How To Hire A Virtual Assistant In The Philippines - Step By Step

Summary

This video script outlines a seven-step process for hiring Filipino virtual assistants, emphasizing the importance of mapping out the ideal candidate to avoid costly hiring mistakes. The speaker shares personal experience, recommending platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Online Jobs, with a preference for the latter due to its flexibility and cost-effectiveness. The script provides detailed guidance on creating a compelling job post, filtering applicants, conducting interviews, assigning sample tasks, and making an offer. It highlights the significance of aligning the candidate's motivation with the job's excitement and growth potential, ensuring a successful and long-lasting working relationship.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video outlines a seven-step hiring process for Filipino virtual assistants.
• 📝 Step one is to map out the ideal hire to avoid hiring the wrong person, which is time-consuming and stressful.
• 🛠️ It's important to list tasks, define what a good job looks like, and consider growth potential and excitement for the role.
• 🗂️ The second step involves choosing a hiring platform, with Online Jobs being the speaker's preferred choice due to its flexibility and cost-effectiveness.
• 📝 Crafting a compelling job post is crucial for attracting the right candidates, and it should clearly outline the position and expectations.
• 🔍 Filtering applicants involves checking for attention to detail and quality of work, narrowing down to a manageable number of candidates.
• 🗣️ The interview process is about getting a feel for the candidate's vibe and motivations rather than just their work history.
• 📚 Sample tasks are given to the top candidates to evaluate their work quality and work style in a real-world context.
• 💰 Sample tasks should be paid proportionally higher to encourage the candidate's best work.
• 🤝 The final step is making an offer to the top candidate, including compensation, schedule, and expectations, with a trial period to evaluate fit.
• 🔄 The hiring process is refined over time and has proven successful for the speaker, who has hired dozens of virtual assistants.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of mapping out your ideal hire before starting the hiring process?

Mapping out your ideal hire is crucial to avoid hiring the wrong person, which can lead to wasted time, money, and energy. It helps in finding alignment between the person and the position, ensuring that the hired individual is excited and motivated to thrive in the role.

Why is it recommended to hire Filipino virtual assistants full-time according to the speaker?

The speaker recommends hiring full-time because it allows the assistant to be fully focused on the job, dedicating 100% of their mental real estate to the tasks at hand. This often results in a higher return on investment compared to part-time arrangements.

What are the key attributes to consider when mapping out the ideal candidate for a virtual assistant position?

Key attributes include the necessary skills for the role, character traits that would help them excel, aspects of company culture they need to adapt to, and what motivates and excites them to ensure they thrive in the position.

Why is it important to clearly outline the tasks, workload, and expectations for the virtual assistant role?

Outlining tasks, workload, and expectations helps potential candidates understand what the job entails and ensures that they know what success looks like in the position. It also helps in setting realistic goals and managing expectations from the start.

What are the three hiring platforms mentioned in the script, and which one does the speaker recommend the most?

The three hiring platforms mentioned are Fiverr, Upwork, and Online Jobs. The speaker recommends Online Jobs the most due to its flexibility, no percentage cut from payments, and the ability to take the relationship off the platform.

Why is crafting a compelling job post considered one of the most important steps in the hiring process?

A compelling job post is essential because it attracts the right candidates. If the job post is not well-crafted, it may not excite the right people, leading to a lack of high-quality applicants and wasted time in the hiring process.

What is the significance of the '13th month' pay in the context of hiring Filipino virtual assistants?

The '13th month' pay is a mandatory bonus akin to a Christmas bonus that all Filipino employers are required to pay. Although not technically required for foreign employers, it is culturally expected and should be considered when hiring Filipino virtual assistants.

What are the three things the speaker suggests asking for from applicants in a job post to ensure they have read and understood it?

The three things to ask for are the applicant's Skype username for initial contact, examples of their past work to assess their capabilities, and something random (like a green banana picture) to ensure they have read the entire job post.

How does the speaker recommend filtering through a large number of applicants received on Online Jobs?

The speaker suggests a two-step filtering process: first, quickly delete applications that do not include the three requested items (Skype username, portfolio, and something random). Second, review the remaining portfolios and filter down to applicants whose work quality meets the standards for the position.

What is the purpose of conducting short 15-minute interviews with the top applicants?

The purpose of these short interviews is to get a quick vibe check on the applicants. It's about assessing whether the interviewer enjoys interacting with the applicant, their motivation, excitement about the work, and whether they seem like someone the interviewer would want to work with daily.

Why does the speaker recommend sending out sample tasks to the top three candidates?

Sample tasks allow the speaker to get a better feel for what it's like to work with the candidates in the actual context of the job. It helps evaluate not just the quality of their work but also their communication, problem-solving skills, and how they prioritize the task.

What is the rationale behind paying candidates for the sample tasks they complete during the hiring process?

Paying for sample tasks is an investment that can save time, headache, and stress from picking the wrong candidate. It also encourages candidates to do their best work and helps in evaluating their capabilities and work ethic more accurately.

What are the key components to include in the job offer to the top candidate?

The job offer should include compensation details, work schedule, expectations, and a concise recap of the job post and important information. It should also mention the trial period and the potential for growth or raise in pay after the trial period.

Why does the speaker suggest a one to three-month trial period for new hires?

A trial period allows for an easy exit if the candidate is not a good fit, and it provides an opportunity to raise their pay quickly after the trial to incentivize good performance without setting bad expectations for frequent raises.