| One bad experience is enough to turn you off the | | | | to find the right people to hire. It is the same with |
| whole idea of Virtual Assistance. You may think | | | | a Virtual Assistant [VA]. You may interview or |
| the whole concept was overrated in the first | | | | speak to a long list of VA service providers |
| place. Plus you debate the whole morality behind | | | | free-lancing VA's before you find the team |
| outsourcing. About replacing an assistant that you | | | | candidate that fits your requirement. |
| can see and talk to with a person you can | | | | The end result will prove that it is worth the |
| interact with virtually. | | | | effort. You need someone who does good work, |
| The most common complaint is the inability to | | | | it doesn't matter what location they work out of |
| communicate effectively. When you screen | | | | or if they speak English like you do. In these |
| people during interviews you pay attention to | | | | tough times, where consumers/clients are |
| qualification, experience and attitude, but you don't | | | | reluctant to spend, the need is greater to increase |
| necessarily end up with a team of smart, | | | | the quality of work/service/products without |
| innovative people. You end up with some | | | | increasing costs. The need is greater to advertise, |
| employees who surpass expectations, some who | | | | online and otherwise and reach your audience |
| chug along consistently and some who just aren't | | | | using every medium you can, while cutting costs. |
| up-to scratch. | | | | A VA will probably cost you half of what you pay |
| The non-performers are not necessarily without | | | | a personal/general/administrative assistant. And |
| talent. They are the ones who are either | | | | you can afford the trials and the errors while you |
| disinterested or not focused or they simply don't | | | | get accustomed to working with your VA, |
| understand or relate to the expectations set for | | | | because at the fee your pay you won't feel the |
| them, nor any of the goals and objectives you | | | | pinch. All tasks can be completed overnight, ready |
| have set for your business. This proves language | | | | & waiting in your in-box when you come to work |
| is not the barrier, the challenge is to find someone | | | | the next day. Your VA is only a phone call/chat |
| who understands your business needs, adapts | | | | or email away and they are thorough |
| accordingly, and gets the results. | | | | professionals, some of them entrepreneurs in |
| Virtual assistance has opened a new chapter in | | | | their own right who understand the challenges of |
| the way we do business. It has widened the pool | | | | small, medium and large or corporate businesses. |
| from which we choose the talent to work | | | | If you expect innovation at work, you have to be |
| alongside us. Face to face interviews have proved | | | | willing to embrace innovation in how you work and |
| that it may take a long list of potential candidates | | | | hiring a VA may just be the answer. |