Working With Virtual Assistants

Get the Help You Need, When You Need It

Ricardo Harvin
E-mail Questions for Tech Tools to techtools@uschamber.com.

Every business has to balance workload with staffing levels, and knowing when to make a new hire is always an important decision.

Fortunately, your options for finding the help you need, when you need it, rather than having to make a long-term hiring commitment, have opened up. Virtual assistants can help you get your work done without increasing your payroll.

The term virtual assistant applies to a well-established, but still relatively unfamiliar, type of worker who--due in large part to the drop in the price of both high-speed Internet connections and high-tech equipment over the past several years--is able to work on your assignments from any location using his or her own equipment and workspace.

Virtual assistants cover the full range of standard business needs--from administrative functions to legal assistance, marketing, technology, and other areas.

Besides being able to work from any location, virtual assistants have several advantages over standard temps. You can tap into a wider pool of talent than you may be able to find using local placement agencies. Also, because you deal directly with the virtual assistants, instead of working through an agency, you can get a feel for the person before he or she starts working for you. Also, you save agency fees.

There are, however, challenges to consider. These include being solely responsible for finding the right person to meet your needs and having to negotiate the contract details on your own.

Here are some tips for working with virtual assistants:

Put everything in writing, from the description of the work to be done, including deadlines or other time constraints, to the fee you'll be paying. If appropriate, have the virtual assistant sign a nondisclosure agreement.
Unless you're willing to pay extra, don't add onto or alter the job after you've come to
an agreement.
Avoid paying for a minimum block of time unless you're certain that the job will take longer than the minimum you've established, and you're confident that you'll be satisfied with the work.
Don't pay the full bill before the work is done, but be ready to pay in full as soon as the work is completed as agreed on.
Ask for and check references before hiring.

Whether for a one-time project or for ongoing tasks, virtual assistants can help you manage your workload while keeping your operational costs under control. For help in finding virtual assistants, check out E-sources at the link below.

E-Sources:

International Virtual Assistants Association

Entrepreneur Magazine Article, "Finding a Fantastic Virtual Assistant"

Post Your Projects and Search for Service Providers

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