Finding the very best talent for your business has never been more challenging. Adapting to the post-Covid world, coupled with the emergence of the ‘Great Resignation’ means organisations need to think differently when trying to attract the best new employees.

Trying to keep up with the latest trends in the world of recruitment can be tough, while sifting through hundreds of applications and interviewing candidates can be a time-consuming process. Working with a professional recruiter can transform the hiring process and help you find the very best talent in a fraction of the time.

In this blog, we thought we would explore some of the challenges businesses are currently facing and how a recruiter can help overcome them.

What are the challenges of recruiting in 2023?

The last few years have caused a significant change in the workplace. Remote working is here to stay, with 85% of employees stating that they expect some form of hybrid working in the future. This means that businesses need to adapt their approach and working patterns where possible to cater to the changing expectations of employees if they want to attract the best new talent and retain their existing teams.

Of course, it’s not just about the changing demands of employees. With competition so high, being able to attract the very best talent is incredibly challenging, with research showing the best candidates are off the market within ten days. That means businesses need to be acting quickly, which places a lot of pressure on HR teams, who will need to promptly review and contact applicants if they want to secure the most skilled employees.

Being able to put your brand in front of the right people is also a growing challenge. Not all applicants will be actively looking for a role, with research showing that 73% of candidates are passive job seekers, so it is vital that companies are working on their branding and using options outside of traditional platforms to target new talent.

What help can you get?

It can be tough to navigate the ever-changing and often complex world of recruitment.  But if you work with an individual or team with a wealth of experience you will receive support every step of the way, dedicated to helping you to attract and secure the very best talent that will help you take your business to the next level.

While salary is always an important factor, candidates are also looking for companies that align with their own ethos and outlook. It is important that time is taken to learn the culture of your business, ensuring the very best candidates are handpicked for you.

For more information on a tailored service that covers all budgets and industries please get in touch!

Previously, we’ve discussed the job of a virtual assistant, its importance, and how to go about hiring one. We hope to have given you good insight into our world of work, but perhaps you’re left wondering, would a virtual assistant be a good fit for my business?

Look no further, as this article aims to explore who hires virtual assistants, the work they typically look for, and why we tend to be a good fit for their needs.

We generally see a wide variety of industries that seek out our services. These industries are wildly different from one another and include everything from Law professionals to Creatives, but often are looking for similar work.

But why is it that businesses from such varied sectors often outsource the same services?

This tends to be because our clients have something they do best (whether that be selling houses, providing legal advice or defending clients in the courtroom!), and want to free up more time to do more of their best work. Often, our clients will spend much of their business hours, and beyond, answering customer emails, updating websites, advertising media and networking, which takes precious hours away from being able to perform their best work as a business.

Even on an individual level, our clients have generally set up their business to do more of what they love, so when there’s mountains of emails to respond to and important business networking to be done, their business commitments are shifted away from the passion that inspired that business’ conception and core goals in the first place.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that answering emails, managing socials and liaising with customers isn’t important, but offsetting this work to specialists, such as virtual assistants, allows for the best of both worlds- a high quality of business management, paired with high quality services from the business themselves!

To put it simply, outsourcing work to virtual assistants allows for a clear split between business ‘housekeeping’ (jobs necessary to the smooth management of a business) and growth (development of your business’ goods & services, and pushing towards goals!), where each element of the business is therefore run by specialists in that area.

So, for example, a realtor client can put dedicated effort into staging and showing homes, building up strong relationships with customers, landlords & tenants and making sales by offsetting administrative duties to a virtual assistant. Equally, the virtual assistant is focused solely on administrative duties and can make sure the back-end of the business is running smoothly for the realtor.

Beyond this, the virtual assistant can assist company growth in other ways, through their own skill-sets. They may utilise social media to advertise listings or send out personalised emails to potential clientele to generate leads- all whilst the realtor client is out showing houses and making sales.

