How to Hire a Virtual Assistant | 7 Steps to Save You Time and Scale Your Business

Watch this video to learn a step-by-step process on how to hire a virtual assistant if you are tired of working 80+ hour weeks and feeling like you're working in your business instead of on your business. We'll go over some of the best sites to get virtual assistant services to save you time and grow your business. 📥 DOWNLOAD my free Virtual Assistant Jumpstart Kit to better manage your remote team → https://www.growwithwill.com/va-jumps... ☕️ Did I help you out? Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/growwithwill 🔔 Remember to SUBSCRIBE to get new videos every week: https://www.growwithwill.com/subscribe We're going to outline three phases which make up what I like to think of as the PHT model: PREP, HIRE, TRAIN. 0:00 - Introduction to How to Hire a Virtual Assistant 1:17 - STEP 1 - CONDUCT A TIME AUDIT FOR AT LEAST 3 DAYS Take a piece of paper or open a word doc, and time block everything you do. Then, write out whether or not what you spent your time on is repeatable and if you think it's a teachable task. Most tasks are teachable. By the end of this step -- you should be able to identify at least 2 hours you spent on something you could have gotten help on. I go over examples of things I've hired help on in the video. 3:30 - STEP 2 - CREATE YOUR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES When you're hiring your virtual assistant, you'll want to think about how to explain a task to a 5th grader. Ask yourself what did you often mess up the first time you were learning these? My best tip here is to go to Loom.com and download the extension. Video recordings are helpful because it will give your VA another way to learn fast. 5:30 - STEP 3 - CREATE AN RFP AND INVITE CANDIDATES For the best virtual assistant sites, I recommend using Upwork or Onlinejobs.ph. 6:06 - Upwork Overview In this section, we go over pros and cons of the Upwork platform. 7:27 - Onlinejobs.ph Overview This section goes over the pros and cons of the Onlinejobs.ph site. 🙋‍♀️ Find your next VA on Onlinejobs.ph: https://www.growwithwill.com/onlinejobs 9:10 - RFP Must Haves Here, we go over must haves for your RFP. Things like how to title your post (with examples), outlining what you're looking for, and including a secret word along with your budget. I really like adding specific questions. Anything that can help you filter. You're going to get a ton of applications. 11:52 - Quick VA Pointers Here I share my best tips and tricks when it comes to starting out new virtual assistant relationships. For example, make sure you use your free invites on Upwork so you can maximize the number of applications you get! 13:15 - STEP 4 - SHORTLIST YOUR CANDIDATES AND PICK 3. I highly recommend not just looking for the cheapest VA -- instead, look for a blend of value and skill for most standard tasks when you're looking to hire remotely. Some people recommend interviews, I think that's a waste of time. The key is in the test task and how you set them up for success. Give 2-3 people a try of part of the assignment. This spreads your risk and you can see who does it best. For this, I'd set up mini fixed rate milestones and see if they can follow your instructions clearly. 14:45 - STEP 5 - CONDUCT YOUR TEST TASK Share the documents and videos you made. Give a clear timeline for when you expect work returned and leave an open door if they have questions for you. Think of your VA like a literal employee. 15:28 - STEP 6 - REVIEW WORK You'll have to watch the video to learn the three things to look for when reviewing VA work! 16:11 - STEP 7 - REPEAT AND REWARD The goal is to outsource at least 80% of yourself, if not 100% of yourself. I promise you if you commit to cutting 30 minutes of your work every week to your VA, you will love what you do so much more. 17:39 - Two Big Takeaways to Remember: 1. Put yourself and your team in a position to scale and succeed. 2. If your VA messes up on something, 95% of the time it's your fault. You are the leader. Followers, in this case VAs, are only as good as their leaders. Do not blame the VA. ✍️ COMMENT BELOW: What are you hoping to outsource when you hire your first virtual assistant? Grow with Will is all about helping you grow your business, get more customers, and hone your business acumen. I teach you the real-world business skills you didn't learn in school to help take you from zero to self-starter. 🔔 If you find this helpful, SUBSCRIBE for new videos every week: https://www.growwithwill.com/subscribe 📸 My YouTube Gear: https://kit.co/GrowthWithWill/my-yout... Disclosure: Some links and products are affiliate links, meaning Grow with Will will earn a commission if you make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you. Disclaimer: Grow with Will does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. This video, and the ideas presented in it, are for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice.