Hire Virtual Assistants in the Philippines

How to Hire the Best Virtual Assistants

 

Before you hire a Virtual Assistant, whether full time or part-time, you must first understand who they are. Second, you should know what they do and third, you should know how they can help your business.

 

A virtual assistant has a huge impact on business operations. Entrepreneurs and small business owners are becoming more interested in virtual assistant services. Hence, virtual assistants are high in demand now.

 

So before we dive into hiring virtual assistants, let's get to know them and what they can do for your business.

 

Virtual assistants are those who provide services to clients from a remote location. They can be self-employed or work from an outsourcing firm. They can also work as part-time or full-time depending on the needs of their client. Virtual assistants often provide administrative and technical support to clients. They can work and provide services from an office or they can even work from home.

 

Some people from call centres and private companies become Filipino virtual assistants. They leave their previous jobs to be a virtual assistant so they can work from home. Others join outsourcing companies and become part of virtual staff.

 

Some who even had 10 years of experience in high paying-jobs like in a call centre also choose to be a virtual worker.  Even an executive assistant could become a full-time general virtual assistant. This is because a lot of people find remote working more challenging but at the same time more rewarding. They get to spend more quality time with their families especially those who work from home.

 

There are different types of virtual assistants. They differ from each other depending on the tasks they handle. And of course, whether they will work part-time or full-time. These tasks include general administration, data entry, social media, and digital marketing. Other tasks include content writing, eCommerce, and real estate. Some of the most in-demand skills include email marketing, copywriting, and graphic design. Other skills include research, transcription, customer support, lead generation, and social media marketing.

Most Filipino virtual assistants function more like independent contractors rather than employees. They are usually paid per hour for both part-time or full-time, depending on the contract. So, clients are not responsible for other miscellaneous expenses. These include administrative, HR, employee-related taxes, insurance or even benefits. The indirect costs are already included in the virtual assistant’s fees.

 

Virtual assistant services continue to innovate and make their way into mainstream businesses. A good example of this would be the advent of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services. These enable virtual workers to make voice calls using a broadband internet connection. No need for a regular or analog phone line.

It is also important to note that the mode of communication also has a key connection to these services. An example would be deliverables. Gone are the days wherein people relied on outmoded office tech such as fax machines. Virtual assistants can send emails, use cloud storage, and hold online conferences.

 

It is clear that the role of a Filipino virtual assistant is very important. They ensure a smooth-running business operation with efficiency and time-saving methods.

Why should you hire a Virtual Assistant in the Philippines?

 

As businesses expand operations, so does the neverending list of responsibilities double. For growing enterprises and established firms, the virtual assistant services are optional. As for start-ups and self-employed, it would be a wise move to hire a virtual assistant for your business.

Before thinking about getting virtual assistant services, business owners usually ask,

 

“Do I really need a Filipino virtual assistant?”

 

For one, hiring a Filipino virtual assistant would be a major help. Aside from that, here are some reasons why business owners hire virtual assistants to help with their business.

 

• Filipino virtual assistants help business owners focus on important tasks for business growth.

 

• They offer convenience to minor tasks that lead to work-life balance.

 

• Filipino virtual assistants are resourceful. They are able to troubleshoot operational issues using their expertise and insights.

 

Outsourcing tasks to Filipino virtual assistants are beneficial to the business. Having a virtual assistant or a virtual staff can create more opportunities to you and your business.

 

What skills should you look for when hiring a Filipino Virtual Assistant?

 

In recruiting a skilled Filipino virtual assistant, you must assess each prospective candidate. Although a candidate’s skill set isn’t the only important factor, it is important to take note of their competencies. Here are some qualities to consider in the promising virtual assistant candidates.

 

Reliable

 

Exhibiting reliability equates to professionalism. This is important for anyone regardless of work or industry. It can show how a Filipino virtual assistant responds to the clients. For instance, being able to reply back to emails or answer calls from clients immediately.

 

Good Communicator

 

Being a good communicator is important for any virtual assistant. The forms of communication between you and your virtual assistants are limited. Thus, it is important for virtual assistants to keep their clients updated. You need to establish how and when you would communicate. This is especially true when they start or with a new task and when they encounter problems.

 

Manages Time Well

 

Multi-tasking is counter-intuitive and counter productive. So, it is important for Filipino virtual assistants to use effective time management.

 

Resourceful

 

Sometimes, Filipino virtual assistants have tasks that sometimes are beyond their expertise. As a part of their services, they still should provide solutions for their clients. This is why Filipino virtual assistants need to be able to work around a problem. Being resourceful helps find better solutions to sticky and confusing problems at hand.

 

 

 

 

 

How much is the usual rate for a Virtual Assistant?

 

Below is a comparative table of the average rates per hour and per annum of virtual assistants from four different countries. All information about annual and hourly rates are based on the PayScale website.

 

 

A lot of businesses and freelancers often recruit virtual assistants from outsourcing providers. This is to be more efficient in operation costs and recruitment processes.

 

Here in Cloud Employee, we understand the need for businesses to find alternative solutions. Solutions that effectively reduce costs and time without sacrificing their limited resources. To make IT outsourcing more accessible in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world, we offer competitive industry rates. These rates include hiring the best offshore Filipino Virtual Assistant in the fastest amount of time possible.

 

What interview techniques should you use to hire the best Filipino Virtual Assistant?