This is just one example, but is an effective business model for so many industries- from building construction to health & wellness.

Are you looking to spend more time growing your business, working with clients or doing more of what you love? Then virtual assistant services could be a good fit for your business and goals!

As remote workers aren’t working in a traditional office, they may find that their productivity is hindered by the change in environment. This can then negatively impact their work performance. To prevent this from happening, there are many tools and equipment available to help companies and their remote employees. Here are just some of them:

Notion
This app gained immense popularity since the pandemic started because of its versatility. A write-up by tech columnist Jason Aten explains that Notion is an all-in-one workspace. You can use it to take notes, create to-do lists, and even utilize it as a planner. Many have used it to keep track of their projects and workload, making them more organized and efficient. Its interface isn’t too intuitive, but there are many templates available both on the app’s website and across the internet. At its core, Notion is a note taking software, but with its flexibility, remote workers can make use of it in so many different ways to help boost productivity.

Canva
Canva is another great software that has gained notoriety because of its multifaceted nature. A past post explains that it can be used for creating different types of digital outputs like social media posts and presentations (click here to read more). It makes creating eye-catching designs easier for novices and pros alike. There are also many available templates on the site that accommodate different uses (like brochures and Facebook posts). Plus, these come with different themes so you can surely find one that fits your needs. This app can help boost productivity because it makes graphic design easier and more accessible to workers. Spend less time creating while still ending up with something that looks professionally made.

Ergonomic equipment
The rise of ergonomics has come about as more people aim for efficiency in the workplace. These devices are designed to cater to the psychological and physiological needs of users. As this article from Pain Free Working points out, ergonomic equipment, like chairs, are a necessity for work productivity, as well as your overall health and wellness. Transitioning to an ergonomic chair can free your back, neck, and shoulder from any pain or discomfort — and prevent future injuries. The comfort that they offer will help you focus more on your work, leading you to be more productive and efficient. Aside from chairs, there are other ergonomic devices like mice, keyboards, and even desks, so you will definitely find one that will suit your needs.

Second monitors
Some people may think that having more than one screen at their workstations is unnecessary, but studies have shown that this is not the case (read more here). Those who encode data for work will find that it makes the task easier because it lessens the need to switch between tabs and windows. It can also be used when you are presenting at work as you will be able to have the call on while still being able to look at your materials. Plus, it’s a relatively inexpensive upgrade because there are many budget monitors on the market right now that suit the needs of a professional. Adding this to your setup may seem unnecessary, but it is proven to help general productivity.

Despite the shift to remote working, employees still need to do their tasks efficiently and fruitfully. Luckily, there are plenty of apps and tools to make the home workplace feel more conducive for work. These are just some of the tools and equipment you can use to increase your productivity.

Exclusively written by J.Vernie

1. Set boundaries – Do you really need several email accounts on your phone? Do you need to be responsive at all hours of the day and night? Do you have a designated emergency contact for out of hours and could the responsibility for this email or telephone number be shared? You could also put your ‘out of office’ on when you need a break or when you need a couple of days to complete an important project. Your clients may be impressed with a quick response to a general enquiry on a Friday night, but would they necessarily expect it? And would they be doing the same?
2. Learn to communicate effectively and manage expectations – If you communicate effectively with the people who might be wanting your time, when you think you may be unavailable or less able to respond, this will allow both parties to plan ahead and ensure that work is effectively completed within the timeframe set, thus allowing you both some down time.Whilst it is nice to be busy, you may want to look at the necessity of the events in your diary. Do you really need to attend all of them? For example, a colleague could attend a business social or networking event on your behalf and gain useful experience. They would also feel valued at the gesture.
3. Time blocking and making daily lists – This gives you a visual plan and can help you to prioritise realistically. If you stick to your list, this will also prevent you from wasting your valuable time on tasks that don’t need doing or that could potentially be outsourced. As a rule, try to plan for three main tasks per day, anything else can then be considered a bonus!
4. Schedule in time for you. It’s easy to let a busy schedule convince you that you don’t need that yoga class, or that walk or that coffee and a catchup with a friend. However, a break can often find you returning to your tasks energised and with your enthusiasm restored. If you schedule your breaks or exercise classes into a diary or planner this will also prevent you from double booking yourself, or overrunning.
5. Are you working effectively? From the outside (pre-lockdown), remote working or the ‘laptop lifestyle’ did actually look quite fun, almost glamorous! We can assure you that it’s not that simple! The Administration Hub have designed a certified in remote working E-learning course based upon years of experience in this field, taking into consideration, the above factors and much more! This certified and accredited 13 module course will help remote workers to enhance skillsets and provide confidence to employers, clients and themselves. Plus, with downloadable resources, it provides valuable tools for the professional worker.Learn how work remotely effectively with this course

2020 IN REVIEW

As 2020 draws to a close, many of us are ready to shut the chapter on this roller coaster year! When the global pandemic (COVID-19) hit, it fundamentally changed how we viewed our world. Living through 2020 has forever altered our attitudes and behaviours as customers, employees, employers, and humans. It accelerated substantial changes in the way we communicate, build, and operate as individuals and as businesses.

Companies were forced to speedily re-evaluate where their staff worked from and learnt how various digital channels of communications could be utilised to support their employees and most importantly the clients they served.

THE NEW LOOK OFFICE ENVIRONMENT

As 2021 approaches one thing is clear – agile working is here to stay! Global brands like Google, Amazon and Twitter recently announced to their workforce that remote working will form part of their long-term company strategy.

This time last year no one could have predicted the challenges of 2020 and the obstacles it presented. However, our local sister company, The Administration Hub quickly adapted and developed a fully accredited e-learning course on remote learning. Their online remote working course was inspired by the need to ensure individuals stood out from the remote working crowd, and subsequently, gave employers confidence in their new look remote teams.

TOP TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR

Review and re-evaluate your digital strategies to gain new opportunities and the increase digital market share.

Support your professional development with accredited certified e-learning course from The Administration Hub.

Enhance your client service delivery. Listening to the clients gives valuable insight into what consumers want, and building that relationship enables businesses to identify their needs and assist them efficiently.

Support your teams by enrolling them in the TAH accredited e-learning course to ensure they have the knowledge, accountability, and expertise to work remotely in a professional and secure manner. Find out more information.

LOADING 2021…

As 2021 approaches, thoughts abound what resolutions we can make to improve our personal and professional lives in the New Year. The most essential of these should be to create opportunities to empower yourself and/or your teams. Aim to create a work environment where you can thrive whilst building genuine, flexible work structures to help you flourish in the marketplace.

While we navigate the different levels of lockdown and gradually try to adjust to our new normal in 2021, we draw strength from this inspirational message:

“2020 has been an emotional roller-coaster in business and life. As much as we have wanted to stop and get off many times our passion and commitment for what we stand for and provide has not let us! Our resilience has been tested and we have recognised that a priority in business was the need for a Plan B. Our final thoughts for this year are to all be kind, be strong, be positive and keep going. With this we can reach our goals together and develop our personal and business growth in 2021.”

Amy & Katy
The Administration Hub Directors

Working from home looks set to stay after many businesses found that enabling working from home did not disrupt processes or hinder productivity like they may have once thought. In fact, one study reported by the BBC states that remote working can increase productivity by as much as 13%. 

But not everyone knows how to work from home effectively and get it right, which suggests that learning materials and training should be provided to help staff work well as a team from home. 

Why Staff Need Training to Work Remotely 

Not every worker will transform into an effective remote worker overnight. Some may have problems with the new technologies needed, others may find it hard to deal without the watercooler small talk they always thought they disliked.  

It is easy for us to assume that working from home is an easy transition. But it is not just a new desk or a different view from the window; it is a complete shift in mentality and a different way of communicating and working as a team. The bottom line is that all staff should be trained on how to work remotely, even if it is simply a short online course.   

