From time to time I need to interview Virtual Assistants to pick up extra work that my team cannot get to. With the right questions if is fairly easy to hire the right person who would compliment my existing team.

The same is true when I am interviewed by potential clients. Right off I can tell that the majority of them are uncertain about the questions to ask during the interview. In these cases I usually just volunteer information to put them at ease.

How do you interview your potential Virtual Assistant? Each individual has different style of course and the questions asked will also be determined by your needs. In the article Top 10 Questions To Ask Your Potential Virtual Assistant I have addressed this in detail but for now here is a run down of questions you don’t want to leave out from your interview.

1. How long have you been a virtual assistant?
2. What is your administrative background?
3. What are you primary skills and rate you level of confidence?
4. How many clients do you currently support?
5. What kind of work have you undertaken on the pat year?
6. May I contact your clients for a reference?
7. What are your working hours?
8. What are your fees?
9. What does your fees not cover?
10. Are you willing to sign a non-disclosure agreement?

There you have it. Click for the full article.

CRG

• Microsoft Office (Including Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
• Microsoft Outlook (Task management, email, calendar, contact management)
• Antivirus (Avast, Norton etc)
• Time Tracking Software (Timestamp)
• PDF Creator (Cutepdf)
• Web Design/ Publisher (Microsoft Frontpage)
• FTP Software (Smartftp)
• Instant Messenger (Skype)
• Adobe Reader
• LogMeIn (Remote Access)
• Gimp (Desktop Publishing)
• Evernote (Get organized)
• Express Scribe (Transcription)

There is a short list of the software that I use almost daily.

There is another point that I want to emphasize and that is the use of free email clients (gmail, hotmail, yahoo). Until you obtain your own domain name try using you the name given by your Internet Service Provider, for eg, tstt, cwjamaica, etc.

Thats it for now, comments and additions to the list are always welcome.

CRG

Get a competitive advantage. As a virtual assistant you can reduce your overhead if you set up and work out of a home office. Money saved from not having to pay a monthly rent can be used to market your business or pay for membership at your local chamber of commerce. Reduced overhead can give you an edge on your competitors by offering lower rates to your customers.

Reduced Stress. No deadlines to meet, unless they are self imposed. No drama at the office or stress over getting that promotion. You can set your own schedule around family time and commitments.

Personal Freedom. Set your own goals and work when you want to.

Save Money. For me, working at home meant saving on gasoline, commute time and business suits. Of course this does not give you permission to dress sloppy, it just means that you don’t have a buy a new suit every month. It also meant a significant saving on daycare.

Family Time. One of the most important benefit of working at home is the ability to spend time with family on your own terms.

Personal Development. I cannot express fully what working at home has given me in terms of personal development. As a Virtual Assistant, like many other business owners, I have to wear a variety of hats throughout the day. I have learned to manage the books, build a website, desktop publishing and write a book, to name a few.

Increase Productivity. I know a monthly income depend on my productivity. This inspires creativity as each month I seek new ways to increase my earning potential.

I have a few benefits and I am sure that there are lots more. As you join this growing movement, please feel free to share your thoughts, I would love to hear your reasons for working at home.

CRG

There is a vast difference between being a virtual worker looking for a virtual job and a virtual assistant seeking new clients for the business. It is important for upcoming VAs to understand the difference because it has a huge impact on the success of your business.

First of all the manner in which you respond to employment ads is very different. Truth be told VAs respond to Request for Proposals (RFPs) by submitting a proposal which outlines the services they provide, rates and terms. The RFP will also include some background information and in some cases a portfolio.

In some cases VAs looking to get started may respond to an ad for employment. In this case it is also unnecessary to submit a resume. Employees submit resumes.

It is incorrect to state that you are looking for a job as a Virtual Assistant. VAs market their businesses to attract clients, they work on their own terms, provide their own equipment and software, pay their own taxes. A virtual assistant is a business owner and as such may work with a number of businesses. An employee typically works for one employer for a guaranteed number of hours weekly.

I hope that you get my point because as upcoming VAs, understanding the difference between a VA and an employee, is crucial to the success of your business.

• The iphone
• The Blackberry
• The ipod
• Email
• The internet
• Virtual Collaboration
• The Virtual Assistant

Yes I have added the Virtual Assistant to that list. VAs are now the driving force behind many small and not so small businesses.

