Is a Part Time Virtual Assistant Worth It?

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Wondering if a part time virtual assistant is a good hire for your business? 

You can hire virtual assistants part time and full time and still get remarkable results.

My name is Connor Gillivan. I’m an Owner and the CMO of Outsource School, EcomBalance, and AccountsBalance. With my last company, I hired 45+ virtual assistants and scaled to 8 figures with an exit in 2019.

I’ve hired virtual assistants part time, full time, and everything in between.

In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know about hiring a part time virtual assistant.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

  • Is It Possible to Be a Part Time Virtual Assistant?
  • What Does a Part Time Virtual Assistant Do?
  • What Is The Hourly Rate for a Virtual Assistant?
  • How Many Hours Does a Part Time Virtual Assistant Work?
  • Case Study: How A Part Time VA Helped Us Get More Done Faster
  • Part Time VAs vs Full Time VAs

Let’s get started!

Is It Possible to Be a Part Time Virtual Assistant?

Are you wondering if you can dip your toes into the virtual assistant waters without diving in headfirst?

Well, the short answer is yes! It is absolutely possible to hire a part-time virtual assistant.

In fact, many virtual assistants start out part-time while they build up their skills and client base.

This can be a great way to for them to test the waters and see if being a virtual assistant is the right fit for them.

One of the great things about hiring a virtual assistant is the flexibility they have. They can work as much or as little as you want, depending on what you need for your business.

So, whether they’re a stay-at-home parent, a student, or just looking for a side hustle, you can find extremely smart part-time virtual assistants.

Of course, hiring a part-time virtual assistant does come with its own set of challenges. You’ll need to be organized and efficient with your time to make sure you’re helping the virtual assistant be as efficient as possible.

What Does a Part Time Virtual Assistant Do?

part time virtual assistant

Some common tasks that part-time virtual assistants might be asked to handle include:

  • Email management: This could involve everything from responding to emails on behalf of your client to sorting through their inbox and flagging important messages.
  • Scheduling: As a part-time virtual assistant, they might be responsible for managing their client’s calendar, scheduling appointments and meetings, and sending reminders.
  • Data entry: Some clients may need help with data entry, such as inputting information into spreadsheets or databases.
  • Social media management: If you have a social media presence, the VA may be responsible for managing the accounts, creating posts, and responding to comments.
  • Research: You may ask the VA to conduct research on a particular topic, such as market trends or competitor analysis.
  • Customer service: You can hire a VA to be responsible for handling customer service inquiries, such as responding to emails or chat messages.

The opportunities are endless.

Check out this guide for more inspiration: 30 Tasks a Small Business Virtual Assistant Can Take On.

The most important thing is to set the expectations clear upfront and make sure they’re good at communicating. 

Want to learn more about hiring a virtual assistant? Check out this video from Travis Marziani.

What Is The Hourly Rate for a Virtual Assistant?

The hourly rate for a virtual assistant can vary widely depending on several factors, including their level of experience, the tasks you need them to perform, and their location.

Generally speaking, though, you can expect to pay anywhere from $10 to $75 per hour.

At the lower end of the scale, you might find virtual assistants who are just starting out and are willing to work for a lower rate to gain experience.

These VAs might be based in countries with a lower cost of living, which can also contribute to their lower rates.

On the higher end of the scale, you’ll find more experienced virtual assistants who specialize in a particular area, such as social media management or bookkeeping.

These VAs may have advanced skills and certifications that justify their higher rates.

Here are some factors that can impact the hourly rate for a virtual assistant:

  • Experience level: As with any profession, the more experience a virtual assistant has, the more they’ll likely charge.
  • Geographic location: Virtual assistants based in areas with a higher cost of living may charge more than those in lower-cost areas.
  • Task complexity: If you need a VA to perform more complex tasks, such as bookkeeping or web development, you can expect to pay a higher rate.
  • Task volume: If you have a large volume of work that needs to be done, you may be able to negotiate a lower hourly rate.

Overall, the hourly rate for a virtual assistant is an investment in the success of your business.

By outsourcing administrative tasks to a VA, you can free up your time to focus on growing your business and increasing your revenue.

So, don’t be afraid to shop around and find a virtual assistant who offers the skills and experience you need at a rate that works for your budget!

How Many Hours Does a Part Time Virtual Assistant Work?

part time va

The number of hours a part-time virtual assistant works can vary depending on several factors, such as their availability, your budget, and the workload you have for them.