The Benefits to Employers 

If employers can train their staff on how to work remotely, it could maintain or increase their employees’ job satisfaction – and consequently defend against high staff turnover. But this isn’t the only benefit of remote work training for employers.  

Other benefits include: 

• Maintain or increase productivity 
• Enhance remote working relationships 
• Stay profitable during challenging times such as COVID-19
• Defend against complaints, risks and adhering to employer regulations 

What Remote Working Courses Are Available? 

In light of recent events, a number of providers have tried to create online courses to train individuals, staff members and employers on the ways to make remote working work.   

There are a growing number of options available, but one of the best can be found at The Administration Hub. Their company is based on remote working and they know more than a thing or two about being a remote worker.    

They have created an accredited e-learning course that is designed to provide professionals from any industry with the knowledge that will make them feel comfortable in their new remote roles. Moreover, it gives employers confidence in their staff to continue doing a good job. 

The Administration Hub Remote Working Course in Detail 

The Administration Hub’s course is split into 13 modules that cover the most fundamental aspects of remote working, such as health & wellness, communication and security  when working from home. Each module is around ten minutes in length and will give workers new trailblazing information that they can really put into use.  

Once your staff have completed the course, they will be awarded a certificate and you will be given a digital badge that can be applied to your website or other marketing materials. Displaying a remote working qualification within your team can be effective at instilling confidence in prospective clients and increasing sales. 

Is This Remote Working Online Course Just for Businesses? 

Although lots of businesses are choosing to use the course and enrol all of their staff, it is not exclusive to companies. Individuals wanting to better their remote working knowledge and freelancers can choose to enrol to gain the essential skills for working remotely. 

Head on over to The Administration Hub now to check it out! 

No one could have seen it coming. The changes over the past few months have been drastic to say the least and unfortunately, many businesses are taking a hit. It’s not premature to say that things were always heading towards remote team collaborations. However, the dreaded word and number combination known as Covid-19 has abruptly forced businesses and individuals to make the rapid switch.

During the past few weeks, we are sure you’ve experienced your fair share of ups and downs with this sudden change. After all, the implementations of rolling everything out remotely are more in-depth than companies and management could have predicted.

Moreover, this article will be focusing on whether these changes will stick around in the long-term and whether companies have been adapting work practices efficiently as a result of the pandemic.

The new landscape of work

Many of us don’t know how this looks post-quarantine. That being said, the majority have had to adapt their working practices in one way or another. Whether you’re in customer-facing roles which have been supplied with PPE (personal protective equipment) in order to work safely or you’ve moved your office to your home, we’ve all had to adapt our work in some shape or form.

 

Implications on businesses in 2020 

The real question on everyone’s mind currently is, ‘will remote working stick around long-term’?

There will be several important aspects to consider from management and sufficient time taken for planning in order to successfully implement remote working practices in the short to long-term future.

From an outside perspective, it seems as though a lot of us are knuckling down and dealing well with making our kitchen table the new workplace. Unfortunately though, recent research by tech PR agency Tytopr suggests there is still a long way to go.

Currently, it seems as though there is a disconnect between employers and employees. With only 14% of the UK office work force being able to work from home during the outbreak, only 36% believe their employers are ready for compulsory home working. However, the majority do not feel as though their company has the technological framework to help them work productively and still be secure at home.

Incorporating some of the below elements could help take remote working to the next level:

• Implementing solid structures and frameworks 

Remote work is only as good as the foundation and frameworks in place to support efficient workflow and avoid frustrations. Having the tools is great but they need to be used to their fullest extent and successfully migrated with clear directions from managers who are committed to the progress.

• Higher security measures

Companies also need to step-up security measures when everything is remote. With viruses and cybercrime on the rise, there needs to be the right tools in place so employees feel secure when working remote going forwards.

