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Introduced in the early 21st century along with the rise of technology, virtual assistant jobs became an alternative to conventional employment arrangements.
Many companies resorted to hiring virtual assistants to perform various tasks, from admin to appointment setting to cold calling. Even before the pandemic, remote staffing is already in demand. But with the current situation, the requirement became more of social responsibility- to flatten the curve.
Managing a short-term rental is no different from this kind of setup. Though there are tasks that require ground people like maintenance and housekeeping, plumbing, and electrical, there are jobs that can be done virtually. In fact, when the stay-at-home order was enforced, open houses and ocular visits were reduced to online viewing. Meetings with clients were done via virtual meeting platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, etc.
A day’s work, sometimes, cannot be concluded in one day. Most often, employees spend overtime getting an urgent task done. When this situation arises, it pays to have someone you can entrust specific tasks to. Having someone who can perform assignments without taking up space and resources an office set-up incurs is a great giveaway. As a CEO or founder, or owner, you get to maximize your time without compromising your integrity at work because you have someone to oversee your business’ day-to-day operations.
It’s not easy to hire a virtual assistant. It requires more than just looking through someone’s resume. You need every ounce of patience and a keen eye. In addition, you must be adept at how you filter aspirants. So what do you specifically need?
It’s not every day that you meet a perfect candidate, and you can’t just assume that the applicant you’re looking at will be able to deliver what you require of him or her. This is when you should lay down the qualification that you are looking for. Be accurate with your descriptions so as not to confuse applicants. Soon, you’ll meet the best match.
As a general virtual assistant, he or she must have knowledge and background on the various specializations that are deemed necessary and valuable for the client’s business- your business.
An efficient virtual assistant must have good communication skills. His primary qualification, aside from his knowledge of the craft, is to communicate clearly and effectively. Since everything is done remotely, you, as the owner, wouldn’t want to be blinded to what’s happening, right?
A virtual assistant must have knowledge in using a computer and in utilizing cloud computing devices. In addition, sharing data and information to and from the client and the virtual assistant is vital in a remote setup.
He should also know how to use specific applications and communication platforms.
A virtual assistant should have a stable and reliable internet connection for direct communication with the client and their teammates on the technical side.
A laptop or computer with specifications that will allow the virtual assistant to perform his tasks with ease.
A reliable virtual assistant should be goal-oriented. He should be able to assess his priorities and have the grit to achieve them as seamlessly as possible.
A virtual assistant should also be organized with his time and tasks.
Therefore, having good time management skills is a lifesaver.
Most companies pay virtual assistants per hour. Be specific on this. How many hours do you need your virtual assistant to perform a day’s duty for you? Do you want them to give you hourly updates? Do you require a time tracker?
These are all dependent on you, but please be transparent. Inform applicants and set the expectations clearly. If this is your first time in the virtual employment world, it’s understandable for you not to have a clear view of the pay you’ll have to give. However, keep in mind that you are getting a good favor since you are definitely paying a lesser salary than what you usually pay an office-based worker. Add also to the equation how much savings you get for not renting a space, providing equipment, and the like.
Most often, you’ll get a virtual assistant from the other side of the world. That’ll mean your time zones differ, but the virtual assistant will have to adjust to meet your schedule since you are the employer. Give them credit, will you? Also, you might want to look into the workload. Is the compensation commensurate with their abilities? Are the demands of the work considerable? Finally, be gentle with virtual assistants. They get the job done exemplary under the minimum to no supervision.
However, don’t go guilt-tripping if you are paying a not-so-high wage to your virtual assistant. As mentioned, virtual assistants are from other countries where the cost of living is not as high as your own country. Just be considerate and note that virtual assistants toil as much as office workers do. Therefore, they make sure that they leave a good impression on their work since it’s the only way to prove their competency.
Before you plunge into getting a virtual assistant, set your mind right and be precise on what you want. Just like you, virtual assistants are very particular with their time and energy. Try to be as understanding as you can be and always get your message across in a friendly way. Learn the value of giving and take. After all, you both need each other.
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