Versatile and adaptable, virtual assistants (VA) are the jacks of all trades of the digital world. They’re full-time, part-time, or independent contractors who offer administrative and data entry services, with some even providing specialized virtual assistant services such as graphic design, research, social media management, and web design. Because of their diverse and niche skill sets, virtual assistants are an asset in every company. Much like any outsourcing staff, virtual assistants help reduce annual costs by as much as 78%.
This means a company doesn’t have to allocate funds for additional equipment and office space, as virtual assistants work remotely and have their own computers. When it comes to qualifications, anyone can become a virtual assistant provided the individual possesses computer literacy and administrative skills.
With virtual assistants from across the world waiting to be hired, sifting through applications — or even finding the right virtual assistant from job platforms — can be a tough call. Don’t worry, our detailed guide on how to find virtual assistants in the Philippines will help you hire the best virtual assistant that offers the services you require and drives business growth and efficiency.
Why Choose A Virtual Assistant Philippines?
Globally, around 40 million people are working as virtual assistants. For business owners, this is good news as they can extend their hiring pool from local to international, which means more options for hiring virtual assistants in addition to round-the-clock productivity.
Companies hire virtual assistants from Asia and Latin America. While these regions outsource high-caliber virtual assistant services, there are reasons why businesses are opting to partner with a skilled virtual assistant from the Philippines.
1. Excellent English Communication Skills
According to the EF English Proficiency Index (EPI), the Philippines exhibited a “High Proficiency” in the English language. Such a high proficiency level boils down to early exposure to English, thanks to the prevalence of English-language media and the use of English as a language of instruction in schools. Not to mention, Filipinos are well known for their neutral English accent.
While English fluency is not required to be a virtual assistant, it’s still an asset in the workforce. As such, Filipino virtual assistants can leverage their mastery of the language to ensure proper verbal and written communication between them and their clients. In addition, English-language skills are also helpful in certain virtual assistant services, including research, customer support, and content creation.
2. More Cost-Effective for Companies
Outsourcing to the Philippines is a cheaper venture. In general, hiring a Filipino virtual assistant in the Philippines costs between $3 and $12 per hour, lower than the average of $24 to $50 per hour in the United States. However, the hourly charge may be higher or lower depending on the task and the individual’s experience and skills.
Don’t mistake this for cheap labor. Filipino virtual assistants boast college degrees or certifications and value quality. Whether you’re hiring an entry-level or specialized virtual assistant, rest assured you’ll get your money’s worth.
3. Accustomed to Western Culture
The Philippines has a long history of colonization, thus making it culturally compatible with Western countries like the United States. Because the average Filipino virtual assistant is familiar with English slash and exposed to foreign media at a young age, they can acclimate to your business’s work culture and meet your expectations.
Filipino remote workers also have experience working with US- or UK-based clients or foreign businesses, so they’re most likely familiar with your country’s local holidays and time zones.
4. Good Work Ethic
Virtual assistants from the Philippines are hard workers. A Filipino VA can go beyond the call of duty, taking their client’s needs to heart and delivering more than what is expected of them. Filipinos are also respectful and professional, using “sir” or “ma’am” when addressing a superior.
For Western companies, this comes off as a surprise. But think of this as a sign of respect for your authority. However, you can always let your Filipino VA team know it’s okay to call you by your first name. Filipinos are known for their flexibility, too — adjusting their working hours to accommodate your local time zone, so you can prevent downtimes and enjoy round-the-clock virtual assistant services.
How to Determine Your Business Needs Before Hiring A Filipino Virtual Assistant
Before you learn how to find virtual assistants in the Philippines, you must define your needs and goals, so you can identify the skills required for the job and set realistic expectations for your Filipino virtual assistant. Here are some questions to help you out.
1. What Tasks Do I Delegate to Virtual Assistants?
Identifying gaps in your business lets you zero in on the tasks you can delegate to your Filipino virtual assistant. Without a clear set of tasks, you’ll be wasting your virtual assistant’s time.
