| Seven important considerations when choosing a | | | | compare what you get for your money. Many |
| virtual PA. | | | | people get hung up on the hourly rate but |
| 1. Experience. | | | | remember your virtual PA will be helping you to |
| How much experience do they have? Ideally a | | | | earn more money for your business. They should |
| good virtual assistant should have over five years | | | | be worth their weight in gold as the expression |
| experience as a senior PA or secretary. How long | | | | goes! |
| have they been in business? A relatively new | | | | 5. Contractual terms. |
| 'virtual' personal assistant is not a bad sign, look at | | | | They should prepare a client agreement for you. |
| their corporate experience and find out more | | | | This formalises the arrangement and will outline |
| about what they have to offer. After all, we all | | | | payment terms as well as other contractual |
| have to start somewhere. Investigate whether | | | | obligations. Check the payment terms are |
| they have any specific experience in working | | | | achievable for your business, it is your duty to |
| within your industry. This is particularly useful for | | | | pay your assistant on time and they may cease |
| those working within the financial, legal, health and | | | | working for you if you fail to pay when due. |
| training sectors. | | | | 6. Technology/equipment. |
| 2. Skills. | | | | Check what computer equipment your PA has |
| What particular skills does the personal assistant | | | | and also whether they have any other useful |
| have and are they what you need? Are they | | | | equipment like transcription machines (though not |
| lacking in any skills that you need and can they | | | | essential if you use digital transcription), fax, |
| outsource to someone else in this case? If they | | | | printers, telephones, BlackBerry or other PDA. |
| say they can design websites, look at their | | | | They should also have a reliable broadband |
| website - is it professional and well designed? If | | | | connection as well as a contact number for |
| they don't have the skills you require ask if they | | | | telephone calls. |
| are prepared to learn them. Most virtual PAs have | | | | 7. Personality. |
| brilliant I.T. skills and will pick up new systems | | | | Finally but most importantly how will you work |
| quickly. | | | | with your virtual secretary? A good relationship |
| 3. References/testimonials. | | | | with your PA is essential for both parties and will |
| Can the assistant provide some references or | | | | help you develop your business relationship over |
| testimonials that you can verify? A good one will | | | | time. Your virtual PA will become an important |
| have a combination of written and telephone | | | | lifeline for your business so it is fantastic if you 'hit |
| referees. | | | | it off' and have complete faith in them. |
| 4. Rates. | | | | There is a lot to consider when hiring a virtual PA |
| Are they charging too much or too little? They | | | | and there is much more to your decision than |
| may be the cheapest but that may also reflect | | | | simply considering hourly rates. Look at all factors |
| the quality of their work, the standard of their | | | | equally and you should find someone who shares |
| equipment or their lack of professionalism. Do | | | | your goals for your business. |
| some research about the 'going' rate and | | | | |