How Do I Hire a Virtual Assistant?
IN A HURRY? HERE’S THE BOTTOM LINE:
Hiring a Virtual Assistant can be a game-changer for busy entrepreneurs aiming to grow their businesses and achieve better work-life balance. Start by prioritizing 1-3 tasks that are necessary to your business but aren’t enjoyable for you, then create a job description, post it, and interview potential Virtual Assistants. Once you feel confident that you’ve identified the right candidate, you can begin!
GOT A MINUTE? HERE ARE THE DETAILS TO CONSIDER:
In my 10+ years working with business owners, I’ve discovered that many are hesitant to bring on their first team members. Delegating a portion of your work and building a team are necessary for your growth - yet they can trigger feelings of uncertainty and fear.
Your business might be your baby but if you want to have a life outside of work, you need help. Trust me, you ARE worthy of having a rockstar team to help you take your business to the next level! Have faith that there are amazing, talented people out there, and their work will pay for itself (and then some).
But if you’re just getting started with bringing on your first contractors, this blog is for you. Here are the main steps to hiring a Virtual Assistant:
STEP 1: PRIORITIZE TASKS
Spend some time brainstorming tasks that you would like taken off your plate. This list doesn’t have to be exhaustive - in fact, I recommend just starting with 1-3 tasks when you begin outsourcing. Here are some questions to help you prioritize the initial tasks:
What are you struggling to do on your own? (Examples: Keeping up with social media posts, launching an email newsletter)
What tasks do you not enjoy and have to force yourself to do? (Examples: Sending invoices to clients and following up on payments, writing blogs)
What projects have you been putting on the back burner? (Examples: Updating your website, organizing your email inbox)
STEP 2: CREATE A SIMPLE JOB DESCRIPTION
Taking those handful of key tasks, write a simple job description for what you are seeking. Make sure you include frequency (a one-time project or ongoing support) and requirements (availability, software experience, etc. Include a way to contact you - do you want them to email, call, or fill out a Google form?
I also like to ask candidates to send me a paragraph telling me about themselves. This will help you get a feel for their personality - and whether or not they read the whole description!
Tip: If your job description sounds like a total drag to you, you’re probably on the right track to delegating some things that will give you relief! There is ALWAYS someone out there who would absolutely love to do the tasks you’re looking to outsource.
STEP 3: SPREAD THE WORD
Tap into your network for recommendations. You might know of other business owners who are using Virtual Assistants, or post a request on your LinkedIn profile. Another strategy is to find Facebook or LinkedIn groups related to virtual assisting, and post your description inside. You can also do a google search or ask for recommendations at a local college / technical school.
STEP 4: INTERVIEW CANDIDATES
Once you’ve started receiving interest, comb through the applications and messages. Go with your gut when it comes to who you’d like to interview. A resume full of grammatical errors probably isn’t a good sign for a social media writer, for example.
I recommend setting up interviews with your top three candidates to start; you can always talk to more, but you don’t want to overwhelm yourself. In these interviews, ask about their past experience and how they’d work with you on the tasks/projects you’d like to outsource.
Ask your candidates about their contract terms - you do NOT want to proceed with a service provider without a contract. Also, do your due diligence! Ask for recommendations, references, or testimonials and follow-up with them.
STEP 5: HIRE YOUR VIRTUAL ASSISTANT
Hiring your Virtual Assistant also comes down to your gut. You need to be able to trust this person and know that they have the skills to do the tasks you need them to do. But don’t hire based on experience alone - you need to enjoy working with your Virtual Assistant and be able to easily communicate with them!
If you’re curious about what our Virtual Assistant team can take off your plate AND help you grow your business, I invite you to schedule a complimentary, no-obligation consultation! If you’re a current client of Melissa Swink & Co., please feel free to reach out to me via email if you’d like to review the tasks and projects you’re sending our way and discover additional ways we can support you as you grow your business.