2. What Skills Do the Tasks Require?
Remember, virtual assistants typically wear many hats. From the tasks you identified earlier, you can determine what skills your Filipino virtual assistant should possess.
3. What Are My Goals?
Setting goals gives you a clearer picture of your expected outcome. Is it to improve efficiency through calendar management, or to ease the load off of your customer support team? Whatever those goals are, list them down.
4. What Is My Budget?
Hourly or monthly rates vary between virtual assistants. Experienced and specialized VAs, for example, command higher rates unlike entry- and mid-level VAs. Before going through the hiring process, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do the tasks require specialization?
- Will you hire a part-time or full-time VA?
- Does your company use niche software?
- How much are your incentives and bonuses?
13th-month pay is another concern. In the Philippines, the provision of the 13th-month pay is mandated by Presidential Decree No. 851. While Philippine companies are obligated to give this annual bonus, you can still pay your Filipino virtual assistant their 13th-month pay to boost their morale and express your gratitude for their hard work.
5. What Will Be the Working Hours of My Filipino Virtual Staff?
The timezone of the Philippines favors Western time zones, especially the United States. When you hire a virtual assistant from the Philippines, chances are, they’ll be working the night shift to cover downtimes. Filipinos can work mid-shifts, too. Before finding a virtual assistant, identify which times of the day require the most coverage, as this will be the basis for their working hours.
3 Ways On How to Find Virtual Assistants In the Philippines
You’ve done your homework of identifying business needs and gaps. That means you’re ready for the next step: Finding the best virtual assistant. If you don’t know how to find virtual assistants in the Philippines, below are three tips to get you started:
1. Job Search Sites
Job search sites are the modern classified ads. These websites are not just for job seekers, but employers as well. Here’s a short round-up of the best job search platforms for finding a skilled virtual assistant in the Philippines:
Upwork
Upwork is a treasure trove of freelance virtual assistants and clients — all based in different parts of the globe. Here, you can avail a quality virtual assistant service from a freelance virtual assistant, or post a job listing like any employer would. The best part about Upwork is the abundance of top-rated Filipino virtual assistants, complete with their work history, rates, and bio.
OnlineJobs.ph
Unlike Upwork, this job search platform is reserved for Filipino professionals. You can browse through thousands of Filipino virtual assistants, each bringing unique skills to the table. The skills and their respective star rating are listed on the profile, making it easier to gauge mastery and proficiency. In addition, you can filter virtual assistants according to employment type, availability, and other parameters.
Virtual Staff Finder
Virtual Staff Finder is a great alternative to Upwork and OnlineJobs.ph. It streamlines the search process, sourcing potential virtual assistants for you to interview and hire. However, take note that Virtual Staff Finder requires users to pay a one-off service fee of $595.
2. Outsourcing Companies
Virtual assistant services are offered in BPOs. These companies conduct rigorous screening processes, which include interviews and background checks to ensure the candidate is an asset to both the firm and the client. Virtual assistant roles may vary from company to company. For example, KDCI offers roles from administrative virtual assistant to SEO specialist. Rates differ as well, so consider requesting a quote when trying to find a potential outsourcing partner in the Philippines.
3. Personal Network
Don’t underestimate the power of your personal network, including your LinkedIn contacts. Reach out to industry experts, colleagues, friends, and acquaintances for recommendations on the best BPO companies in the Philippines. You can also post on LinkedIn that you’re looking for a Filipino virtual assistant, so your contacts can refer a virtual assistant to you.
How to Hire A Virtual Assistant In the Philippines
Whether a friend referred a potential virtual assistant, or you found one while browsing Upwork, evaluating potential virtual assistants is more than reading their well-written resumes and viewing glowing portfolios. It’s about maintaining a delicate balance of assessing their skills, personality, and cultural fit.
Although a perfect virtual assistant doesn’t exist, these steps will help you better evaluate a potential virtual assistant, so you can hire the best one for your company.