• Better work life balance

With both work and pleasure being in the same building for now, many employees are struggling to differentiate their work life and their home life. Adequate communication needs to happen on a consistent basis within teams and management to ensure staff are remaining productive without over-doing it. Ensuring leaders and management give extra care and time to noticing their employees needs will never go amiss.

Whether your company has shifted its workload remote or you’re still shuffling to your office suited in all the protective armour you can gather, it’s hard to ignore that the way we work is changing. We’d love to hear your own personal experiences of the remote-work shift and if you think it’s here to stay for the long-haul?

When you choose a virtual assistant, it is almost certain that you will have bespoke needs to be met. However, most services offered by these assistants fall into one of the following categories:

#1: Admin
Administration tasks are popular services because they often don’t require specialist industry knowledge and can be done with minimum input from the business. These types of tasks may range from data entry to bookkeeping and client communications.

#2: PA Business Support
Managing your professional agenda is another service you can obtain from these assistants. This may include arranging meetings, communicating with external clients and their assistants, or even transcription of meeting minutes.

#3: Finance Services
Virtual assistants can also help with tasks usually left to finance departments. Depending on their previous skills and qualifications, they could offer payroll support, accounting and VAT returns, credit control services and alike.

#4: HR Support
Virtual assistants can help with all aspects of the recruitment process from devising job descriptions to screening clients remotely on telephone interviews. Outsourcing these tasks can save your business considerable time and resources, while also choosing recruitment specialists to get results.

#5: Bespoke Project Support
An assistant may be able to provide services for specific projects. It is easy to find a VA with presentation creation skills, grant writing, speech writing, translation skills and even data analysis or report writing.

#6: Social Media Management
Managing social media to interact with your market and generate leads is also possible through a virtual assistant. This is just one aspect of marketing services that these remote professionals can offer.

#7: Industry Compliance
Complying with regulations can be outsourced to virtual assistants with experience in GDPR, risk management and health and safety documentation.

What About Lifestyle Virtual Assistant Services?

Not all virtual assistants are used for their business skills and professional qualifications. Sometimes an individual will hire a virtual assistant to take care of personal tasks. A lifestyle virtual assistants can reduce stress and help the individual focus their energy elsewhere, even on their working life. Some examples of what a personal virtual assistant can help you with include:
• Diary management
• Booking appointments, hotels, holidays etc.
• Communicating with other personal staff such as nannies, drivers etc.
• Taking care of personal insurance, grocery deliveries and similar responsibilities
• Sourcing furniture and materials for home improvements
• Getting quotes
• Comparing household utility providers
• Helping arrange car MOTs

Are My Tasks Kept Confidential?
If it is your first time working with a virtual assistant, you may have concerns that sensitive business matters or personal information is being placed in unknown hands. The best virtual assistants operate with 100% discretion and can be trusted to keep matters to themselves. This is why it is best to use a self-employed virtual assistant with stellar reviews or use a company that vets their assistants before recruiting them to their team.

Where Can I Find UK Virtual Assistants?
Anna Burton virtual assistant has become a popular place for business and Individuals needing short or long-term support. Now in partnership with The Administration Hub,  receive the best Kent and London virtual assistant support with us!

Get in touch to learn how we can help with any of the VA services mentioned above.

The Growth in Outsourcing Culture

Businesses of the here and now are outsourcing all types of tasks and projects to talented individuals working remotely. From getting a logo created and copywriting to business proposals and administrative work, there is a professional somewhere waiting to complete the work for business owners, consultants, CEOs and managers.

The pool of talent just a mouse click away is too tempting for businesses who can avoid employment costs to hire professionals on a per-project basis or subcontract work.

The trend is growing with the BBC reporting an estimated 40% of New York professionals working remotely at least once recently. The new remote working culture – and with it an outsourcing culture – looks set to continue, especially considering almost half of today’s freelancers are millennials.

