Hello and welcome! Today I want to talk about a subject very near and dear to me and my business: hiring a VA! When it comes to hiring someone to help you be your best self, whether that's personally or professionally, a lot of factors come into play, and with that a lot of questions. For me, there are many important questions that should be addressed before ever stepping foot into an interview, however I want to focus on the big 3: 1. What tasks do I want to outsource?What tasks do you need this VA to be able to excel in? Why do you even need a VA in the first place? This is the first question for me because it's the most critical to understanding the type of VA you're looking to invest in, and it spurs on other very critical questions as you navigate this world of virtual professionals. If you can't answer this question clearly, then you're not ready to hire a VA. Once you hire a VA, they are going to be ready for YOU, so you need to be ready for THEM!2. How much time will it take?How much time you are willing to invest in your new VA is going to determine a lot about your dedication to this new business venture. Subsequently, the less time you and your VA have getting to know each other and your style of work, the longer it's going to take for your VA to understand you, how you like to work, and how the work your VA does is to be completed. Think of it as a 90-day trial period. Most employers take the first 90 days to really invest, train, and orient their new staff. Why? Because in the first 90 days, not a lot of real work is going to be completed, because the staff just got there and need a footing before becoming the workhorse you know they'll be! But you have to give it time. If you and your VA don't spend time together, their work output is bound to take more time for them to get it just the way you want, and that can cause a serious rift because time is money. Make sure to take time up front so you both benefit in the long run. 3. How much are you willing to pay?
Pay has always been the hot topic of any job posting, interview, and performance evaluation. Pay determines so many other factors and can be the main factor in having a smooth or rocky professional relationship. Over the last five years, major publications such as The Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, and most recently, Bloomberg, have posted articles about how asking for salary history doesn't actually provide accurate information in determining a persons ability to perform, and it certainly doesn't help fix the pay equity gap. Rather, review the VA's credentials, work history, and current clientele. Being able to look past the resume, education and salary history can tell a story about the potential VA that you wouldn't have known if you had only looked at the dollar signs.
Want to learn more about my VA business? Check out our services @ www.choicevirtualassistant.com
Keep Dreaming,
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