1. Check Their Resume and Work Portfolio
A solid resume and portfolio help virtual assistants get their foot into the hiring door. Depending on the task and role, you’re going to look for specific skills and experience in a potential candidate. For an administrative support role, for example, you’ll want someone with experience in email and calendar management as well as proficiency in Microsoft Office products. You may also prefer candidates who have worked in industries similar to yours.
A portfolio, on the other hand, is proof of a candidate’s skill. It should contain their best works, and projects along with positive client feedback and testimonials. From the testimonials alone, you can gauge whether the candidate is equipped with the grit and skills for the job. Measurable outcomes and metrics are also a plus, as they showcase the impact of an applicant's VA service.
2. Contact A Candidate’s Previous Client or Employer
This step is a background verification process. It gives you in-depth insights into the candidate’s character and performance, including how they maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) and address conflicts and downtimes.
3. Conduct Interviews
Interviews are a critical part of the hiring process. The right interview questions shed light on a candidate’s thought processes and oral communication skills. Here’s a list of questions you can ask your potential Filipino virtual assistant:
- “What do you like to do during your free time?”
- “What made you venture into the virtual assistant industry?”
- “What are your limitations?”
- “Tell me about a time you faced a big challenge. How did you overcome it?”
- “Tell me about a time you had a disagreement with a client. How did you resolve it?”
- “Tell me about a time you juggled multiple tasks. How did you complete them?”
- “What would you do if you don’t understand a task?”
- “How would your friends/co-workers describe you?”
- “How do you upskill and keep up with industry trends?”
- “How did you handle a technical issue while completing a task?”
Aim for situational questions or questions that illuminate a candidate’s virtual assistant journey on a deeper level. Tailor your questions according to the required expertise and skills you listed in the job description. If you’re a first-time interviewer, keep these tips in mind:
- Prepare interview questions and practice saying them before the scheduled interview.
- Introduce yourself and explain the screening process to the candidate.
- Listen to the candidate’s answers and take notes.
- Keep interviews within 15 minutes.
- Ask icebreaker questions to get the ball rolling.
- Read up on Filipino work culture and laws.
- Discuss the length of the trial period.
Steer clear of applicants who overpromise results or lie about their qualifications and work history. An honest and skilled virtual assistant knows their strengths and weaknesses. Finally, always cross-check for inconsistencies between their interview answers and resume.
4. Test Your Candidates
Test tasks are the equivalent of a practical exam. These test tasks are aligned with the roles and responsibilities of a virtual assistant. If your job listing includes calendar management as a skill, the task should test the candidate’s ability to organize and prioritize events, meetings, and tasks. Likewise — if a potential virtual assistant is responsible for writing content — make them complete a writing test to assess their research skills, grammar proficiency, and quality of writing style.
The results of the tests give you a sneak peek of a potential virtual assistant’s caliber in fulfilling their responsibilities. These tests are considered paid tasks, so don’t forget to compensate your candidates for their time and effort — regardless of whether they pass the test.
5. Begin A Trial Period
Some clients propose a trial period with a BPO to test the partnership. You can do this with your Filipino virtual assistant, too! During this period, you can assess your virtual assistant’s performance, work ethic, and competency and provide feedback as needed. By the end of the trial period, you should know if you want to continue working with your Filipino virtual assistant.
If you do, congratulations! You can now onboard your newly hired virtual assistant. When onboarding, set expectations, get them up to speed with company rules, and provide access to communication channels and resources.
Outsource Virtual Assistance to KDCI
Virtual assistants can make or break a business, and that’s why it’s important to find the right one. If you don’t want to do the extra legwork of searching and screening applicants, consider outsourcing virtual assistance to KDCI. Based in Pasig City, KDCI boasts over a decade of outsourcing experience, backed by positive client testimonials and a strong portfolio of case studies and design solutions.
Best of all, the company takes care of the hiring process, meticulously screening its virtual assistants to ensure their educational background, employment history, and skills match your preferred virtual assistant role.
What are you waiting for? Contact us today, and get ready to build and meet your offshore outsourcing team of talented Filipino virtual assistants.
