When the pandemic forced the world to change the way to live and work, there came an increasing demand for virtual workers. It became the norm for businesses to recruit people online and have them work remotely. These past two years in particular saw a boom in outsourcing freelancers and remote specialists.
Many countries have their own pool of virtual assistants but international organisations turn to the Philippines to hire a virtual assistant. The outsourcing industry in the country is growing at around the same rate as the global market—and it’s understandable.
Why hire a Philippines virtual assistant
Regardless if they are operating offline or online, companies are aware of the advantages of hiring VAs. They serve as effective solutions for achieving business objectives. Remote staff in the Philippines are especially beneficial for reasons that we discuss below:
They have high literacy rates
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority in a 2020 survey, the functional literacy rate in the country is at an impressive 92 percent. You can be sure that your VA in the Philippines has basic skills in writing and reading at the very least.
They adjust to different cultures
When hiring Filipino workers, you may be certain that they are some of the most adaptable and flexible employees across the globe. They have dealt with foreigners for so long that it’s part of their nature to adjust to the cultures that are introduced to them.
They respect those above them
The traditional family structure revolves around respect towards authorities and elders. When you hire staff in the Philippines, you’ll notice that they avoid confrontations and conflicts for the sake of keeping the peace and maintaining good relationships.
They are fluent in English
English is the second language of many a Philippines virtual assistant, making them a bilingual worker. They are capable of performing complicated tasks for you, including writing emails and answering calls in English. You save time since you won’t have to keep clarifying your instructions too.
They cost less than other workers
Lots of small to medium sized businesses prefer to hire a virtual assistant in the Philippines because they save on labour costs. They usually won’t have to pay for taxes either so they get to reduce their expenses compared to working with an assistant in the US, Australia, or Europe.
What does the hiring process look like?
Now that you’re aware of the benefits of working with remote staff in the Philippines, you may be wondering how to go about adding people to your team. Here’s what the recruitment process for an online worker looks like normally:
1. Identify the tasks you want them to do
Recruitment begins by listing down all of the tasks that you want to delegate to your VA in in the Philippines. Training documents and Standard Operating Procedures have to be prepared too, so it’s easier for them to adapt to their new role should they be hired.
2. Make a detailed description of the job
This has to describe the level of experience and education required plus background information on your business, your products and services, and your customers. Include the software and tools that they must be familiar with using as well.
3. Publish your job listings on different websites
One of the most well-known places to list job openings is Craigslist but there are plenty of other sites too. It’s a good idea to publish them on industry-specific boards where you’re sure to appeal to people who are already working in your niche.
4. Evaluate the candidates and arrange interviews
Review all of the applications you’ve received and narrow down your list to 10 applicants then schedule them for video interviews. If you’re planning to hire more than one personal assistant in the Philippines, maybe keep your list to around 20 candidates.
5. Have the candidates undergo a test
Check if they’re truly capable of doing what they claim to by asking them to accomplish a real assignment. If they’re a content virtual assistant, for instance, maybe have them write a single article that follows your guidelines and see if they match your needs.
6. Sign the candidate up for a trial period
Before you have them sign for a permanent position, evaluate their capabilities with a trial period of a month or so. Some businesses who are hiring Filipino workers put their candidates on a probationary period of 2 to 3 months just to know them better.
Hire 2x Faster with Remote Workmate
The normal hiring process may only have 6 steps to it, but each step comes its own complications. When you think about it, to hire a virtual assistant in the Philippines, you have to invest a lot of resources, including precious hours that are better used for core business tasks.
Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the average time to hire for professional and business services is around 23 days. The global time to hire for consulting is around 25 days. Meanwhile, the average hiring duration in the Philippines is over 21 days in general.
That’s a lot of time to spend on hiring an individual and you’re spending money the whole time too. The good news is that there’s a way to cut the Philippines virtual assistant cost which is to work with a Philippines recruitment agency like Remote Workmate.
It takes an average of 1.5 to 2 weeks for Remote Workmate to fill positions. The average hiring duration is already reduced by a week which you may use for training your new hire. It may take a bit longer at times but that’s if the requirements are very specific to ensure you get the best match.
Thinking to hire remote in the Philippines? Schedule a call with Remote Workmate to discuss your needs. Click the button below to get started on our quick and easy hiring process.
