Filipino Web Developer - Establishing A Healthy Relationship With Your Filipino VA
If you've already tried outsourcing in the Philippines, then there's a chance you know how to work with Filipino Virtual Assistants. While having a VA is a convenience for both you and the person you're working with, the downside is that they can leave you hanging at any time, without prior notice.
All they have to do is change their e-mail address, deactivate their old accounts, and that's it. The chances of you finding them again are zero to none.
There is a huge difference between working for someone you barely know and working for someone you trust. Chances are, more people are willing to go the extra mile for someone they're personally comfortable with.
If you want your Virtual Assistant to stick around for a good long time, you need to establish a healthy, working relationship with him or her, despite his or her being in the Philippines. The lack of physical interaction may make it difficult, but it's definitely not impossible.
1. Online Interview
While this may seem standard, you'd be surprised how many people hire VA's based on their resumes alone. When it comes to hiring, nothing beats a one-on-one interview. Anyone can sound good on paper, especially if their resume is well-written.
If you want the best person for this job, don't be afraid to lengthen the hiring process. Use the resumes submitted to narrow down your prospects, and then schedule a voice interview via phone or Skype.
A voice interview will give both you and your possible future VA a chance to know each other better. It also makes it possible for you to answer any questions or concerns the applicant might have. Aside from that, it's one surefire way to show your potential assistant that you're a serious employer, willing and able to build a working relationship.
2. Referrals
This is only possible if you have numerous other Virtual Assistants working for you. Filipinos trust something more if it was recommended by someone they know or are familiar with.
When you hire a new Filipino Virtual Assistant, have him or her exchange contact information with the Philippine Virtual Assistants currently working for you. Never underestimate the assurance fellow Filipinos can get from each other.
3. Give Them A Sandwich
You don't actually have to feed them. You do, however, have to give them feedback. When giving feedback, try to sandwich the negative bits between two slices of positive, encouraging comments.
Start with something they did right ("Hey, thanks for having the initiative to update my schedule for the week. I really appreciate it!") before you tell them what they did wrong.
("But the next time you update it, I need you to tell me immediately, alright? I'd like some time to prepare, and it's not easy if you only tell me the updates on the day itself.")
Then, cushion the blow with something they did right again. ("By the way, all my clients from last week said you were really easy to talk to. Great job!") If done right, your assistant will be encouraged to fix what he/she got wrong.
4. Never Assume, Ever
The best way to make your VA feel stupid is to assume they already know something, and then get mad at them when they admit that they don't.
Unless it's listed specifically in their job experience or skill set, don't automatically assume that they can handle anything you throw at them. When assigning a new task, your first step should always be to ask if them if they've done it before. Encourage them to be honest and open.
If they don't have previous experience with what you're asking them to do, provide training or guide them step-by-step. And be patient. Different people have varying learning curves.
Always bear in mind their skills and limitations. If your VA didn't list HTML coding or website design in his/her skill set, don't pressure them to learn how. You asked for a Virtual Assistant from the Philippines, not a Filipino web developer.
All they have to do is change their e-mail address, deactivate their old accounts, and that's it. The chances of you finding them again are zero to none.
There is a huge difference between working for someone you barely know and working for someone you trust. Chances are, more people are willing to go the extra mile for someone they're personally comfortable with.
If you want your Virtual Assistant to stick around for a good long time, you need to establish a healthy, working relationship with him or her, despite his or her being in the Philippines. The lack of physical interaction may make it difficult, but it's definitely not impossible.
1. Online Interview
While this may seem standard, you'd be surprised how many people hire VA's based on their resumes alone. When it comes to hiring, nothing beats a one-on-one interview. Anyone can sound good on paper, especially if their resume is well-written.
If you want the best person for this job, don't be afraid to lengthen the hiring process. Use the resumes submitted to narrow down your prospects, and then schedule a voice interview via phone or Skype.
A voice interview will give both you and your possible future VA a chance to know each other better. It also makes it possible for you to answer any questions or concerns the applicant might have. Aside from that, it's one surefire way to show your potential assistant that you're a serious employer, willing and able to build a working relationship.
2. Referrals
This is only possible if you have numerous other Virtual Assistants working for you. Filipinos trust something more if it was recommended by someone they know or are familiar with.
When you hire a new Filipino Virtual Assistant, have him or her exchange contact information with the Philippine Virtual Assistants currently working for you. Never underestimate the assurance fellow Filipinos can get from each other.
3. Give Them A Sandwich
You don't actually have to feed them. You do, however, have to give them feedback. When giving feedback, try to sandwich the negative bits between two slices of positive, encouraging comments.
Start with something they did right ("Hey, thanks for having the initiative to update my schedule for the week. I really appreciate it!") before you tell them what they did wrong.
("But the next time you update it, I need you to tell me immediately, alright? I'd like some time to prepare, and it's not easy if you only tell me the updates on the day itself.")
Then, cushion the blow with something they did right again. ("By the way, all my clients from last week said you were really easy to talk to. Great job!") If done right, your assistant will be encouraged to fix what he/she got wrong.
4. Never Assume, Ever
The best way to make your VA feel stupid is to assume they already know something, and then get mad at them when they admit that they don't.
Unless it's listed specifically in their job experience or skill set, don't automatically assume that they can handle anything you throw at them. When assigning a new task, your first step should always be to ask if them if they've done it before. Encourage them to be honest and open.
If they don't have previous experience with what you're asking them to do, provide training or guide them step-by-step. And be patient. Different people have varying learning curves.
Always bear in mind their skills and limitations. If your VA didn't list HTML coding or website design in his/her skill set, don't pressure them to learn how. You asked for a Virtual Assistant from the Philippines, not a Filipino web developer.
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