UK workers are officially overworked and at risk of having a stroke. One way of enjoying a better work-life balance and mitigating that risk is by getting on-the-job help. This is where virtual assistants come in.
A virtual assistant is someone who can help with admin and secretarial tasks to free up employees and managers. They do not work on-site, but as the job title suggests, remotely via email, calls and video messaging. They are usually available for set projects which means they do not have to be directly employed, thus cutting business expenses.
Where to Hire Virtual Assistants?
A virtual assistant may work for themselves, or they may be employed through an agency or specialising company. You can usually contact them via freelancing platforms such as People Per Hour, Fiverr and Upwork. Moreover, a quick Google search will also bring up admin companies offering their handpicked staff to work as virtual assistants for set periods. With Forbes reporting that 70% of people work remotely each week, there are bound to be plenty of options out there.
If you are thinking of becoming a virtual assistant, you may want to sign up to those previously mentioned freelancing websites or search for agencies looking to hire new virtual assistants on online job portals.
Three Considerations Before Hiring a Virtual Assistant
You know that you need an assistant, but before you hire the first freelancer you find, here are some of the most significant considerations:
#1 Think About Their Location
If they are a virtual assistant, their location doesn’t need to be considered, right? Wrong. You do need to think about they are based for several reasons. The most pressing one is the time difference. If they are based on the other side of the world, you are not likely to have them to hand throughout your whole working day (this may not be a problem). They are also not likely to be as flexible.
Moreover, their location may cause communication errors if the two of you do not have the same first language.
#2 Experience
Even though the jobs you have lined up for your new virtual assistant seem straight forward to you, you must remember that anyone you hire will not know about your company or what you hope to achieve. This is why experience matters for remote work.
You need someone who can pick up the tasks quickly and is autonomous in what they do. Confidence to do this grows from experience. So look for reviews on those profiles. Also, ask agencies for their most experienced staff that have specifically worked in your industry before.
#3 Hire at the Right Time
One way to decipher how good your new assistant is and to ease them into their project is to hire them at the right time. This doesn’t always mean hiring them when it gets overwhelming and busy. If you hire them just before these periods, they can adjust to your business without a work overload themselves. It is also useful to start with smaller tasks so you can judge if they will be the right fit before the more significant tasks come up.
Keep these three things in mind before hiring your next virtual assistant!
