If you want to grow your business, the first step you need to do – if you haven’t already – is to hire a Virtual Assistant.

You can’t be the company CEO and still do admin jobs.

Virtual assistants are an affordable way to get help with your daily tasks and business operations. 

However, before you hire one, it’s important to know what you should and should not do when working with your VA and avoid unnecessary mistakes.

Dos:

Conduct Background Check

Be prudent and get to know the people you’re hiring. 

Research the potential VA’s background to ensure that you’re not hiring an internet scammer or someone who could work for your competition.

I’m not asking you to hire a private investigator. You can start by doing a simple Google search of their name and see what comes up. You can also search for their name on social media circles. This will give you an idea of how they behave online and how much information they share with the world. If there are any red flags on their profiles, it’s best to pass.

Sign a Contract

The contract should indicate the duration of the project (if you’re hiring on a per-project basis), the rate you’ve both agreed on, the tasks involved, and a non-disclosure agreement if you need one.

You also need to indicate that they can’t work for a competition. 

An email exchange is enough if you don’t have a formal contract. As long as you have it in writing. It’s also good practice to have your contract checked by an attorney. 

Do a Trial Period

A trial period prevents the nightmare of hiring the wrong person only to find out you can’t fire them because you’re tied to a contract. A trial period will give you enough time to gauge if your Virtual Assistant can do the job well.

Also, by having a trial period, you can also assess if the amount of tasks you’ve given them is just right or not. 

Pay Attention to their Attitude and Approach

This is a big deal. 

A positive attitude is as necessary for success in virtual assistant work as it is for any other job. Do you see them as someone who is eager to learn? What kind of questions do they ask? Are they always on time? Do they give a damn if you succeed or not?

You’re not hiring a Virtual Assistant just so you can pass on the tasks you hate to them. You’re hiring a business partner – someone who gives a damn about your business. So pay attention to their attitude towards their work ethics and how they care about business.

Keep Communications Clear

What communication app you’d like to use? Make sure you let your VA know if you prefer Slack or Messenger.

Also, let your VAs know they can ask questions anytime. It’s better to overcommunicate than miscommunicate.

Be Specific About What You Want and Expect From Your VA

You can take several steps to ensure the VA you hire works efficiently and effectively.

• Be very specific about what you want, what you expect, and the exact results the VA needs to produce within the given time frame.
• Have a clear understanding of how much time your VA will take to complete specific tasks so that there are no surprises when they submit an invoice for payment after completing their work.
• Include pertinent information about yourself in an introductory email so virtual assistants can get to know who they’re working for before deciding if they want to work with them as clients (that way, both parties can determine if it’s a good fit).

Don’ts:

Don’t Hire Someone You Can’t Trust

Trust is one of the most important things when hiring a VA. You must trust your VA to do what they say they’ll do. But how do you trust someone you don’t know personally? This is why it’s essential to hire your VA from trusted sources.

Don’t Get VA Referrals from Random People on the Internet

Even your well-meaning friends may not be able to give you the best referral because they don’t know your business.

Don’t Hire a VA Unless You’re Clear on Your Goals

Sometimes people get excited about their business’s growth that they hire without first trying to figure out the role of the VA.

First, you need to be clear on your goals. Do you want to establish an online brand? Do you want a more consistent online presence? Do you have a bunch of admin tasks you want to take off your plate?

Figure out first the things that your business needs and then hire based on that. This will help you avoid making a hiring mistake down the road.

Conclusion

Finding and hiring a VA is not an easy task. But it’s one of the most rewarding business decisions you’ll make. So make it count.

Reach out to us today and let us help you find a Virtual Assistant who will take care of your business even while you sleep.