Since the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual assistants have surged in popularity due to the evolving nature of business and advancements in technology. In our article, Benefits of a Virtual Assistant to a Career Professional looking to start a business, we talked about the different ways in which virtual assistants can be very beneficial. That said, getting the right Virtual Assistants is important as the value is maximized with the right hands. How do you find them?
Generally like every other job, you need to send out announcements either through your contacts or through job boards, conduct interviews and settle on the candidates that you are most comfortable with.
However, the above summary does not do justice to all the options available. We discuss details of how and where you can find great virtual assistants suitable for your business.
Let's get down to the nitty-gritty.

How And Where to Find a Virtual Assistant
There are different options to explore when looking for a virtual assistant for your business. Depending on your requirements, resources, and immediate needs, you can find applicants in a variety of different ways. Here are some options you can choose from
Referrals
Job posts via websites and social media
Headhunting
Freelance marketplace
Virtual assistant service companies

1. Referrals:
One way to find a virtual assistant is through your network. Recommendations from business people or other professionals who have previously worked with great virtual assistants could cut your stress and give you a great VA on a platter. However, this approach rarely works for everyone. It can usually be the best option especially if the recommendation is coming from people you trust. It is faster, cheaper and almost risk-free.
However, your network can be restrictive and might be subject to biases due to reasons beyond your control.

2. Job posts on job websites and social media:
This is very popular. You can make job posts for a Virtual assistant on local job websites or popular social media like Twitter, LinkedIn, Indeed, etc. This is cool because it gives you access to lots of potentially qualified and interested candidates.
It is necessary to define the job description of the virtual assistant you want to hire as it helps you streamline your search and gives you better candidate quality.
The disadvantage of this method is that you can attract a lot of unqualified people who just need a job irrespective of their qualifications. It can be time-wasting and expensive too.

3. Headhunting:
You can search online for candidates who have experience as assistants and are looking for work. LinkedIn and Twitter are great repositories of talent. Scan through profiles, portfolios and people with the kind of work experience you are looking for. This way you can shortlist great candidates who you can interview to choose the best fit.
Headhunting can be time-consuming and it can also be misleading since candidates are prone to embellishing their achievements.

4. Freelance marketplaces:
Fiverr, Upwork and other local marketplaces which allow contractors to pitch their work can be good places to hire Virtual Assistants. It is more targeted and the chances that you can get great candidates are higher than the rest we have talked about before now.
The issue with this approach is, like headhunting, one is prone to hiring candidates with embellished profiles especially if you do not take time to test their skills. It can also be time-consuming and very expensive too. One way to reduce your risk is to start with a trial period to ensure adequate quality.

5. Virtual assistant service companies:
Virtual assistants service companies attract train and outsource the best virtual assistants to business owners and career professionals. This is, without doubt, the most preferred way of getting virtual assistants. Think of virtual assistant companies as online agencies offering virtual assistant services to people. An example of such a company is ExecutivePros.

ExecutivePros provides an Expert Managed Assistant service. Our virtual Assistants, aided by best-in-class technology tools, are tailored to your industry with domain experts overseeing their activities to ensure quality service delivery. These VAs can help with sales prospecting, research and customer relationship management just to mention a few.
The downside of this service is that it can be very expensive. However, ExecutivePros is pocket friendly. You can get connected to expert VAs for $500 per month, hassle-free.
To get started,
Email: admin@executivepros.org
Call: +1 (647) 906–3861