Hiring Guide for Virtual Assistants in Philadelphia
Business leaders spend up to 36% of their workweek on small administrative tasks.
Check out how you can save up to 70% vs traditional hiring costs with our TEAM BUILDER.
Download a custom remote staffing business case tailored to your hiring needs.
How do business leaders save more time for revenue-generating activities?
Did you know that an average business leader spends a substantial portion of their week (about 36%) on small administrative tasks? This includes invoicing, data entry, ordering office supplies, and organizing staff social events. Furthermore, over 30% of entrepreneurs spend between one-fourth and half of their working hours managing similar tasks.
That’s too much time spent on admin tasks instead of what matters most, such as revenue-generating activities.
If you’d like to shed those tedious administrative duties, outsourcing a Virtual Assistant might be the solution you need.
Picking the right provider for remote workers is key. You want someone who not only conducts their business ethically and fosters a strong sense of community and culture but also prioritizes data security.
Make sure they’re equipped with solid endpoint security, hold ISO certifications, and have effective Business Continuity Plans in place. This ensures that your business operations and data are safe, letting you focus on growing your business with peace of mind.
When looking for Virtual Assistance Philadelphia services, you want to make sure they’re well-rounded in several key areas
When looking for virtual assistant services in Philadelphia, you must ensure that the virtual assistant you hire possesses a well-rounded skill set across several key areas. Here’s what to consider when hiring virtual assistants to support your business growth:
- Proficiency in virtual assistant services: A great virtual assistant should be adept at navigating online tools and platforms such as Trello, Slack, Google Workspace, Asana, and Zoom. This proficiency is vital for effective project management and ensures they can handle various tasks seamlessly.
- Effective task management: Your virtual executive assistant must excel at organizing and prioritizing multiple tasks. This ability ensures efficiency and timely project completion, allowing you to delegate tasks effectively and focus on higher-level responsibilities.
- Expertise in scheduling and calendar management : The right virtual assistant needs specialized skills in managing calendars and dealing with different time zones. They should be able to coordinate schedules, schedule meetings, and ensure all appointments are timely and logistically feasible. This expertise is particularly beneficial for law firms or small businesses that require precise scheduling.
- Strong client communication abilities: Clear and professional communication is crucial for handling correspondence and interactions with clients effectively. Your executive assistant should possess excellent written and verbal communication skills to maintain strong client relations.
- Comprehensive administrative support: The role of a virtual assistant includes providing comprehensive administrative support. This encompasses routine tasks such as data entry, document preparation, and general clerical work to support business operations. By hiring a skilled administrative assistant on a contract basis, you can save time and reduce the workload on your in-house employees.
- Excellent client relation skills: Building and maintaining positive relationships with clients is essential. In a sense, a great VA is like customer support. They should have the right skills – responsive, courteous, and attentive to client needs. This approach not only enhances client satisfaction but also contributes to the overall success of your company.
A guide to interviewing Virtual Assistants for Philadelphia:
What to ask VAs in a job interview
When considering virtual assistant companies, focus on finding the right virtual assistant with the complete skills to support your business needs. Whether you require assistance with email marketing, social media management, content writing, crafting a blog post, or online research, hiring the right talent can significantly impact your operations. By investing in a capable virtual assistant, you can save time, enhance productivity, and ultimately drive your small business toward greater success.
When interviewing virtual assistants, it’s crucial to assess their technical abilities and soft skills. Here are some key questions to ask.
- What key skills are essential for a VA?
- How do you view routine administrative tasks?
- Which tools do you prefer to use in your role as a VA?
- What would you say is your strongest asset as a VA?
- How do you manage handling multiple tasks at once?
- How do you ensure your skills remain current?
- How do you handle situations where a client’s instructions are unclear?
- How many hours per week are you available to work?
- How do you typically communicate with other team members?
- What time zone are you located in?
- What is your hourly rate?
- Can you provide a weekly report of your activities?
How much does hiring an outsourced Virtual Assistant for Philadelphia cost?
Hiring a Virtual Assistant can benefit you, but the cost can vary greatly, depending on where they’re located and their skill level.
In Philadelphia, hiring Virtual Assistants locally isn’t just about salary. You also need to consider extra costs like health insurance, retirement benefits, and office space, which can add another 30% on top of that salary. Don’t forget the costs of advertising on platforms like Seek, Monster.com, and LinkedIn, or using recruitment firms like Hays, which can increase your costs by another 20% of the first-year salary.
