring an excellent VA to join the team, the leader is building an efficient system. This will allow business owners to concentrate on activities that have the greatest impact on their business and build a scalable enterprise that keeps on growing, even without him working.
Coworking and Virtual Assistance
Coworking spaces are playing a crucial role in offering virtual services to help businesses grow. Coworking spaces such as Lagos Cowork are breaking grounds with innovative ideas, and recently launched her Online Workspace – a virtual business support services that help businesses digitize and professionalize their online workspace.
Apart from the online space recently launched, they help with the management of time with their fully serviced office, providing its members exceptional services such as front-desk officer, cleaning staff, office support staff and many more which enable businesses to focus on what matters most to them and thrive towards the path to continued success.
How to hire a virtual assistant
- Make a list of what you want to outsource
Every task and process in your business belongs in 1 0f 4 categories which include: Tasks that you should do; tasks that you should not do; tasks that you don’t want to do; and tasks that you can do. Start by listing the tasks and processes that you plan to delegate to your VA.
- Create a Job Description
State clear roles and responsibilities to be assigned for the tasks and make sure your job description includes background information about your business, level of education, experience, and/or skills required, list of duties and responsibilities, and list of any tools, such as apps and software they will be using.
- Have a budget
A new recruit is one of the investments any business can make. But it also costs money. Create a recruiting budget plan to help avoid cost accidentally getting out of hand.
- Post your job description online
Once your job description is ready, post it online to start accepting applications. There are many online recruiting platforms, choose anyone suitable for you.
- Review applications & schedule interviews
As applications are coming in, select the top 5-10 candidates. Since you are hiring a virtual assistant who mostly would be working remotely, it is recommended you conduct a video interview first, bearing in mind that it would probably be your most common means of communication when the applicant is hired.
- Test your candidates
Don’t just jump or conclude on one candidate. Select 3 out of your best candidates and give them regular tasks that would be part of their responsibilities to complete before you commit to hiring a specific candidate.
- Give the best candidates a trial period
Once you choose the best candidate for the job, put them on a probation period. This will make your VA to put in his best at he does to get retained.
As a business owner, don’t waste your energy and time on tasks that someone else can do just as easily, you need to focus on tasks that will actually help you grow your business. Do you need a Virtual Assistant today? Schedule a free evaluation meeting HERE
