Virtual assistants are independent contractors. Period. they’re not employees; they’re not “hires.” Got it? OK.. let’s move forward.
Choosing to contract with an independent contractor within the sort of a virtual assistant, administrative consultant, online business manager, or any of the myriad of similarly titled professionals can make an enormous difference in your business. You are having someone who is qualified with an outdoor point of view that can provide insight and expertise, which will get a replacement company back on the proper track to be successful while maintaining workflow throughout any transition. If that’s a path you’re planning on heading down, you would like to form sure you contract the proper person.
When contracting a virtual assistant, you ought to undergo an equivalent process and have mostly matching criteria as once you are hiring a full-time (or part-time) traditional employee. If the person you are going to potentially contract with doesn’t have a proven diary and, therefore, the required experience, they’re going to be a drain on your resources – both financially and mentally.
Finding the proper virtual assistant begins in a matchmaking love fest between your needs and their experience level. You both got to get on an equivalent page with what the project (or future ongoing tasks) require and, therefore, the skills needed to figure towards the goal you both share.
The virtual assistant that you simply contract with must have sufficient experience. Attempt to avoid those that are overqualified and always avoid those who aren’t aligned with what your and your company needs. Before you even start doing interviews, write out what the tasks are specified in order that most are on an equivalent page and to make sure that there’ll be a natural fit for the project or job at hand.
When you’re able to begin interviewing, use these six areas as a criterion to form sure you’re bringing within the proper of person to your team:
1. Level Of Experience
If the person you’d potentially contract with has not worked on projects that are almost like yours in the past, this could be a deal-breaker, and you ought to not even consider employing them. If you are doing, have a natural resonance with one another, great. Down the road, there could also be a chance where both are a match, so stay in-tuned.
Look at their credentials (always make LinkedIn a part of your due diligence process) and the way long they have been within the field and developing their skillset; if they do not have adequate experience, you are taking a risk together with your company’s future.
2. Samples of labor
While they could have previous experience, you would like proof. Invite samples of prior work or ask that they are doing a tiny piece to prove that they know what they’re doing. Having solid evidence is that the best thanks to making sure that you’re hiring someone who knows what they’re doing.
Keep in mind that this might not always be possible. If you’re contracting a content writer, then it is easy – they will provide links to articles they’ve written (always countercheck their content against Copyscape). If you’re contracting for bookkeeping, then it isn’t straightforward. Use hypothetical scenarios to solicit a response or use the next tip.
3. Testimonials
An independent contractor’s reputation says tons about their abilities and professionalism. Invite references or testimonials and get in touch with them, determine about their previous client’s experiences. A solid, experienced virtual assistant will have this information as a page on their website. Do not forget to look for that info on their LinkedIn profile, as well.
The feedback you get from those past & present clients, good or bad, will help answer a number of the questions you’ve got and maybe an enormous think about your decision whether or not to contract thereupon particular virtual assistant.
Should you never invite a resume? Why? By posing for an overview, you’re conveying the message that you simply are looking to rent an employee. You are not. You’re contracting a virtual assistant who runs their own business. While it’s going to appear to be semantics, the IRS will expressly advise you differently. You’ll find how the IRS defines an independent contractor on its website.
4. Work Tendencies
The whole thing about being a virtual assistant is.. being virtual. Your independent contractor will work from a foreign location, usually from their well-equipped headquarters, and you would like to know their work habits and make your expectations clear for this working relationship to achieve success. Likewise, remember that you simply aren’t their only client and that they also run their own business.
Make sure you’re conscious of what proportion management they have and be prepared to regulate the quantity to be more or less as required. Starting out is challenging for both parties, so plan on investing time to onboard correctly. Use YouTube videos for training, video chat (Google+ Hangouts, Skype, etc.), and other communication for feedback.
Don’t delegate dump. This is often when a client dumps plenty of various, unrelated tasks to their new partner in business. Build a scheme upon reading together with your virtual assistant. Once you do that, both you and your VA build trust, understand your respective companies, and therefore the sanity will slowly sink into both of your workdays.
5. Contractor Flexibility
Things change through the course of a project; it’s almost inevitable. While it’s your responsibility to stay scope creep low, sometimes things happen. You would like to form sure you hire someone who can adapt to the changes required.
Sure, you cannot always skill they’re going to react to vary, but attempt to gain an understanding of their personality and the way willing they’re to change plans, but if you’re asking them to be flexible, you would like to be also.
6. Price
Finding the most cost-effective hire is tempting, but resist the temptation. This is often especially important for brand spanking new and upcoming businesses. While funds could be on the low side, you would like someone who can do your project correctly. If you’re worried about price immediately, then you almost certainly can’t afford to rent another contractor to wash up the mess the primary one made. Paying a touch extra for top quality and experienced contractor is worthwhile within the end of the day to assist your business get off on the proper foot.
Let me put it this way: you will not be passing the “is awesome to figure with” test if all you care about is price. You would like to value the experience, organization, and commitment delivered to the table. That comes with a tag.
The team you’ve got working for your business will make an enormous difference in the success of your company. Virtual assistants are a neighborhood of that team, whether for a solo project or for ongoing support. make sure you hire the most straightforward talent that suits the necessity for you and your business
