Many industries have seen a surge in remote work in recent years. It comes with numerous benefits, such as greater flexibility, convenience, cost savings, and productivity. The pandemic also made it crucial for businesses to switch to a remote setup in order to survive.

Choosing to hire a Filipino virtual assistant is no longer an option for collaborating with foreign professionals and reducing expenses but a means to deal with any worldwide issues in the future. However, everyone agrees that it’s challenging to outsource jobs to the Philippines.

Virtual staffing mistakes to avoid in 2023

There is no question that virtual working is here to stay. The good news is that there are plenty of platforms and technologies that help you in streamlining when you outsource jobs to Filipinos. Be careful that you avoid making the following mistakes next year:

Relying too much on time tracking tools

There will be times when employees want to kick back and relax instead of doing their tasks. Whether it’s remote or not, this is common in more teams than you expect. People need to take a break every now and then so breathing down their necks is not the answer.

Monitoring their every move through time tracking is not going to work either. While it does ensure that salaries or invoicing are easier to compute, it’s still possible for them to cheat the system if they have the know-how. It’s better to hire a Filipino VA who’s reliable from the get-go.

Neglecting to communicate with them

Communication is key when you’re working with a virtual team. It’s not effective to contact them only through phone or email as both parties need to have a chance to speak up. While conversations need not happen daily, consider catching up sessions at least once a week.

Emails or chats are acceptable when you’re talking about sending updates. When you want your team members to better understand each other, it’s better to arrange for face-to-face conversations as it aids in building teamwork and overcoming any language barriers.

Forgetting about geographical differences

Some employers refuse to hire a Filipino freelancer because of the different time zones and cultures but these should never be an issue. Gaining access to top talents is far more important. Besides, the latest innovations make communication and collaboration much easier.

Countries like Australia and the United Kingdom get to pay lower salaries since their workers have a more affordable cost of living. Despite the reduced rates, the quality of the work won’t be compromised as the right conditions will always boost productivity.

Using pricey online job boards

Actually, there’s no need for you to invest in expensive job postings as LinkedIn is a suitable platform for when you want to hire a full-stack developer or specialist or any other virtual professional for that matter. The networking site is one of the best places to look for prospective candidates.

At the same time, don’t rely on free posts all the time as quality applicants come from running paid postings. Start with the lowest package for the role you have open for your budget then move up slowly if you still have a hard time finding the talents you want.

Hiring based on limited information

Anyone is capable of creating a professional portfolio that showcases their best work. You want to assess if their presentations are more than just for show. While you might be in a rush to fill in a vacant position, be careful that you don’t overlook some aspects.

One of the best outsourcing tips is to hold intensive interviews where the candidates are required to show their face on camera. By asking the right questions, you may evaluate how they will fit into your objectives and company culture. A paid trial period is also an idea worth considering for technical roles.

Becoming a micromanager

As mentioned in the first point, observing your employees’ every move makes it impossible to build a stable relationship with them. Micromanagement only comes across as you not trusting them to do their jobs according to your standards. When you distrust them, you might as well haven’t hired them in the first place.

Be the one to establish boundaries for when you’ll communicate with them and when you’ll give them space to concentrate on their tasks. It’s another matter to leave them to their own devices and forget they even exist though. They might feel like they aren’t contributing to the organisation and leave.

Failing to have a vetting system

When you outsource jobs to the Philippines, ensure you have a vetting process in place. This means that you thoroughly investigate them in multiple phases in the recruiting process. Before you proceed with the intensive interview, you make them fill out a questionnaire, for instance.

You might also want them to submit a video where they talk about their working skills and history. You want to have at least 2 separate individuals checking their qualifications to avoid any bias too. Remember to run reference checks to know how they performed in their previous roles as well.

Making them feel they don’t belong

One of the biggest virtual staffing mistakes to avoid is segregating your workers according to hierarchy. In order for a company to succeed, it’s important for the employees to work in harmony. When everyone is in alignment with the organisation’s goals, work proceeds more smoothly and efficiently.

You might think that it’s not necessary to include remote workers in brainstorming sessions as those are best left to onsite staff. However, they remain integral members of your team and should be included when planning for your growth. You’d be surprised at how many great ideas they have to share.

How to hire a Filipino VA in 2023

Now that you know about the remote staffing best practices for 2023, begin applying them in your recruiting process. When the outsourcing tips we’ve shared above seem too much for your team, rely on our team at Remote Workmate instead.

Being an offshore staffing agency with connections to virtual professionals in the Philippines, we know how to thoroughly screen candidates according to various requirements. We also provide initial briefing or orientation for applicants so they’re ready to work when endorsed.