So what is a Virtual Assistant anyway? I would say that a VA is a highly skilled professional and entrepreneur who provide services from a remote location to other entrepreneurs, businesses, executives etc.

Due to the growing list of technologies a Virtual Assistant can now stay at home and provide the tasks normally assigned to the office assistant. Not only that, many VAs have gone so far as to provide web design, marketing, bookkeeping, desktop publishing, the possibilities are endless.

As a Virtual Assistant I have worked with clients just up the street and clients thousands of miles away. Thats the beauty of working virtually, proximity does not matter.

So do you have what it takes to move into this billion dollar industry? Well I must emphasize that you must have the capacity to help others. For me that is what being a Virtual Assistant is. The skills that I have perfected over the years has only been to make my clients shine.

Aside from that you must be first rate at the services you decide to offer, you should have some business management skills, you should have an idea of how you would market your business. Finally you need to be motivated, motivation will take you through the rough spots.

You can read more on motivation for Virtual Assistants here.

Comments are always welcomed.

Crystal

FSE

I recently asked a few Virtual Assistants to fill out a short survey explaining what their motivations for staying in the industry. Some of their reasons are listed below:

• Money (They were earning more than what they earned on a full time job)
• Being your own boss.
• Flexible hours.
• What to stay at home with the kids.
• The satisfaction of a job well done.
• Being passionate about the industry and loving what they do.

In general the successful Virtual Assistants were they one who enjoyed the work, who loved doing what they do each day.

Think about what motivates you. Channel that motivation, write it down and look at it each day, two or three times a day if you must. This will help feed the desire and you will find it easier to do your daily duties. Remember also that motivation that is purely profit based soon wears thin. That is not going to keep you up at night to finish a client’s project that is due early the next morning. Find your motiviation today!

FSE

• I work with people from different cultures and background.
• I work to achieve my dreams.
• I take pride in my clients achievements that results from my work with them.
• I am my own boss.
• No long commutes and power suits.
• I get to stay at home with my son.
• I can make my own schedule.
• The sense of accomplishment from seeing my business grow.
• No mundane tasks here: there is always something different going on.
• The value of meeting new people almost daily (new clients, other VAs etc)

FSE

Outline Everything:
Do not leave your potential client guessing. List your services, your rates and limit the grey areas. In fact, clear them up as much as possible.

Paper Trail:
I have developed a habit to saving all my correspondence with clients and potential clients. Its m way of covering my you know what in case there is ever a problem, for instance, non payment of invoices, etc.

Include a clause for project changes:
Often there may be changes in the requirements or responsibilities. To be prepared for this include a clause stating that any project changes will incur additional charges.

Don’t forget the contract:
Especially if you do not know or have no connection with the potential client. For most jobs it is customary to request a 50% advance before work commence.

FSE

I am often asked “how did you know that you were ready to start your own business?” Frankly, I am as human as the next person and I did question myself A LOT. I did know that whenever I did something, anything, I gave it my best. I had the experience of overseeing the daily activities of a busy practice in the middle of Manhattan and a more that busy department in a huge corporation.

Here are some questions that I pose to up and coming entrepreneurs to give them an idea of the traits needed to start a business:

• Are you a quick learner?
• Are you resourceful?
• Are you afraid of hard work?
• How do you handle money?
• What is your leadership style? (If you have one)
• Do you make decisions quickly?
• Do you get tasks completed on time?
• Are you phased by competition?
• Do you have some level of common sense?
• Can you live without a steady income for 6 plus months?
• Do you have someone who can give you a positive outlook when you don’t have it?
• Are you persistent and self disciplined?
• Do you work well under pressure?
• Are you willing to learn and accept new ways of getting things done?
• Do you enjoy meeting new people?
• Can you juggle multiple tasks?
• Are you willing to talk about your product or service?
• Do you have the skill and PASSION for the business that you are considering?

These are just a few of the questions you should ask yourself before proceeding with plans to start your business.

FSE

The other end f the spectrum arises when we use common names and logos that cannot be trademarked. This sometimes happen after we are well established and finally spare a thought for getting the business trademarked. Only to find out that your business name or logo was too commonplace to be trademarked. Spare yourself the agony and choose distinctive names to begin with. At least seek advice in the early phase of your business this way making the necessary adjustments won’t affect your image and your bottom line.