If you’re wondering where to find a good virtual assistant, there are actually plenty of places around the world to find one—up from Canada down to the Philippines and India.
So long as you have a strong internet connection and a laptop, you can connect with highly skilled but affordable VAs.
From general administrative work to software development, reliable remote professionals can streamline your business operations in many ways. They can provide a range of skills at just a fraction of the cost while covering different time zones.
If you’re running a business in such a competitive market, especially if you’re a startup, a team of VAs can be your strategic solution.
To get your virtual assistant hunting started, we’ve put together a list of the countries where the best overseas virtual assistants reside.
Which Country Is Best for Virtual Assistants?
The virtual assistant industry stays prevalent. From just offering general administrative services, they have expanded across different business functions, resulting in different types of VAs.
And as companies look for economical ways to access specialised skills within a budget, knowing where to find a good virtual assistant becomes a matter of great interest.
So, let’s explore the best places to hire overseas virtual assistants.
Philippines
The Philippines is one of the most popular choices for virtual assistant outsourcing. Thanks to their verdant pool of reliable remote professionals who are skilled in digital marketing, content creation, customer service and everything in between.
Having a strong command of the English language (with over 64% of Filipinos speaking it) and a clear Western cultural affinity make Filipino VAs a go-to workforce to fill positions that require constant engagement with a global clientele. On top of that, they have one of the cheapest labour on the planet.
Forbes reports that the Philippines takes sixth place in the fast-growing freelance market globally, catering to employers from Australia and the U.S.
India
Due to its vast, highly educated, English-speaking labour force, India has been the leading outsourcing hub in the world. Their remote workers provide an extensive array of expertise, from content creation to software development.
Beyond their prowess in various business functions, they’re also the cheapest country to hire virtual assistants. In fact, their cheap labour cost is just a fraction of those in the U.K. or the U.S.
You can find plenty and some of the largest virtual assistant agencies in the “Golden Sparrow,” making it super easy for you to find your online assistant.
Malaysia
This nation is another ideal choice for companies looking to hire VAs within a budget. Like most Southeast Asian countries, Malaysia has a low cost of living and a skilled workforce, with over 62% of the locals taking English as their second language.
It also helps that the government is pushing development initiatives to turn the country into a digital nation, further making Malaysia an attractive outsourcing destination.
Singapore
As a tech hub, Singapore shines as being the top spot for hiring skilled virtual assistants. The country has an impressive educational system that continues to excel in science, math and language.
And speaking of language, Singaporeans remote workers are versed in Mandarin and English, which is spoken by 92% of the people. This makes the country a prime location for companies that need bilingual support.
Even though the VA cost is a bit higher in Singapore, it's still nothing compared to the costs of hiring in the West.
Indonesia
As a country with low labour costs, Indonesia offers a great opportunity to hire top-notch virtual assistants without breaking the bank.
Though only a rough 10% of the country speaks sufficient English, they still have the largest workforce in the world that offers competitive pricing. They are also rich in cultural diversity, which is another leverage for companies that want to expand in the Southeast Asian market.
Additionally, there’s an active integration of digital technology that has empowered the outsourcing industry in Indonesia and its tech-savvy VAs.
Mexico
Being geographically close to the U.S. gives Mexico a location advantage. Mexican VAs share the same time zone and have a cultural affinity with their neighbour, where 40 million Americans speak Spanish. This is truly beneficial for organisations in America that want to collaborate in real time.
The country has a real versatility in handling technical tasks. And they have been pushing to establish infrastructures that promote remote working, creating an environment where remote workers can thrive to meet your dynamic business needs.
Brazil
Brazil is known to produce virtual professionals who are excellent in customer service. They are good speakers of English and Portuguese, which is an advantage in catering to clients who speak these dialects.
The country is also one of the most prominent Latin American IT hubs, owing to its great emphasis on IT skills development. Sure enough, you can access remote professionals who are proficient in the arts of technical support.
Canada
Canada is a hotspot for VAs who have exceptional technical skills. However, what makes the country stand out is having cultural and time-zone similarities to the U.S. This means it’s easier to communicate synchronously and effectively.
Aside from speaking French, their remote workforce is also fluent English speakers. The cultural fitness and the quality of work they can produce make them an ideal option for many American companies.
How to Find Overseas Virtual Assistants?
Without geographical restrictions, you can expand your pool of virtual assistant candidates and hire anywhere else.
Here are two of the most popular channels to visit if you want to be near a virtual assistant:
Use Freelance Marketplaces
Freelance marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr have a massive pool of virtual talents from across the globe.
These online marketplaces allow you to connect with freelance VAs and hire them for short-term projects or long-term support. You are given the autonomy to choose your remote professional. However, you do all the legwork of crafting a job description, posting it, assessing candidates and onboarding.
Since you will be opening your doors to plenty of remote workers, you have to be thorough in your recruitment to avoid bad hires.
Partner with a Virtual Assistant Agency
Another effective way of finding a virtual assistant is partnering with a VA company . This outsourcing expert has a vetted pool of worldwide talents that can cater to a range of tasks—from administrative and technical to creative.
The best thing about working with virtual assistant agencies is getting complete and continuous support. From hiring and onboarding to training, they will be responsible for ensuring your assistant is well-integrated into your company and adapted to your current business needs.
If there are instances where you’re unsatisfied with your virtual hire, they can easily find a replacement VA without disrupting your workflow.
Topic you might be interested in: AI Assistant vs. Human VA
Frequently Asked Questions:
What Industry Has the Biggest Demand for Virtual Assistants?
Remote professionals have become an integral part of today’s modern business. As companies look for flexible and cost-effective staffing solutions, businesses in different domains recognise the value of VA services in their operations
Take a look at the top industries that hire virtual assistants the most.
- eCommerce
- Healthcare
- Real Estate
- Digital Marketing
- Professional Services (Law Firms, Accounting Firms)
Are Virtual Assistants in Demand?
Yes! Virtual assistants continue to be a popular staffing alternative for industries from different sectors. Business owners and entrepreneurs rely on remote workers to manage daily workloads such as digital marketing, phone answering and email management.
What are Some of the Best Practises for Managing Virtual Assistants?
Some of the best strategies to effectively work with your virtual assistants are as follows:
- Establish clear expectations earlier on.
- Conduct regular check-ins with your online assistant
- Leverage software tools to manage projects and monitor progress
- Offer regular feedback.
- Provide training opportunities to further develop the skills of your VA.
Conclusion
From recruitment to onboarding, even training, VAV Australia will help you get through your virtual assistant’s life cycle.
Hiring overseas can pose a challenge, especially when you’re short on time and understaffed. You want to get on with it and hire your VA, but oftentimes haste leads to a bad hire, resulting in a waste of resources.
A virtual assistant agency will do all the work, so you don’t have to. They will help you navigate the hiring process, finding you the cheapest virtual assistants who can tailor their service to your unique requirements.
This level of flexibility allows you a personalised experience, ensuring you get the right virtual assistant who works toward your business goals.
Get in touch with us , and we’ll help you unravel the opportunities of hiring overseas VAs.