| As a savvy solo or small practice professional, | | | | ill-mannered. However, they should be prepared to |
| you know you can't do everything yourself. | | | | discuss in a consultation with you their skill levels |
| Whether you are capable or not, you understand | | | | and qualifications as described above. |
| that your time is most intelligently focused on | | | | 6. Training & Certification. The highest form |
| activities that grow your business and make you | | | | of qualification, and what Virtual Assistants are |
| money. | | | | expected to have before entering the profession, |
| These days, outsourcing your administrative work | | | | is at least five years upper-level administrative |
| to a Virtual Assistant (or VA) makes it very easy | | | | experience. Our training ground is the real |
| to get just the amount of support you need | | | | (non-virtual) business world. If you are a business |
| without the expense of costly in-house staff. But | | | | owner needing competent support from someone |
| how do you find a highly skilled, truly qualified | | | | who can hit the ground running and take the reins |
| Virtual Assistant? Below are some practical points | | | | as your administrative expert, you should expect |
| to consider and questions to ask as you go about | | | | no less. |
| the selection process. | | | | Don't put too much stock in certification. Virtual |
| 1. Website. Since Virtual Assistants operate | | | | Assistance does have a few legitimate |
| virtually, it's important they have an online | | | | professional associations and training programs, |
| presence. A website can yield critical clues as to | | | | but these are intended for business--not |
| the VA's competence and professionalism. As you | | | | skills--training. Where certifications are offered, |
| look through the website, ask yourself:o Does it | | | | they can be somewhat subjective and misleading, |
| present a polished, credible business image?o Is | | | | and many of the veteran Virtual Assistants who |
| there an abundance of informative content?o Is | | | | established the profession and created the |
| the concept clearly explained?o Is it organized well | | | | standards have been in business longer than these |
| and easy to navigate?o Is it well-written and | | | | programs have existed. |
| coherent?o Is there a solid command of | | | | Additionally, there has been a proliferation in |
| grammar, spelling and punctuation? | | | | recent years of disreputable and unqualified |
| If the VA's site is littered with misspelling, | | | | opportunists willing to "certify" anyone who will |
| improperly structured sentencing and incorrect | | | | pay. In this industry right now, letters behind a |
| punctuation, don't expect that she is going to | | | | Virtual Assistant's name mean very little. |
| provide you with any greater skill or attention to | | | | 7. The Business. I've interviewed countless clients |
| detail should you decide to work with her. | | | | and business people since 1997. What I've learned |
| And if it looks like she put little thought, time or | | | | is they want and are most happy with |
| money into presenting her business image, or had | | | | high-quality, skilled support from a Virtual Assistant |
| her 14 year old kid brother throw it together one | | | | who:o is confident;o has her business solidly in |
| Sunday, chances are she isn't serious about her | | | | place;o doesn't need training or hand-holding;o is |
| business, and is not going to put any more care | | | | someone they can place their trust in; ando can |
| into the work she does for you. | | | | be depended on for expert support and guidance |
| 2. Consultation. You naturally want to find a Virtual | | | | in laying strong administrative foundations. |
| Assistant you can work with well, and whose | | | | Look for a Virtual Assistant who has been in |
| personality and style is compatible with yours. You | | | | business successfully for at least three years. |
| also want to gain some insight into whether this is | | | | New VAs don't tend to have their systems, |
| a person offering the skills, service and expertise | | | | processes and offerings honed, which often |
| you need. | | | | causes unnecessary headaches, wasted time and |
| Once you find a site that instills confidence, have | | | | an all-around unsatisfactory experience for clients. |
| a conversation with that Virtual Assistant. Most | | | | I also recommend that the Virtual Assistant is |
| Virtual Assistants offer a complimentary | | | | someone who is actually IN business full-time. I've |
| consultation, and all it takes is a simple email or | | | | yet to see a Virtual Assistant operate a part-time |
| phone call to schedule one. In making initial | | | | practice that was truly in a position to serve client |
| contact, some things to note include:o Does she | | | | needs and expectations well. Some important |
| respond to your inquiries in a timely manner?o | | | | facts to obtain include:o How long has she been in |
| Does she answer the phone professionally?o Are | | | | business?o Is she in full-time or part-time |
| there kids and noise in the background?o Is she | | | | practice?o Does she view her business as a |
| on time for the call?o Does she seem prepared or | | | | chosen profession she is committed to for the |
| unexpectedly flustered?o Does she follow-through | | | | long-term?o Or is it a part-time side-job or |
| exactly as promised? | | | | hobby?o Does she have well-thought out policies |
| 3. Finesse. How well the Virtual Assistant guides | | | | and business standards that will support you in |
| you through the consultation process can tell you | | | | working and communicating together effectively? |
| a lot about what it will be like to work with her. | | | | If the VA only dabbles or works on the fly, her |
| Not only do you want a Virtual Assistant who can | | | | lack of commitment or focus can definitely leave |
| provide superior quality work, but you also want | | | | you holding the short end of the stick. This can |
| someone who demonstrates excellent business | | | | manifest in longer turn-around times, lack of |
