| Administrative and clerical tasks are the bane of | | | | In comparison, when you hire a virtual assistant, you |
| every industry. No matter how small or large your | | | | are hiring someone who already specializes in the |
| business is, you will eventually find yourself with | | | | type of work that you do, so you automatically |
| stacks of paperwork that need your attention. And | | | | eliminate the need for training. Virtual assistants work |
| when will you find the time? If you are busy seeing | | | | from their own offices and use their own supplies |
| your clients during the day, then the paperwork | | | | and office equipment. Virtual assistants pay their own |
| waits until the evenings and weekends. This can | | | | taxes and insurance. And best of all, you only pay a |
| make for some very long days and total exhaustion. | | | | virtual assistant for the hours worked. |
| Hiring a virtual assistant is becoming the best option | | | | Virtual assistants are flexible enough to be able to |
| for many professionals. | | | | work only the hours that you will need them, on an |
| Virtual assistants are administrative professionals | | | | as-needed basis. Some businesses contract for a |
| who, for a variety of reasons, have chosen to work | | | | certain amount of hours a month and are assured of |
| from home offices. Virtual assistance is an industry | | | | having those hours reserved for them. Other people |
| that is swiftly nudging its way into the outsourcing | | | | hire a virtual assistant on an occasional basis, perhaps |
| arena. There are currently about 2,000 virtual | | | | if they have a project, mailing, or campaign coming |
| assistants worldwide, and this number is growing daily. | | | | up and need the extra assistance. |
| There are virtual assistance accreditation schools, | | | | You can go on the Internet and find an unlimited |
| chat groups, professional organizations, and annual | | | | number of people who provide office support |
| conferences. As a virtual assistant, these | | | | services; the difference is that virtual assistants have |
| administrative professionals are independent | | | | not only the administrative background, but also the |
| contractors who provide office support remotely, | | | | training in how to use that background in a global |
| using current computer technology and the Internet. | | | | marketplace. Working with a virtual assistant gives |
| Let’s look at the differences between hiring | | | | you the benefits of having your own personal |
| staff and working with a virtual assistant: | | | | assistant without the extra costs and associated |
| When you hire support staff, you will need to | | | | managerial headaches. Most virtual assistants are very |
| provide some amount of training. You also will provide | | | | flexible and will do whatever is needed to fulfill your |
| a space for that person, and supplies needed to do | | | | administrative needs. For a lot of businesses, it is the |
| the job. In addition, your staff expenses will include | | | | most practical and cost-effective way to get the |
| taxes, insurance, vacation and sick pay, raises, | | | | administrative work done. |
| overtime pay, and usually a pension or some type of | | | | Healthcare professionals who find themselves in the |
| retirement plan. You will also be paying that person | | | | position of having an overflowing to-do box and |
| for idle and non-productive time; you will be expected | | | | wondering what to do about it, may be well advised |
| to do annual performance reviews; and you are | | | | to consider hiring a Virtual Assistant. |
| expected to manage and supervise. | | | | |