What to consider when debating hiring a virtual assistant vs recruiting new staff
When you recruit a new member of staff you are making a big commitment, not just financially, but with your time. Here, we look at the benefits of hiring a virtual assistant vs recruiting new staff members.
Recruiting new staff comes with additional costs and considerations for your business:
Recruitment Costs:
Either the cost of the recruitment companies fees or the cost of advertising yourself. Recruitment is a laborious task, consider how much time it takes you, writing the job specification, the Job Ad, sorting through the applications, and responding to candidates. Plus then, you have the interviews, the wasted time when candidates fail to turn up, the whole onboarding process. All of this takes time, effort and ultimately costs money either in expenditure or the time away from the business for you to complete the required recruitment-related activities.
Equipment:
What equipment will the new employee require? Laptops, monitors, desk, Office chair, footrest, screen raiser, headset, mobile phone, desk phone are all items that you may have already or will need to purchase, even if you have them already, they are items you will have to replace at some point if you have recruited a permanent staff member.
Training Costs:
DSE Assessments are a must to comply with your health and safety obligations. An existing staff member or even yourself will have to train the new employee on your processes, and software. Do they need training for a particular aspect of the role?
HR:
Pensions, Taxes, National Insurance, Sick Pay, Christmas parties, Works do’s, team building events are all further costs to the business.
So, why hire a Virtual Assistant instead of recruiting?
Well, to start with you have none of the problems listed above! However, there are many reasons to outsource your admin and general tasks that continue to stay at the bottom of your to-do list each day.
Flexibility:
Only pay when you have work to be completed. So regardless of if that’s once a week, once a month, or sporadically through the year, a virtual assistant will help you. Not only that, but you will find they are happy to work flexible hours through the day. So If you want someone to take office calls before your receptionist gets into work, then your VA could take calls from 7-9 am each morning remotely; ensuring your customer’s calls are answered at a time to suit them.
Breadth of Knowledge:
Virtual Assistants often have a vast amount of experience in what they do, some are admin experts, others excel in Social Media marketing. Many have a wide range of skills and knowledge that can help you. They will also have a good understanding of business management, what is involved and how you could improve your business, whereas an Admin Assistant or Personal Assistant you have recruited may never have run a business or had the experience a Virtual Assistant will have.
Cost:
You will save money, with non of the overheads and expenses of recruiting and employing permanent staff; only paying for what you need and at a reasonable rate, means your bank balance and your accountant will be your best friend.
No commitment, low risk:
Don’t like the way your VA works, no problem, find another that works well with you and your team. If you have employed someone this is not only a costly problem but also a lot more difficult to do.
Using a Virtual Assistant is also a great way to ensure you have enough consistent work to make it worthwhile employing someone full time, without the commitment.
So before you get on the Recruitment ladder, try out a VA and you will be surprised at how cost-effective and efficient their services are.
Find out about our ➡ Virtual Assistant Service (VA).