Ready to hire a Filipino virtual assistant? Great! Onboarding a new VA doesn’t need to be such a fuss. Here are ways to help put your VA get started and hit the ground running.
1. Let your VA know your expectations
This begins at the moment you make a job offer. In the same email where you tell the person you want to hire them, include a detailed list of their employment terms. From the get-go, make sure they know:
- How many hours you expect them to work
- How much you will pay them
- How often you will pay them (during the first two months, start off by paying them every week; afterwards, pay them monthly)
- What your time-off policy is
Emphasize that sending you daily email updates is part of the job. That email should tell you:
- What they did that day
- What problems/issue they encountered
- What kind of help do they need to fix it
- What do they plan to do tomorrow.
I can’t overstate how important this is. The last thing you want is to send your VA off to work on projects and then radio silence for days or weeks. You need to know what they’re up to—what questions or concerns they have, or what problems they’ve run into.
Along with this, tell your VA that they can’t disappear. What do I mean by this? Simple: In the 10-plus years I’ve been doing this, I’ve seen Filipino VAs get stuck on an assignment, and instead of asking for help or telling you they’re not sure how to solve the issue, they stop contacting you and they stop answering your emails. This isn’t good for your business or for them.
What you can do instead is give them an option. They can’t disappear but if they run into problems, they should come to you for help.
2. Put them to work right away
Don’t hire a new VA and then keep them waiting for something to do. Give them a task the moment you bring them on. In fact, your first email to your new VA should include explicit instructions or training on a first task. Tell them what you want them to do and exactly how to accomplish it.
Your VA’s first assignment should be challenging—not impossible but something that will stretch them.
In your email, tell them that you know the assignment is a tough one. But at the same time, tell the VA that you expect them to figure out some things on their own. Taking this approach will let the VA show off his or her skills and demonstrate to you what they’re capable of.
Keep in mind that you’ve got to provide them with the right tools to complete the job. Once they’ve sent you updates or drafts, give them appropriate feedback.
When you assign this task, please, please, please let your VA know that they can come to you when they’re stuck on something with their task. Tell them that you’ll be ready and willing to help them. If you don’t make this clear, I guarantee you that your VA will soon disappear.
Some people might scratch their heads when they hear I teach people to give a new VA a hard task on the first day. But doing this lets you set the tone for your business relationship. It tells your VA that you are committed to this and that you expect the same from them.
3. Don’t complicate their role
While it’s great to challenge them from the very beginning, that doesn’t mean you should overwhelm your new VA. Assigning one difficult task is fine. But asking this person to wear multiple hats is unreasonable and won’t help your business.
This point is crucial. You hired your VA to do something for you—whether it was to be a web designer, a graphic artist, a copywriter, a blogger, or to work with WordPress—not all of the above. You’re just not going to find a programmer, content writer and SEO specialist in the same person.
Over time, your VA might very well develop skills in other areas. They might prove capable of handling more than one task. But in the beginning, keep it simple. They won’t know everything. Eventually, they’ll learn to do more things as you provide more training. But for now, stick to what you hired them for.
4. Don’t skimp on the training
Take the time to teach and train your VA.
There are some great resources on your Onlinejobs.ph employers’ profile that you can use. There’s also a VA mentoring program that comes with a premium account to help your VA.
You can also create your own training resources. This is a common thread in a lot of the case studies we did with other business owners. Creating their own training material allows them to re-use these resources every time they hire a new worker.
5. Communicate and make yourself accessible
You don’t want your VA to disappear. So what makes you think you can do the same?
Be available to answer questions. Offer encouragement. Give compliments. Provide direction. When you hire your VA, assure them you are just as invested in this relationship and you want them to succeed.
The key is making sure you start them off right by doing these things I’ve talked about here. The steps are really quite simple and are totally worth every effort you make. Filipino workers are incredibly loyal. Once you hire them and train them, they’ll be a tremendous asset for your business for years to come.
If you want me to walk you through my step by step process of hiring a great Filipino online specialist, take the One VA Away hiring challenge. Or if you want to learn more about outsourcing before you hire, go to Outsourcing Lever and get my free book!
About John Jonas
John Jonas is a long-time outsourcing expert and the creator of OnlineJobs.ph.
Since 2005, John has taught hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs how to profitably delegate to VAs in the Philippines (and get their lives back in the process).
