| al offices and virtual assistants come a dime a | | | | thinks they can do it. |
| dozen these days. Do a search for “virtual | | | | Instead, look for a niche company that specializes |
| office” and the first thing you’ll | | | | in finding virtual assistants, or even better, |
| likely get are job descriptions. Many people would | | | | specializes in offering virtual office support. That |
| love to be a work-at-home virtual administrative | | | | way, you never have to deal with staffing issues |
| assistant, so it goes without saying that the levels | | | | – it’s all done in-house by the |
| of quality you’ll run into will range from | | | | virtual office company. A key to finding |
| the utterly time-wasting to the superbly profitable | | | | businesses that offer these services is to search |
| returns on investment. | | | | “business centre” on the Internet. |
| To make sure you opt for a virtual office service | | | | Business centres offering shared office space |
| or virtual assistant that reigns in profits for your | | | | usually also offer pay-per-use secretarial support. |
| company by allowing you to focus on what you | | | | 4) Look for Affiliations with Associations. Virtual |
| do best (while they take care of running your | | | | office companies and assistants who belong to an |
| menial office tasks), be sure to follow these | | | | association in their industry already have a head |
| guidelines: | | | | start on capturing your attention – or at |
| 1) Ask for referrals and references. If hiring a | | | | least they should. Belonging to these associations |
| lone-standing virtual assistant not attached to a | | | | means that a) they are serious enough about |
| larger company, make sure you get references | | | | their business offering to join the association and |
| and follow up on them. The references should be | | | | b) they are quality workers or service providers |
| real – not merely work done for a family | | | | that risk being ousted by the association if they |
| business. Working remotely for a company is not | | | | develop a seriously bad reputation for the work |
| like working in-house, and it certainly is not like | | | | they do. |
| working for a family member. | | | | 4) Finally, Meet the Personality Behind the Person. |
| If outsourcing to a virtual office company that | | | | This is important and can save you from making |
| offers administrative support services, be sure to | | | | a silly mistake in choosing a virtual assistant. Yes, |
| get referrals, or ask around in your network for | | | | virtual assistants work remotely, and are tech |
| recommendations. If they’ve done a good | | | | savvy, but who says they can’t meet |
| job for your buddy at XYZ company, | | | | you for a coffee chat to discuss how you might |
| they’ll likely do a good job for you too. | | | | work together, and what your expectations will |
| 2) Consider the Cost. Going for the lowest price is | | | | be? This also ensures your virtual assistant is local, |
| not the best strategy when looking to outsource | | | | which means quick access and no time zone |
| a work-from-home office worker. The higher the | | | | differences when you need something urgently. |
| price, more quality you can expect (and demand). | | | | The best way to find a virtual office or assistant |
| If you hunt based on price alone, you can expect | | | | is of course, to try them out. If this is your first |
| that your virtual assistant with named qualities will | | | | time looking to outsource your office services, |
| be less than perfect for the job – or even | | | | you’re on an exciting road because your |
| worse, merely a high school student under cover | | | | company won’t have to deal with the |
| as a professional secretary. | | | | headache and cost of hiring someone full time. |
| 3) Don’t Go the Obvious Route. When | | | | While there may be risk in taking on a virtual |
| looking at sites like or odesk.com, you’ll | | | | assistant, it is far less of a risk than hiring an |
| get a lot of variety, and actually the results on | | | | employee, spending time and money to train |
| your search query will be overwhelming. People | | | | them, and then finding out they’re not the |
| bidding on a job can be anybody. Same goes | | | | right fit. With virtual workers, you only pay for |
| when you post on Craigslist or Kijiji for a virtual | | | | what you use, and there is no commitment. Plus |
| assistant. You’ll get a huge flood of | | | | you are more free to shop around. So try them |
| resumes piling in to your inbox because everyone | | | | and see! |