According to an Owl labs study, 62% of American workers aged 22 to 65 work remotely some of the time. This shift has seen a rise in the need for remote executive assistants (EA), freelance writers, and other work-from-home professionals. But is hiring a remote EA the right choice?
The difference between an assistant and an executive assistant
You may have heard the terms “personal assistant” and “executive personal assistant” used interchangeably, but there are a few key differences between both jobs. Here’s how both careers are defined:
Virtual or non-virtual assistant
An assistant is an administrative professional that often works virtually as an independent contractor. They’re tasked with handling various basic administrative tasks for businesses, executives, and entrepreneurs. Most virtual assistants are part-time and have multiple clients.
Remote or non-remote executive assistant
An executive assistant or remote executive assistant is also an administrative professional often hired as a W2 employee. They’re tasked with supporting management with scheduling, travel planning, email management, and more. They may work with one or multiple clients.
Why a remote executive assistant?
After reading the description of a virtual assistant, you may consider hiring one as an alternative to an executive assistant. With that said, why should you hire an executive assistant instead?
Remote executive assistants are a dedicated solution
Virtual assistants are more likely to have multiple clients, whereas remote executive assistants may take a more dedicated approach to their work. EAs are more likely to have set hours and experience all administrative tasks to support their clients long-term entirely.
Remote executive assistants can handle complex tasks
Many administrative tasks are much more involved than they are on the surface. If you feel you couldn’t perform specific duties yourself, you may need to hire someone with a lengthy background supporting complicated tasks and the tools that facilitate them, like travel booking.
Remote executive assistants can finish projects faster
Turnaround times are often longer with virtual assistants because they work with more clients. On the other hand, remote executive assistants are faster at what they do because they have the time, dedication, and experience to meet their client’s needs, provided they’re available.
Remote executive assistants are skilled professionals
While it’s true that virtual assistants cost less, you’re paying executive assistants for their skills and experience. If a virtual assistant isn’t skilled in one or more tasks, they may complete fewer projects in the same amount of time as an executive assistant, so your money doesn’t go as far.
Remote executive assistants are a long-term solution
As mentioned, a remote executive assistant is more of a long-term solution. However, you have to set your organization up so it appeals to W2 employees. Most remote executive assistants work for Fortune 500s and expect their new employers to follow high-employment standards.
What are the positives of hiring an executive assistant?
Hiring an executive assistant comes with many positives, which relate to higher productivity, efficiency, and lower costs. Here’s why you should hire an executive assistant.
Find top talent
The best part about remote expansion is that you gain access to a broader talent pool. You’re no longer restricted to geography or highly competitive city markets, where the candidate pool may be exhausted. You’re more likely to hire who you need by casting a wider net.
Elevated productivity
Productivity is essential for all organizations. When you have someone who can help you with your system-based processes, productivity inevitably increases, but a remote placement takes it one step farther. According to several studies, remote workers are more productive on average.
Increased efficiency
You’re handling most of your administrative duties yourself, which gives you less time to spend on growing your business. After hiring a remote executive assistant who can manage several tedious projects, you’ll be able to devote your energy to core business tasks.
Significant savings
An executive assistant is expensive to hire, but you can’t just focus on the cost of employment. In business, time equals money, and if you have an EA who can complete tasks quickly and efficiently, you’ll eventually save big time. Plus, remote employees are cheaper to hire and manage.
Room for growth
All companies should look to the future when implementing any policy or hiring team members. Maybe you aren’t busy enough to hire an executive assistant now. Still, you may need their services in the foreseeable future, especially if you want to attract new clients or customers.
Possible flexibility
While most executive assistants have scheduled hours, you can find a professional who’s willing to work on-call 24-hours a day, provided you pay for it. That means you can call them up if you have an urgent inquiry. Or, you could hire two remote assistants in different time zones.
What are the negatives of hiring an executive assistant?
Unfortunately, you may experience a few negatives when hiring an executive assistant. However, most of these problems can be solved with planning and forward-thinking.
It potentially decreased output due to poor briefing
It can sometimes be a challenge hiring remote employees as you aren’t there to train them physically. You’ll need an incredible remote onboarding policy and ongoing training process to get the most out of your remote executive assistants, wherever they may live or work.
Delayed updates in different time zones
If your executive assistant lives in a different time zone, you may have difficulty getting a hold of them. To solve this problem, explain when your employees have to be available. Alternatively, you could hire remote employees close to your time zone or within your own country.
Lack of focus for executives with multiple clients
An executive assistant may have other clients besides yourself, but this usually happens if the EA can’t find full-time work. If you require a part-time EA to test the waters, find a candidate with three or fewer clients. Or, you could offer EA full-time hours, so you remain their only client.
Hence, you must consider above described factors and points before you decide to hire a remote executive assistant as per your need.