| sense, especially since she will be instrumental in | | | | continuity, poor communication, conflicting |
| helping you in your business. | | | | commitments, interrupted work schedules, and |
| During the consultation, some things the Virtual | | | | long or inconvenient periods of unavailability. |
| Assistant should cover with you include:o A clear | | | | 8. Testimonials. A successful, experienced Virtual |
| overview of how she works with clients;o What | | | | Assistant will have plenty of testimonials on her |
| her processes are;o What services she provides | | | | website from past and current clients. She should |
| (and doesn't provide); ando What her values and | | | | also be able to provide you with contact |
| expectations are for working together. | | | | information of satisfied clients who are willing to |
| 4. Personal & Professional Traits. Listen for | | | | speak with you about their perceptions and |
| the cues that tell you this is someone you can | | | | experiences in working with her. |
| rely on and form an excellent business relationship | | | | 9. The Owner. Many Virtual Assistants provide an |
| with. How smartly the VA handles her business is | | | | "About the Owner" page in their website as a |
| going to directly correlate with how well she | | | | way to share important aspects of themselves |
| handles your work. Some things you should pay | | | | with prospective clients. It's intended to provide |
| attention to include:o Does she take the lead in | | | | you with a view into their personal ethics, belief |
| guiding you through the consultation?o Is she | | | | systems, personality and goals. This information |
| confident and articulate?o Does she inspire feelings | | | | can be helpful in determining whether you share |
| of trust?o Do you feel a good connection?o Does | | | | similar values and want to talk with the VA |
| she interrupt often or listen carefully when you | | | | further. Since you will be choosing each other, |
| speak?o Does she exhibit interest and curiosity | | | | make an equal effort to get to know the VA by |
| about your business?o Does she ask smart, | | | | reading that page. |
| purposeful questions? | | | | 10. Pricing. Virtual Assistant rates average |
| 5. Experience. Understand that the single-most | | | | between $35 - $65 per hour. |
| important qualification of a Virtual Assistant is | | | | Virtual Assistance is not the type of service you |
| extensive administrative experience. From this | | | | want to price shop. I know, I know. We all want |
| level of experience, she is expected to possess | | | | to get the best price and pay the least amount |
| the superior skills, training and business knowledge | | | | possible. But we've all heard the saying "you get |
| that are the hallmark of a truly qualified Virtual | | | | what you pay for" and this is very true in the |
| Assistant. | | | | Virtual Assistance industry as well. |
| However, this is an unregulated industry, and while | | | | Think about your own profession. You know you |
| the veterans of us work to promote and maintain | | | | aren't the cheapest, and you wouldn't want to be. |
| high standards, the Internet has nonetheless | | | | You know that expertise and quality comes at a |
| attracted a certain segment of individuals who | | | | price, but the value of that caliber of service |
| have little to no qualifications or only entry-level | | | | extends far beyond mere dollars, and, in turn, |
| skill sets that do not equip them to meet your | | | | saves your clients money. |
| very real and important business needs. Asking | | | | You know this. |
| the prospective Virtual Assistant some of these | | | | You will find Virtual Assistants who charge very |
| questions will help you discern the difference:o | | | | little--so little, in fact, that they can't possibly be |
| What was your experience prior to opening your | | | | running a profitable, sustainable practice, one that's |
| Virtual Assistant practice?o What positions have | | | | going to be around long enough for you to |
| you held?o How many years administrative | | | | depend on. |
| experience do you have?o How would you rate | | | | Inappropriately low rates also signal a lack of |
| your skill level (you might ask this in reference to | | | | business sense, which most often translates to |
| certain skills or software competencies relative to | | | | poor quality, and lack of skill and experience. The |
| the services you need)?o How would you | | | | consequence of hiring a Virtual Assistant who falls |
| characterize your level of understanding with | | | | in this category is that your investment in her is |
| regard to business principles and operations? | | | | unstable and ever at risk. |
| Look for a Virtual Assistant who has worked in | | | | Virtual Assistants who don't price their services |
| upper-level positions such as administrative | | | | profitably do not stay in business long. In their last |
| assistant, executive assistant, office manager, | | | | gasps, many end up taking on a side-job or more |
| legal secretary, legal assistant, paralegal, | | | | clients than they can handle just to break even, |
| supervisor, manager, etc. Virtual Assistants whose | | | | becoming overwhelmed in the process. For you, |
| only experience was in receptionist or clerical roles | | | | this means they are less available, and their |
| are not commonly going to have high-level skills | | | | service and quality of work suffers. |
| and competencies. | | | | You want ability. You want someone you can |
| Keep in mind that Virtual Assistants are | | | | work with well. You want great customer service. |
| independent professionals, not employees. Just as | | | | And you want someone who's going to stick |
| you would not ask an accountant, attorney or | | | | around. |
| any other service professional for their resume, it | | | | So look for quality and value--it's an investment |
| is inappropriate to ask a Virtual Assistant for | | | | that will literally put money back in your pocket. |
| theirs, and the request would be considered | | | | |