FAQS What is an offsite or virtual assistant? Virtual assistance is a fairly new and rapidly growing profession. Virtual Assistants are entrepreneurs with extensive skill in administrative and executive assistance, who work remotely. Using the internet, phone and fax, they do what most administrative and personal assistants do, usually without ever meeting their client in person. Virtual assistants often work with multiple clients at a time, prioritizing their work, and building long-term working relationships to be their partner in success.   Why should I have an assistant? Often, professionals lose time, money and sleep because they simply don’t have the energy or resources to do it all. Worse yet, they’re burning out fast, on their business and their families. We believe real success happens when professionals learn to delegate. When you have the time to focus your energy on what’s most important, you’ll see an improvement in everything from your business success to your personal happiness. Assistant Match was created to help you achieve that balance.   Why should I hire an off-site, virtual assistant rather than an assistant who will come to my office? You do not need to provide a computer or work station for an offsite assistant. They will only “clock in” when they are working on your projects, so you will not need to pay for their breaks, or downtime. More importantly, a virtual assistant allows you to work with the person best suited to your needs, rather than the one who lives around the corner. The livelihood of virtual assistants depends on their relationship with you and results for your company. If you choose to hire virtual assistant services through Assistant Match, you will not have the burden of dealing with interviewing, reference checks, tax documentation, or workers comp.   How can I best utilize a virtual assistant? 1. Make a list of everything you do in a week. It’s easiest if you keep a running list on your computer, on your desk, or in a notebook in your purse, and jot things down throughout the day. 2. Next, add the things you wish you did during the week, but put off because of lack of time, interest, or ability. 3. Review this list and highlight the items that someone else could do for you. These are the items that do not require your specific knowledge or skill base to complete. They are the tasks that are important, but that do not need your personal attention every step of the way.  4. Identify what skills, knowledge, and computer/office programs are needed to complete the highlighted tasks. Congratulations! You have just identified what specific things an assistant can do for you, and any specific prequalification your assistant will need.   Isn’t a virtual assistant more expensive than just hiring an employee to come to my office or home? Simply put, no. Business Week reported in 2004 that the average American business’ cost per hire was $3,270.00. Additionally, when you hire an employee, you need to administer payroll and benefits, buy equipment, share your space, and deal with insurances like workers' compensation. If you hire your virtual assistant through Assistant Match, you do not need to concern yourself with any of those details. Although the hourly wage for a virtual assistant may be higher than some administrative help you can find, you will have a highly skilled professional with a convenient working situation who only works as much as you need them.   How do I know I can trust the assistant you assign to me? All of our assistants have been through an extensive screening and interview process. Their past clients have been interviewed as references, backgrounds have been checked, and only the top prospects are accepted into our active list. All of our virtual assistants have signed confidentiality agreements. You will quickly find that our virtual assistants take their work very seriously, and strive to please. They are professionals, and their livelihood depends on the level of service they give. If you are not pleased with your Assistant Match assistant for any reason, we will help you work through the problem, and will replace your virtual assistant immediately if the problem cannot be resolved.