How to Find A Virtual Assistant

Has your life or business become so busy that you need a personal assistant? With technology today, you no longer need to hire an assistant who works in your home or office. Now you can hire a virtual assistant to help you manage your day to day home or business needs. However, it is important to know how to find a great virtual assistant who you can trust with your personal information as well as to get the job done. Learn how to find and hire a personal assistant.

Things You'll Need

• list of tasks for the virtual assistant
• budget
• number of hours

Instructions

1. The first thing you need to do to hire a virtual assistant is to determine exactly what tasks you will want to have your virtual assistant complete. Write out a job description and include the number of weekly hours you expect you will need your virtual assistant to perform. This description should also include all necessary skills that your personal assistant must possess - computer programs like outlook, excel, and word; interpersonal skills if they will be making phone calls, writing skills if they will be scribing emails, budgeting skills if they will handle finances, etc. Determine exactly what you will want your virtual assistant to do and list it in your job description. The more exact you are the more likely you are to find a virtual assistant with the right skill set. It is also very important to determine the hourly wage at this point. Most virtual assistants make between $15-55 an hour and some work for weekly rates.

2. Once you have written the job description for your virtual assistant, you will want start advertising the position so that you can find potential virtual assistants. You should post your description on craigslist, online freelancing websites, and virtual assistant hubs like virtualassistant.org and miracleassistant.com. You can also search on these sites to find someone who meets your needs. If you are willing to use an international assistant you can expect to pay lower hourly rates.

3. Once you start hearing from candidates you will want to interview them and ask for references. Ask potential virtual assistants to complete a short list of tasks to make sure they are capable and efficient.

4. Finally, once you have found a virtual assistant who meets your needs you will want to have that person sign a contract including how they will be paid, whether they will be an independent contractor (thus responsible for their own taxes) and any confidentially agreements. It is also advisable to include a trial period in the contract so you can easily terminate the virtual assistant if they do not perform to your needs.

5. Strongly consider using an agency to find a virtual assistant if you do not want to deal with the paperwork on your end. Agencies will take care of all of this for you at a small cost that is worth it in the end.