In general, though, a part-time virtual assistant usually works between 5 and 30 hours per week.

Here are some factors that can impact how many hours a part-time virtual assistant works:

  • Availability: If your virtual assistant has other clients or commitments, their availability may be limited. You’ll need to work with them to establish a schedule that works for both of you.
  • Budget: The number of hours a part-time virtual assistant works can depend on your budget. If you have a smaller budget, you may only be able to afford a few hours per week.
  • Workload: The number of hours a part-time virtual assistant works can also depend on the workload you have for them. If you have a lot of tasks that need to be done, you may need to hire them for more hours.

It’s important to note that even if a part-time virtual assistant works fewer hours than a full-time assistant, they can still be incredibly valuable to your business.

By outsourcing administrative tasks to a part-time VA, you can free up your time to focus on revenue-generating activities, such as marketing and sales.

Case Study: How A Part Time VA Helped Us Get More Done Faster

A few years ago when I started hiring VAs, my team and I were struggling to keep up with our workload.

We were constantly bogged down with admin tasks, such as scheduling appointments, responding to emails, and managing our social media accounts.

We knew we needed help, but we didn’t have the budget to hire a full-time assistant.

That’s when we decided to hire a part-time virtual assistant.

We found a VA who had experience in the areas we needed help with, such as social media management and email management.

We set her up with the tools and resources she needed to get started, and we established a clear set of expectations and deadlines.

The results were astounding. With our new virtual assistant taking care of administrative tasks, my team and I were able to focus on revenue-generating activities, such as marketing and sales.

We were able to get more done faster, and our business started to grow at a faster pace.

Not only did our part-time virtual assistant help us get more done, but she also brought a fresh perspective and new ideas to the table.

She was able to suggest new social media strategies and help us streamline our email management processes.

Overall, hiring a part-time virtual assistant was one of the best decisions we made for our business.

It allowed us to be more productive and efficient, while also freeing up our time to focus on what we do best.

Part Time VAs vs Full Time VAs

virtual assistant working

Full-time VA:

Pros:

  • More availability: A full-time VA will be available to work for you during regular business hours, so you can get more done in a shorter amount of time.
  • More consistency: You’ll have the same person working for you consistently, which can lead to better communication and a stronger working relationship.
  • More skills and experience: The VA may have more skills and experience, as they’ll have had more time to develop their abilities.

Cons:

  • Higher cost: They will generally be more expensive than a part-time VA, as you’ll need to pay for their salary, benefits, and other expenses.
  • Potentially more responsibility: You may need to provide more guidance and oversight, as they’ll be working for you more consistently.

Part-time VA:

Pros:

  • Lower cost: A part-time VA will generally be less expensive than a full-time VA, as you’ll only need to pay for the hours they work.
  • More flexibility: With a VA part time, you can adjust their hours and workload to suit your needs, which can be helpful if your business has seasonal or fluctuating demands.
  • Less responsibility: You may have less responsibility for managing and overseeing their work.

Cons:

  • Less availability: They may not be available to work for you during all of your business hours, which can be limiting.
  • Less consistency: You may be working with different people at different times, which can lead to communication challenges.
  • Potentially less experience: They may not have as much experience as a full-time VA, as they may not have had as much time to develop their skills.

What Is Outsource School?

outsource school

Outsource School helps you to unlock the potential of virtual assistants and accelerate your business growth.

This is the exact system Outsource School’s founders, Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan, used to go from zero to 8 figures and 40+ virtual assistants with an exit in 2019.

Since being founded in 2020, Outsource School has helped 1,000+ business owners hire 2,000+ virtual assistants for their companies.

Schedule a free sales call to learn more

Free resources you might like: 

Conclusion

“Can you hire a virtual assistant part time?”

“Yes, you can!”

I hope that you believe this now as well.

Get out there, post a job, and start interviewing.

If you need help taking those steps, check out Outsource School.

It’s our exact hiring system that we’ve used to hire 100s of virtual assistants for our companies.

Happy virtual assistant hiring!

