| Hiring a virtual assistant (also known as a VA) | | | | Before hiring a virtual assistant you need to know |
| seems to be the new 'hot' trend for many self | | | | exactly why you want an assistant and what you |
| employed entrepreneurs (especially since 'The | | | | want them for. Think about precisely what jobs |
| Four Hour Workweek book massively publicized | | | | they'll be doing for you so that you can hire |
| them). Hiring someone for a relatively little amount | | | | someone with the required skill set. There's no |
| of money to do menial and time consuming tasks | | | | point hiring someone who's a computer expert, |
| for you is certainly a good idea, and is great in | | | | fluent in 5 languages and a black belt in karate if |
| business because it allows you to focus on the | | | | you only want them to do data entry for you! |
| things that really matter. | | | | As well as hiring someone that has the required |
| Often you'll see people hiring VA's simply because | | | | level of expertise, you should also look to hire |
| they want to feel like an important business | | | | someone that you get on with (at least enough |
| person that has people working for them. This is | | | | to work together). While you aren't starting a |
| fine if you have money to waste, or if you're fine | | | | social club, it is important that you're able to |
| with hiring an assistant that might not do their job | | | | communicate with your VA's in a friendly manner, |
| properly, but for the rest of us this isn't a good | | | | since it'll make the working relationship a lot easier |
| idea. | | | | for the both of you. |