When extra help is required to make a business run more efficiently, a full-time employee isn’t always the best solution. If budgeting is a concern, other options are available to meet and even exceed expectations while keeping financing in check. Virtual assistants and temporary workers both can make a big difference without costing the bottom line in taxes, vacation days and benefits. Understanding the distinctions between these two classes of professionals, however, is essential for making sure the best hire is made.
Virtual assistants and temporary workers are similar, but there are distinctions that are imperative and can have an impact on the hiring decision. It’s important to size up personal needs and gauge them against what an assistant or temp can truly offer before selecting one way or the other. Both classes of professionals can have a positive impact on any company they serve.
The Similarities
Virtual assistants and temp workers are both in the field of helping businesses make their operations flow more smoothly. They tend to bring crucial skills to the table and can assist companies that hire them by:
• Taking the load off other workers – Virtual assistants and temps both are generally brought in to tackle jobs that full-time employees either cannot do or just do not have the time to handle. Their experience in certain fields can free up full-time employees to use their expertise where it matters the most.
• Improving customer service – When extra help is competent and performs at expectations or beyond, customer service stands to indirectly or directly improve as a result. If important tasks are handled accurately and with expediency, customers will notice.
• Sparing the bottom line – When workers are hired on a temp or contract basis, a lot of the “hidden” expenses of enjoying extra assistance go away. Good virtual assistant firms and temp agencies will deal with their own benefits packages, taxes and so on. This means their clients don’t have to.
The Differences
Virtual assistants and temporary workers can both be vital for helping a company enjoy success, but there are certain things they differ on. Some important distinctions include:
• Flexibility in function – Temps are generally only able to help out in an area or two, depending on their specialty. Well-trained virtual assistants can do a whole lot more. Some of the tasks they might handle include administrative assistance, bookkeeping, event planning and even training. When a single virtual assistant is hired, a company can gain a whole lot of experience and skills without having to spend a fortune in the process.
• Potential for longevity – Temps typically work on a contract for a period of a few months. Virtual assistants can be retained to help out on a long-term basis. This can result in the assistant getting to know the business event better, which can add value in and of itself. Depending on a company’s distinct needs, a virtual assistant can become a full-time fixture or work on an as-needed basis to tackle rush assignments.
• Working location – Although it’s not always the case, a temp will most likely work at the hiring company’s location. Virtual assistants don’t have to take up precious space or office resources to do a job that makes a huge difference to clients. They tend to work in an online setting, providing immediate assistance when it’s needed.
Virtual assistants and temporary workers both can add value and provide hands when they are needed the most by companies of all sizes. Selecting the right type of workers for the job is imperative to make the experience a good one for all involved, but most especially, the business at hand.