Want help outsourcing & hiring virtual assistants? We make it easy! Learn More, Speak w/ an Expert, or Request a Callback

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Virtual Assistant Skills and Qualities to Focus on When Hiring

  What virtual assistant skills and qualities should I look for when looking for my next team member? Hiring for a position is more than just looking for people with the right sets of hard skills to complete the tasks. You need more than a content writer who can churn out excellent articles quickly. You want more than a graphic designer who is proficient in 3 different art tools. These hard skills are great, and necessary, but you also need hires to have certain soft skills. This is what helps you to work well with them.  In this post, we are going to talk about qualities to look for in pretty much every hire regardless of the position, and why they are essential.  The Changing Landscape of Virtual Assistant Skills Earlier the concept of hiring remote or hybrid employees was a new concept and business owners found it difficult to expect results from them. Now it’s a thing of the past! Hiring virtual assistants has become the new normal, as 70% of companies have turned to VAs as they bring a pool of different skill sets.  Being only good at their job, like creative writing or administrative work, is not enough anymore. VAs need to develop specialized skills like technical know-how or better decision-making skills to deliver results.  There is also an increase in demand (62%) for VAs with specific skills in various industries as they bring fresh ideas to the table. The evolution shows the aggressive changes in workplace demands, technological advancements, and the shift to remote-first business models.  Essential Skills of a Virtual Assistant to Look For As a business owner, you need a virtual assistant who can help your business grow with their unique skills. You need to look for a strategic partner rather than just a task manager. Here are the top skills and qualities of a virtual assistant to look for when hiring: 1. Communication Skills First on our virtual assistant skills list is probably the most important – communication. Imagine what would happen if hires did not pass information clearly or concisely. The work pipeline would get clogged up. Individual team members would get confused about tasks. Misunderstandings would occur frequently and nothing would get done properly.  Beyond speaking the same language, there are several signs that a person is a good communicator.  Listens well and is attentive Takes notes Asks good questions Clarifies Can speak back instructions Relays instructions accurately Can give clear instructions 2. Computer Literacy VAs naturally need to be able to navigate the digital space well. This includes software, apps, tools, and search engines. They typically need to know how to do video conferencing, emails, and the like. They Should also be familiar with the tools in the Google and/or Microsoft suites. At a minimum, they need to be adept in the technologies needed to accomplish their job. A great VA will keep learning how to increase productivity. They will also take steps to become more effective by using new tools and even automation. Additionally, freelancers also need to know how to navigate virtual assistant websites and freelance marketplaces.  3. Creativity These qualities don’t just apply to positions that require creative virtual assistant skills. For instance, you don’t need to be a graphics designer, content creator, editor, or advertiser. Innovation is not job specific. VAs can exercise their creative muscles together with their problem-solving skills. This way, they can come up with new ways of accomplishing tasks.  4. Interpersonal Skills Interpersonal skills go hand in hand with communication skills. VAs need to be able to interact and deal with people at different levels. Most VAs you hire will go under a manager. You will also hire some to be these managers. Either way, they need to be able to work well with others. They must do this to be able to complete projects and attain common goals. Arguably, the best at this are VAs that have worked with several different companies with different cultures.  They know how to: Adapt to personalities and teams Identify strengths and weaknesses Build connections and rapport 5. Attention to Detail Virtual assistants need to be detail-oriented. They do this when checking emails, entering data, and creating content. They also apply this skill when assessing the job description and rundown of roles and responsibilities. Some of the best virtual assistants are those who can spot mistakes that their superiors make. Then they can point them out, ask if it was intentional, and make suggestions to solve them. These qualities should be valued. Attention to detail shows that the VA takes initiative, takes responsibility, and cares about the job being accomplished well.  6. 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19 Best Virtual Assistant Websites to Find Top Talent

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Perks of Hiring Through Virtual Assistant Platforms As a business owner, you know how overwhelming the workload can be. In such scenarios, you wish for an extra set of hands to handle your work. A website for virtual assistants (VA) might just be your most useful tool. These platforms are a treasure trove of skilled professionals ready to tackle tasks you simply don’t have time (or energy) for. Access to Global Talent: Why limit yourself to local talent when you can hire from any corner of the world? Virtual assistant platforms connect you to professionals worldwide, providing access to diverse skills and expertise. Cost Efficiency: Hiring through these platforms is usually cheaper than hiring a full-time employee. Many VAs work remotely, so you save on office space, benefits, and equipment. Flexibility: Need help for a one-time project or an ongoing task? 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Communication Barriers: Time zones and language barriers can get tricky if your VAs are from different countries. Choose platforms that help with tools or tips to keep things smooth. Hidden Costs: Watch out for extra charges like posting fees or transactional costs. Always check for hidden costs upfront. Data Security: You might be sharing sensitive business information with your VA. Ensure the platform has strict security measures in place, and take extra steps like signing NDAs or using secure communication tools. Unclear Expectations: Miscommunication can harm your business. Be clear about your expectations, timelines, and deliverables from the start to avoid misunderstandings.  19 Top Virtual Assistant Websites With numerous virtual assistant platforms, how do you know which one’s right for you? Don’t worry—we’ve researched for you! Whether you need help with admin tasks, marketing, or specialized projects, there’s a platform tailored to your needs. 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How to Hire an Email Management Virtual Assistant (+ Benefits)