With help from his own VAs based in the Philippines, John has created an outsourcing empire that allows him to work 17 hours/week and to spend most of his time with his wife and 5 kids.
Find John at JohnJonas.com and Facebook.
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J. Bruce Taylor says
I’ve been trying to log on to replacemyself.com for several hours. I can’t, and I’ve attempted contact several times with no response. This totally not working. I’ve asked for help several times to no avail! Please explain. Thanks.
Julia Jasmine Sta Romana says
Hi Bruce!
Sorry to hear that. I forwarded your message and email to our support team. They will check on the problem and get to you as soon as possible.
21031980 says
I wants job for my income
Mavel Fernandez says
I Want job for my studying.
Ma fellen C. Lumawag says
I want a job if there’s anyone who would like to help me because I want yo help my poor family for their daily needs.. Thank you and god bless you all..I have been already register in online job…
Julia Jasmine Sta Romana says
Applying here in Onlinejobs.ph is the same as applying a job in real life. Make sure your profile/application is attractive enough to convince employers to contact and hire you.
You can apply for any of the jobs posted here or on our website by signing up for an Onlinejobs.ph jobseeker account. It’s completely free and takes only minutes to apply. Having a jobseeker account also gives you access to thousands of new online jobs daily.
To start the registration process, just follow this link ===> http://www.onlinejobs.ph/register
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The job posts would contain all the information you need to apply for that position.
Ricker says
I woud like to hire this person: https://www.onlinejobs.ph/jobseekers/info/477468. How do I proceed?
Julia Jasmine Sta Romana says
For information on how to hire Filipino workers and how our website works, please check out our employers FAQ: http://www.onlinejobs.ph/how/employer
You can also email support@onlinejobs.ph for more information.
21031980 says
I wants job for my income
Charissa says
I want part time job
Aldwin Romero says
Hi I would like to apply for a part time Home Based Job,
I currently working in a BPO company, my availability is from 11PM to 6 PM everyday
Junrell Ursabia says
I would like to a apply as a part timer…to earn extra income….
Lea Lamayo says
I would like to apply as a part timer
Jessica Marie says
Hi Lea,
Thank you for your comment. You can apply for any of the jobs posted here by signing up for an Onlinejobs.ph jobseeker account.
To register, follow this link => http://www.onlinejobs.ph/register
Once you’ve completed your profile, you can start searching for the job that you want here =>http://www.onlinejobs.ph/jobseekers/jobsearch
The job posts contain all the information you need to apply for the position
Take care and good luck on your job hunt!
Princess Lea says
How can I start for this job
Jessica Marie says
Hi Sheena,
Thank you for your comment. Our Support Team has emailed you, kindly check your inbox
Julia Michaela Francisco says
How can i know if i have a job?
Jessica Marie says
Hi Julia,
Thank you for your comment. Our support team has emailed you, kindly check your inbox
Airah Ortiz says
how can i start this job?
Jessica Marie says
Hi Airah,
Thank you for your comment. I’m sorry, but you have to be 18 years old and above in order to use our website
Jenelyn Lumbang says
hi
any one can help me to find a job.
thanks inadvance.
Jessica Marie says
Hi Jenelyn,
Thank you for your comment. Our support team has emailed you about your ID Proof score, kindly check your inbox
Mekaella A borres says
hi
any one can help me to find a job.
thanks inadvance.
Jessica Marie says
Hi Mekaella,
Thank you for your comment. You can apply for any of the jobs posted here by signing up for an Onlinejobs.ph jobseeker account => http://www.onlinejobs.ph/register
Ely Jane Galanida says
How can I start this job?
Jessica Marie says
Hi Ely,
Thank you for your comment. You have to register as a jobseeker to look for the job posts that interest you -> http://www.onlinejobs.ph/register
Michelle Rubi says
how can I or where can I find if I have been hired for a job that I am applying for thank you ?
Jessica Marie says
Hi Michelle,
Thank you for your email. You can check on your OJ inbox if there are replies from your applications -> https://www.onlinejobs.ph/mymails/inbox
Charlene Quiñones says
I want to apply as a full timer.i want to earn money for my future
Jessica Marie says
Hi Charlene,
Thank you for your comment. Our support team has emailed you regarding your OJ account verification, kindly check your inbox. After your account is verified, you can go to this link to apply to job posts -> https://www.onlinejobs.ph/jobseekers/jobsearch