| In some respects choosing the right VA to work | | | | where you can source and then contact VAs |
| with can be harder than hiring an employee. After | | | | directly. These databases also list skills and |
| all, due to the nature of virtual working, the | | | | location. These are: |
| chances are you may never meet this person | | | | Alliance of UK Virtual Assistants - |
| face to face, or even have a phone conversation | | | | International Virtual Assistants Association - |
| with them. All communication may be carried out | | | | The Virtual Business Group - |
| via email. So, given these circumstances, how do | | | | Digital Women - |
| you know that working with a VA, and even | | | | International Virtual Women's Chamber of |
| finding the right VA, will be for you? | | | | Commerce - |
| The numerous benefits of working with a VA are | | | | 4. Once you've narrowed it down to two or three |
| well documented, and there are many, many | | | | VAs, have a phone conversation with them |
| clients worldwide who will testify to the | | | | (rather than exchange emails), as this will give you |
| advantages of this way of working. The purpose | | | | a good idea as to whether the VA is right for |
| of this article is to help you in your decision of | | | | you, i.e. do you and this person 'click'. This is very |
| choosing the right VA, and give you some | | | | important as you will be trusting your business to |
| pointers along the way. | | | | your VA and, as you are in a 'virtual' working |
| 1. The first thing to consider is what it is you | | | | relationship, it is not quite the same as having |
| want your VA to do for you. Ask yourself these | | | | someone sitting next to you in the office - so |
| sorts of questions: | | | | you really do have to feel that this person has |
| What is the nature of my project? | | | | the right experience and you can trust them to |
| Do I need to hire a 'local' VA versus 'anywhere'? | | | | deal with your work. Also, from the VA's point of |
| Do I need to have regular meetings with my VA? | | | | view, they need to feel that you are the right |
| The very nature of virtual working means that | | | | client for them. This is a two-way street where |
| when working with a VA location isn't an issue, | | | | you both need to feel completely happy with the |
| after all a VA can carry out all the duties a | | | | working relationship. |
| regular in-office secretary can do (except make | | | | 5. Another very important consideration is does |
| you a coffee!) - they can manage your diary, | | | | your VA's skills match your needs? Check out |
| handle your emails, deal with your | | | | their websites, view client's testimonials, and |
| correspondence, type up reports, make your | | | | examine their profile. If necessary ask if you can |
| travel arrangements etc. etc. However, if you feel | | | | contact either a current or previous client for a |
| that working with a local VA is what you need, | | | | reference. |
| then you should focus your search on just local | | | | 6. Always ensure that you sign an agreement |
| VAs. However, be aware that by doing this you | | | | before any work starts so that you both know |
| may be limiting your options when choosing the | | | | exactly what is expected of each other. The |
| right VA. | | | | agreement should set out project requirements, |
| 2. Once you have decided on the above issues, | | | | fees (or an estimation of fees), VA's terms |
| and you know exactly what it is you want your | | | | & conditions, client confidentiality policy etc. |
| VA to do, then make an initial contact with | | | | Your VA will provide the agreement, and you |
| several VAs and send the same RFP (Request | | | | should both keep a signed copy. |
| for Proposal) to each of them so that you can | | | | 7. And finally, contact your potential VA as many |
| make some initial comparisons. This should include | | | | times as you feel necessary to ensure that you |
| such things as an outline of the project details, | | | | are 100% happy with them before any work |
| asking about their fees/fee structure, how they | | | | starts. |
| would go about doing the work for you, how | | | | And don't forget to contact me to get your |
| would you receive/send work etc. Basically include | | | | handy checklist for so that you can be sure you |
| anything that you have thought about and would | | | | have all bases covered when you're looking for |
| like answers to. At the end of this report is a | | | | the right VA. |
| useful checklist for you to use when approaching | | | | REMEMBER: A Virtual Assistant's role is to support |
| VAs. | | | | you and your business, by taking the pressure off |
| 3. If you're not sure how to go about finding VAs | | | | you so you can spend more time working ON |
| that meet your requirements, then there are | | | | your business instead of IN it. |
| several FREE searchable databases available | | | | |