  Are emails bogging you down? Do you feel like you’re spending way too much time at your desk answering them? Do you feel like your inbox could use some sprucing up? Maybe you need a complete email spring cleaning! Whichever it is, it sounds to us like you’re in need of an inbox management virtual assistant.  The good news is that you can actually hire one today! But before you go there, we put together a few things that we think you should know about hiring an inbox management virtual assistant. In this article, we are going to be covering  What Is an Email Management Virtual Assistant? Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Assistant for Email Management 11 Tasks to Hire an Inbox Management Virtual Assistant For How Much Does an Email Management VA Cost? What Are the Best Virtual Assistant Websites to Hire From? Case Study: How John Hired an Email VA & Saved 2 Hours Per Day Sign up for Outsource School and unlock our free hiring packet to help you get the best email management virtual assistant. What Is an Email Management Virtual Assistant? Also known as an inbox management virtual assistant, these individuals are responsible for handling your emails. Their duties involve organizing and sorting emails, creating folders and labels to categorize emails, color coding emails to make them easier to locate, and even deleting unnecessary emails or spam. An outsourced inbox VA will even do all of this for you before you get on in the morning! This way, you can start your with a clean and beautiful inbox and avoid all the stress that unkept email will usually cause. Now, that’s just the categorizing part of the job. You also have the replying side of things, which a more specialized email assistant can handle, too.  When you think about all of that and the amount of time it could take you to accomplish a single day’s worth of emails, you start to see the value of hiring an email assistant. These people typically have developed efficient methods. They will implement proven processes to clean up your inbox and keep it that way. They may also use software programs, as needed and if you prefer, to help manage all the online correspondence.  Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Assistant for Email Management Outsourcing email management impacts both your professional and personal well-being. It frees up your time, so you can undertake other tasks with less strain. Below, let’s highlight the main incentives for hiring an email management virtual assistant. 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Improved Work-Life Balance You should hire an email management VA if you often check your email when out of the office, including during social gatherings. The VA will respond to incoming emails and only contact you for issues that require your attention. This lets you enjoy your breaks from work and take up hobbies, improving your overall well-being. Professional Communication Email management VAs are trained in effective communication as part of their virtual assistant skills. They are proficient at handling customers, including using the right tone and observing cultural sensitivity. They also align the email responses with your brand communication strategy to give your business a professional image. Cost Advantages Hiring an email management VA is more cost-effective than recruiting an in-house personal assistant. The VA works remotely, so you need not increase your office space or invest in infrastructure to accommodate them. Tasks to Outsource to a Virtual Assistant for Email Management Deleting junk emails and keeping your inbox clear of any unwanted newsletters, subscriptions, or promos.  Forwarding emails to the necessary people within your team or others Archiving old emails that might be useful later so you main box isn’t filled with old mail Responding to emails and setting up automatic replies Some email marketing like sending out mass emails such as newsletters and introductory emails to the selected list of customers Managing your contact list which involves sorting contacts in order of importance or priority, categorizing them with labels (customers, business partners, suppliers, internal team, etc.), adding new contacts, and deleting old ones Sorting emails in order of priority so you know which emails are urgent and which can wait  Some customer support duties like answering customer inquiries  Creating folders and applying labels to emails. Labels add specificity. Folders organize old and new emails for future reference. Setting up filters ensuring incoming emails go into the applicable folders tidying up your main inbox Answering emails about meetings and adding them to schedule  How Much Does an Email Management VA Cost? Virtual assistants have a range of prices depending on a number of factors such as skill level, level of experience, scope of work, specialized knowledge, length of project, are you hiring a VA full-time or a part-time VA, and what country they come from.  If you want an inbox management virtual assistant who does only the admin side of things, then in the U.S. you’re looking at an average of $10-$12 per hour. VAs from the Philippines and India are less costly both averaging around $6-$7 per hour.  Now if you’re looking for a VA who can

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