How Outsourcing Saves You Money

Outsourcing projects to talented workers aren’t just there to help workers strike a better work-life balance. The trend is also benefiting businesses and can even help them make a profit. Here are some of the ways that outsourcing is good for the business books:

• Businesses do not need to spend money on recruitment processes to employ someone full-time.
• Businesses do not experience costly unproductive hours as most remote workers are paid on results rather than hours. The average UK worker is suggested to spend 84 minutes each day either on social media, socialising with colleagues or making tea.
• Using time zones to the business’s advantage can save on having to pay overtime in busy periods.
• Frees up internal staff to focus on other matters and objectives.

Calculating How to Make a Profit from Outsourcing

The above is great for saving money – and saving money is money made. Yet, outsourcing can be also a way to make a profit, and it works with simple maths.

If you are a manager, consider each one of your team as a valuable player who can bring X amount of money into the business each day. Sometimes these players are tied up on menial duties that are not making the business a profit over the short term but are essential for business operations.

To make a profit, you need to outsource these unprofitable responsibilities for fees under the aforementioned X amount – while accounting for in-house wages. With careful consideration, it is possible to pay your staff, a remote worker and get a better financial result from each working day. Naturally, this option may only be available at certain periods of the year.

It is common that removing staff from administrative or IT duties are most effective because these are the duties that external workers can perform on your behalf, simultaneously allowing internal staff to help achieve main business goals.

Outsource Your Administrative Duties to Anna Burton

If you want to start making more money through outsourcing, Anna Burton is here to help. With a stellar reputation and glowing reviews, we can provide remote assistance in an array of administrative, secretarial or IT tasks so your team can focus on what really matters!

Speak to her to learn more, today.

So, What Is a Virtual Assistant?

A virtual assistant works as an assistant to other professionals – mostly bosses – and usually carries out administrative, bookkeeping, secretarial or IT support services. Note, some companies offer these services via virtual assistants which are in fact AI machines and chatbots.

A human virtual assistant will execute their tasks and responsibilities remotely, meaning the assistant and their employer do not work together in person. Instead they will communicate via emails, phone, video calls or even freelancing platforms to organise workloads and deadlines.

Working remotely in this way is part of a growing trend among professionals. According to one study reported in Forbes, around 70% of office workers now work remotely for one day per week, and over half of office workers will work outside the office for half of the week or longer.

Why People Hire Virtual Assistants

There are lots of reasons why businesses and individuals are choosing to hire virtual assistants. Some of the biggest reasons include:

• Those employers and individuals are having to keep up with the worker’s demand for remote work.
• Employing a virtual assistant can be done on a project basis so bosses do not have to employ them as part of their firm. Contractors should however be aware of the tax war currently taking place over IR35.
• Furthermore, they may be called on as an addition to in-house assistants during busy periods.
• A growth in renowned companies and freelancing platforms enables businesses to source the best virtual assistants effortlessly.
• Individuals also get to avoid long and somewhat expensive recruitment processes.
• Easy access to a wealth of talent in a range of niches (some virtual assistants offer skills outside of administration).

Virtual Assistants Get Results!

The aforementioned reasons to hire a virtual assistant are all great benefits to the person hiring one. However, there is another standout benefit of hiring these remote assistants.

Due to these assistants being contracted on a project basis, their role usually comes with a specific set of deliverables and their fee is subject to them delivering on these objectives. Thus, remote workers are often hard workers and highly productive. They get their work done to a high standard and swiftly so they can continue to offer services to others and increase their own income.

Yet, not every virtual assistant is a good assistant. You need to know the best places to find the best.

Where Can You Hire a Virtual Assistant?

Virtual assistants will often advertise their skills on freelancing websites. You can use these platforms to check out their portfolio, experience and most importantly – their reviews.

You could also use a dedicated company that has an excellent reputation for providing competent virtual assistants. Anna Burton is exactly that and offers clients the opportunity to take advantage of a carefully selected pool of talent, including the best and most experienced virtual assistants.