Julia (my OFS – Online Filipino Specialist) writes:
In the past few years, there’s been an increase in the number of virtual assistant (VA) training programs provided by the government and private individuals/groups. They’re being advertised here in the Philippines as intensive, skills development programs that can make anyone work ready as long as they finish the course.
Some jobseekers even showcase their certificates of completion on their jobseeker profiles. Seeing them, you might start thinking that jobseekers who have undergone these programs might be the best people to hire.
If they’ve undergone these training programmes, that means you’re automatically getting skilled workers, right? Maybe you can even forgo training them yourself!
Do VA training programmes really work? Is this something you should include as a job requirement?
The short answer is, it depends.
Not all VA training programs are alike. Some programs are more intensive while others just offer an overview of what they need to do. And like school, the people who take these training programs vary. Some take it seriously. Some just managed to finish the course by doing the bare minimum. You still need to listen to your gut and check whether this person has the right attitude for the job.
You also have to consider the fact that most of those who take these VA training programs are people with little or no work experience. They did the exercises in a controlled environment with little or no context. You still have to check whether or not they really understand what they’re doing.
And just because a virtual assistant didn’t go through a training program doesn’t mean they’re not skilled. A lot of experienced VAs are self taught or started learning on the job.
Even if you got the VA who was the top of the class of the best VA training program out there, it doesn’t mean you don’t need to train them.
Why?
Because your process is unique to your business. They way you do things and the quality of work you want to see is specific to your standards.
Having some training prior to being hired just makes things easier. They can be onboarded faster. They’ll make fewer mistakes compared to someone who’s starting from scratch. And if they’re really good, they can even help improve the training you already have. Or they can train any new VAs you want to hire in the future.
Having that training allows the VA a head start, it’s a shortcut. It doesn’t replace training. Having your VA to handle the tasks without your input can get frustrating, especially when you don’t get the result you want. You have your own style, methods, and quirks, you’ll still need to train your VA the way you want things handled.
I agree with her.
John