On the other hand, outsourcing to places like the Philippines, Colombia, and India can be much cheaper. The monthly cost for an outsourced Virtual Assistant varies but can be significantly lower than that of local hires. Tools like Cloudstaff’s Teambuilder can help you crunch those numbers.
Outsourcing Virtual Assistants for Philadelphia lets your business grow efficiently, tapping into a global talent pool without the hefty overhead costs of local hiring.
Steps to hiring VAs with Cloudstaff
Let’s explore how Cloudstaff streamlines the Virtual Assistant hiring process for Philadelphia businesses.
Match
We use a database of 700,000 candidates and AI technology to find the right match for you.
Interview
We streamline the selection process to ensure you meet only the best candidates.
Offer
We handle all local employment paperwork, from offers to contracts.
Enable
On day one, your new hires have everything they need, including equipment and secure logins.
Induct
Our thorough legal induction ensures all new hires are compliant from the start.
Train
We provide access to training materials and to our learning platform, CS Academy, for ongoing talent development.
Manage
Our team supports productivity, staff relations, and growth, helping your workforce thrive.
Onboarding & training Virtual Assistants at Cloudstaff, your Employer of Record
When outsourcing Virtual Assistants for your Philadelphia business, it’s essential to understand the remote staffing regulations in different countries. Companies like Cloudstaff, operating in the Philippines, Colombia, and India, handle all the compliance with local labor laws, payroll, taxes, and benefits. This way, you can focus on growing your business without the administrative hassle.
It’s also critical to ensure a good cultural fit for long-term success. We help you find Virtual Assistants who are not only fluent in English but are also enthusiastic and a good match for Philadelphia work culture. We guide you through assessing their technical and organizational fit during recruitment.
Cloudstaff also ensures a smooth onboarding and training process, so your Virtual Assistants can integrate effortlessly into your Philadelphia team. We provide clear expectations, comprehensive training, and a supportive work culture. Plus, our Client Growth Partners will keep in regular touch with you, offering support and gathering feedback, which is especially vital in the early stages and as you grow with us.
What makes Cloudstaff’s remote staffing solutions different from other outsourcing models?
We distinguish ourselves in the crowded outsourcing market with its unique approach to remote staffing.
Cloudstaff’s remote staffing solutions
Ethical outsourcing
- Committed to safety, employee growth, and a celebrated work culture
- Transparent pricing, and comprehensive benefits
- Robust Business Continuity Planning (BCP)
#1 Workplace
- Your trusted co-pilot to find the best talent
- Our recruitment experts offer access to over 700,000 skilled remote professionals worldwide, supported by our comprehensive Cloudstaff Academy
Operational brilliance
- Dedicated to your remarkable growth, our Client Growth Partners are always there for you whenever you need them
- We provide exceptional staff, mobilize teams, and manage performance to move your business forward
Enterprise-grade outsourcing
- Significant investment in advanced technology and platforms
- Unrivaled security features tailored for enterprise need
- Leading-edge in tech-enabled solutions with top-tier remote work technology and AI talent augmentation
- We have a Google-alum Chief AI Officer who is advancing our proprietary AI to enhance matching accuracy, ensure a private generative AI environment for secure staff usage, and develop specialized AI toolkits for various industries.
Other outsourcing models
Direct contracting
- Compliance issues due to legal concerns
Freelance hiring
- Tax obligations not met
- Lack of full-time commitment
Traditional outsourcing
- Ethical considerations
- Potential business risks
- Limited post-sales support
Establishing a local entity
- Initial investment requirement of approximately $250k
- Additional considerations for local equipment procurement
- Necessitates investment in local human resources and cultural integration
- Local bureaucratic hurdles
Keeping Virtual Assistants in your Philadelphia company
Isn’t just about appreciating their skills. They also need to feel engaged and valued. You can do this by creating a people-first culture with thoughtful perks, recognition programs, opportunities for professional growth, engagement initiatives, and supporting work-life balance.
Check out how you can save up to 70% vs traditional hiring costs with our TEAM BUILDER.
Download a custom remote staffing business case tailored to your hiring needs.
Having trouble hiring and watching your budget?
Let’s find the perfect VA to move your business forward.