 

Hiring a Filipino virtual assistant that fit one business' needs and requirements is not easy. One must do a thorough assessment of their skills and knowledge.

 

To help you assess what best fit your business, here are some sample questions that you can ask. Explanations to help you choose is also included below.

 

Question 1: What are your primary skills and expertise?

 

Explanation: This is necessary for obvious reasons. If you need someone to design a website, then you should choose the person who knows exactly what they are doing. Otherwise, what’s the point of hiring someone who cannot perform the role you want them to fill-in? Your prospective Filipino virtual assistant should be able to assist you. That person should have a specific skill set that matches your job description.

 

Question 2: What are your strengths and weaknesses?

 

Explanation: This isn’t about their answers but about the way they answer the question. It is important to be self-aware of their own strengths and weaknesses. One should be able to answer this question with sincerity and honesty.

 

If the applicant believes that they have no weakness, then it is best to move on to the next candidate. This means that that candidate is stagnant, not open to growth. They may have problems with accountability or constructive criticisms when they make mistakes.

 

Question 3: Have you had a client who had difficulty describing his needs?

 

Explanation: There are employers who have a hard time expressing what they want. From their answer, you can understand how they would act when faced with a similar situation. You can test  how he would react when a client has difficulties in describing their needs,

 

Question 4: What are your interests? What do you enjoy the most about your job?

 

Explanation: This question gives you insights on what the candidate is passionate about. This is something that can be quite handy in the future, It also shows what kind of employer you are.

 

It enables you to know the person and forge a strong work bound on a professional level. It gives the candidate the impression that you’re someone who’s approachable and easy to get along with.

 

Interviews are a vital aspect of the hiring process. They enable you to discern which candidate is best suited for your company. So it’s important to always be thorough and take note throughout the interview period.

 

 

How can Cloud Employee help you?

 

A start-up, small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs), or a freelancer has one thing in common. You are working with limited resources like time and money. When your goal is to save time, energy, and costs,  you need to utilise modern technology. Almost everything runs online these days. So hiring offshore virtual assistant services is a wise decision.

 

Cloud Employee connects you to experience professional Filipino virtual assistants in the Philippines. This is especially true if you’re having a difficult time hiring local virtual assistants who are competent and within your budget. Your solution? Recruit an offshore Filipino virtual assistant.

 

Send us your virtual assistant requirements. Specify particular skill sets, industry and years of experience to name a few. Our team of recruiters will do a local search for skilled virtual assistants. Then, they will suggest a shortlist of candidates to choose from. You can interview your chosen candidates and we can conduct the technical test. Our custom-recruitment process ensures that you onboard the best virtual assistant.

 

The Filipino virtual assistants from Cloud Employee works only for you.  They report directly to you from our offices in the Philippines. They work within hours with your methods and processes to avoid any miscommunication. Cloud Employee will provide them with the necessary hardware, software, fast internet connection, full daily IT support, and comfortable designated workspace. We also handle matters such as HR, general administrative functions, and back-office tasks.

 

Your Filipino virtual assistants can help you with important admin tasks. For instance, screening your email, handling your correspondences, scheduling, and confirming appointments, booking travel arrangements, performing miscellaneous research, invoicing clients, preparing reports, and managing projects. They can reduce your workload, help organise tasks, and free up your precious time. A dedicated virtual assistant with Cloud Employee can help you with these and more.

 

What is the dedicated hiring model?

 

The Dedicated Hiring Model integrates the dedicated offshore team you choose with your existing in-house development team. This reduces the chances of any project’s design and architecture.

 

Because of its flexible nature, it’s considered as one of the best engagement models. You can request for tech talents, resources, and types of equipment at any given time corresponding to the requirements of the project. The Dedicated Hiring Model allows the in-house team to scale up or down with ease.

 

Another thing to remember is the payment method. It’s now more convenient for you. You would only have to pay once. This already includes the offshore team member’s monthly salary and the outsourcing provider’s service fee.

 

Pros

 

• Perfect for a long-term project, especially for those with constantly changing project scopes and undefined specifications.

 

• Predictable budget despite an indefinite project scope.

 

• Full access and control over the whole recruitment process, selection of candidates, and management of the offshore team.

 

• Product quality can be monitored, assessed and guaranteed.

 

• The offshore team gains more knowledge and understanding of the client’s objectives, goals, standards, and expectations.

 

• The offshore team exclusively works for you throughout the project scope.

 

At Cloud Employee, your dedicated team of virtual assistants works within your preferred working hours. This means that both you and your offshore development team can work together at the same time. This reduces any miscommunication issues and foreseeable inconveniences. Your offshore virtual assistance team can use your preferred software, tools, and standards. This makes them a more effective part of your team.

 

We combined the Dedicated Hiring Model and Cloud Employee’s extensive experience in the IT outsourcing industry into a business model that is unique and effective. This business model has:

 

1. simplified the recruitment process;
2. made working practices more flexible; and
3. bridged the gap between in-house and offshore teams

 

All for a competitive industry rate.

 

Our business model works better than any of its IT outsourcing competition.

 

WHY HIRE OFFSHORE VIRTUAL ASSISTANT WITH CLOUD EMPLOYEE

 

• Access to the best tech talent in the Philippines.

 

• End-to-end client control from custom-recruitment to direct developer management

 

• 100% Dedicated developers working on mirrored working hours

 

• Full client support with our After Care Team.

 

• Savings of up to 65% or more.