Should your business or nonprofit hire a virtual assistant?
I haven’t needed a virtual assistant (yet), but many small businesses turn to this option before exploring adding full-time team members. Is a VA right for you?
What is a virtual assistant?
Virtual assistants (VA) are typically independent contractors who perform administrative work remotely for your company or nonprofit organization. Some VAs work through an agency and contract with multiple companies simultaneously. Others may work independently and find opportunities through standard job listings.
Considering a virtual assistant instead of a standard, the in-person receptionist might be a smart move in the growing era of work-from-home demands from millions of employees. While it has some disadvantages, the benefits far outweigh the risks.
What are the advantages of hiring a virtual assistant?
Reduced expenses
Virtual assistants are typically less expensive to employ than in-office receptionists or administrative assistants. A portion of this cost savings comes from reduced overhead expenses like providing office space and office supplies. Typically, companies and nonprofits do not cover virtual assistants under insurance programs or benefits, giving plenty of cost savings.
Some businesses and nonprofits choose to give virtual assistants some financial allowance for home office equipment, office supplies, etc., but those details are flexible.
Higher Productivity
Virtual assistants generally rate higher productivity than standard, in-office assistants due to the type of person who gravitates toward a virtual assistant career - someone highly skilled, efficient, and who enjoys administrative work.
Typically, virtual assistants also work for more than one company or nonprofit at a time. Therefore, they must be efficient and organized to promptly complete their assigned work. In addition, some VAs are paid per assignment, which means the more projects completed, the more money they make.
How you choose to compensate your virtual assistant may depend on the agency handling the hiring process. However, you and your virtual assistant can agree on a mutually beneficial arrangement if employed independently. For example, some nonprofits may ask their virtual assistants to sit in on board meetings or planning sessions, either by attending in person or via conference call or video. Others may choose to keep virtual assistants 100% virtual and delegate those in-person tasks to another team member instead.
Hiring a virtual assistant? Get an attorney-prepared Virtual Assistant (VA) Contract Template for peace of mind.
Increased employee satisfaction
In some cases, a receptionist or typical administrative assistant might be unhappy with their job assignments, work hours, or office environment. It’s not uncommon for people in these positions to be overqualified and underutilized based on their skills and experience.
However, with a virtual assistant, this is often the opposite. Those working in this field have intentionally sought out assistant work and created their working environment. As a result, they’ve likely acquired the best combination of skills like effective time management, advanced computer skills, and organizational abilities that allow them to manage multiple projects at once.
As a result, virtual assistants are likely to report higher job satisfaction, stay in one position longer, and have long-term loyalty under excellent working conditions.
How to find a virtual assistant
You can find virtual assistants using multiple different platforms; however, having the backing of a virtual assistant agency such as VirtualHeadquarters.com means that you do not have to go through the process alone.
And when you find the perfect virtual assistant, ensure you’re using an attorney-approved virtual assistant contract to protect you both!
Using platforms like LinkedIn or Indeed can help you find a virtual assistant skilled in your industry, or networking with other businesses may open opportunities to collaborate and share a virtual assistant among your teams.
If you’re considering bringing on additional help for your small business or nonprofit, considering a virtual assistant is well worth your due diligence. In today’s ever-evolving business climate, it pays to think outside the box and consider alternatives to the traditional employee experience.
Are you currently using a virtual assistant in your business or nonprofit? How did you find them? What would you recommend to others in your industry?