Using Virtual Assistants..???

[Blake Copeland]

We're looking into using virtual assistants for pre-screening as well as a virtual closing coordinator. Anyone have any experience using these team members? What companies do you reccomend.. US companies, foreign companies? Thanks

[Rachel Rofe]

It depends - do you have a systemized process for pre-screening?

If you have a systemized process, then it shouldn't matter TOO much on the VA as long as you can give them the system/good training of it.

A lot of times as long as you have a good-hearted, trustworthy employee and a system to go with - it works out phenomenally.

I've used a ton of VA's and have a half dozen people on my team now. If you let me know what you're looking for, I may even be able to place one for you (though I do ask for a finder's fee because I typically train them). Many of the people I use, because they follow systems, are much cheaper than a "traditional" VA (I hire full timers at $317/month, making them $1.98 an hour, and the work they do is incredible).

If you want a more traditional VA, workaholics4hire.com is excellent. More expensive, but they're all screened and you don't need to worry about making any mistakes.

Oh - and if you decide to hire one off elance or odesk or something, I would test them out with small projects first, or do 10 hour blocks, before committing to anything. That's saved me a LOT of time.

Good luck!