You’re scared of hiring a Filipino VA or an Online Filipino Specialist (OFS) because of the unknown of what it actually looks like.
Let me tell you what it actually looks like in my business most of the time.
First, I’ve gone through the process I teach at OneVAAway.com.
I decide who to hire from OnlineJobs.ph and say “I’d like to offer you a job.”
When I hire them, I give them a run down of how our company operates.
– Our PTO policy (unlimited)
– Our holidays (whatever holidays you want)
– Our work/schedule expectations (40 hours/week, whenever you want, be honest)
– Our quality expectations (do great work, quality over quantity)
– Our reporting expectations (daily)
– How we pay (once a month, unless you need 2x/month)
– Other benefits we offer (insurance, SSS, pag-ibig, computer benefit…all starting after you’ve worked for us 6 months).
Then I give a large explanation of what they’ll be working on.
I’ve done this recently with Google Ads, content writing, and SEO.
I use Snagit to record myself talking for as long as I need to.
– I explain the background.
– Explain our goals.
– Explain our current processes.
– Explain our current knowledge.
– Why we’re doing what we’re doing.
– Explain our mindset and our customers
Then I give them whatever training I have or need to give.
Actually, at this point I’m giving very little training. I typically point people to our training at VAsMadeEasy.com or to training we already have elsewhere.
But in the beginning, before I had all these roles defined, I’d create training for the person.
I’m giving them the least amount of training I think will get them started.
Why?
Because I’m lazy.
And
Because I’m busy. (ok…I’m not that busy…and I’m not that lazy…)
And
Because they’re probably smart.
Actually, it’s because I now recognize that I can give tons and tons of training, or very little training.
Either way, they’re unlikely to do it right the first time!
So I spend as little time as possible bringing them on board (you’re already stretched for time…spend as little as possible!)
They send me a report telling me what they did and what problems they had.
I give feedback (1-5 minutes) and correct their work.
They do more work.
I give feedback.
Repeat.
We build a relationship (trust).
I don’t repeat this forever. Just enough so they know
– I care about them
– I care about their success
– I care about the outcome of their work
– we get it right
Yep, it’s going to take me about an hour of my time. Maybe 3 hours. The highest possible ROI time I ever spend.
After that, they’re going to do work that makes me money for the next 3…10…25 years?
And I’m going to treat them as well as I can.
That’s how hiring a Filipino VA looks for me.
You’re on my mailing list because you’re interested in hiring someone.
If you haven’t hired, why? What’s holding you back?
If you have:
How is this process different for you? Why?
John
I hired a VA from the Philippines she was trained by a company then they closed their business. She wanted her own business. She also was into politics. She didn’t follow the directions i gave her nor answer questions I had about her work.So I let her go. I want a VA who can operate my Amazon business. It’s very automated now. I would like to get your opinion on how to pick the right person to do this job with me. Online Arbitration.
Jguldemd@gmail.com
Thank you Janis Gulde
Hi Janis!
It sounds like your previous VA wasn’t a good fit, which happens. But the good news is, finding the right VA for your Amazon business is totally doable. Here’s how I’d approach it:
Hire for Specific Skills – For an Amazon business, you’ll want someone with experience in tasks like product listing, inventory management, customer service, and maybe basic PPC management.
Test Their Attention to Detail – Amazon requires precision. A small mistake in a listing or inventory can cost you. In your job post, include a small test, like asking them to reply with a specific subject line or answer a question about your post. This filters out people who don’t pay attention.
Ask About Past Experience – During interviews, dig into their Amazon experience. Ask for specifics:
What tools have they used? (Eg. Helium 10, Jungle Scout)
How did they handle inventory issues or customer complaints?
What’s their process for optimizing listings?
Check Their Communication Style – Since you had issues with your last VA not answering questions, make communication a priority. During the hiring process, see how responsive they are. Set clear expectations upfront about daily reports.
Start with a Trial Period – Hire them for a 1-2 week trial. Give them a few tasks and see how they perform. This lets you evaluate their skills and work ethic before committing long-term.
Consider Full-Time – If your Amazon business is automated, a full-time VA might seem unnecessary. But full-time workers are more loyal and invested. They’ll also have time to learn your systems and grow with your business.
Hi John, thank you for your work and for creating the platform so we can hire Filipino VAs directly. Our process is a little more hand-on since our industry is in the Financial Services. However, the approach we use is using recorded training to be viewed at the initial onboarding, They’re instructed to write down notes and create their own instructions on how to do the task as the second step. The third step would be a hands-on training using what they’ve written down and “coaching” the coach on how to complete the task to confirm if they have understood the process. Hired 5 Filipino VAs and we’re just getting started!!!