Written by: Rebecca Mason, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Have you perused freelance job platforms like Upwork or Indeed.com to find a Virtual Assistant and think, "Wow! This is brilliant!"? Well, my next question is, "Are you aware of the low-pay, growth-suppressing world you are helping perpetuate?"
I doubt it because it is nearly impossible to know this from the websites.
As a VA Coach, I tell all my Virtual Assistants never to offer their services on freelance job platforms. There are three reasons why: Pay, contract, and quality of relationship.
Let’s start with pay.
I took the liberty to peruse myself, and on one job platform (mentioned above), I found a Virtual Assistant whose name is Diana, and she’s from Bangladesh. Diana has a Master’s degree and has completed over 14,000 hours of VA work. There are just over 2000 hours in a working year to give you some perspective, which means Diana has worked an equivalent of seven years as a VA. So, what is Diana’s rate?
Only $10/hour.
That’s not all! Upwork then takes 20% of the first $500 she earns as a VA (and then 10% and 5% as the hours increase). So, if you are paying Diana $10/hour, that means for the first 50 hours, she’s only making $400. That’s now $8/hour.
$8 an hour for seven years of experience.
Now, you may argue that if people are willing to make $8 an hour, who are you not to capitalize on that?
What I say is, “no one, anywhere in the world, should earn that when I can afford to pay them more.”
Now let’s talk about contracts. Are you aware that you are both bound to the platform when you hire a freelancer from one of these job platforms? That means that if you hire a VA that you totally fall in love with, you’re not allowed to leave the platform then and work together independently.
The two of you will be paying fees, restricted by 3rd party contracts, and pulling your hair out until the end of time.
Which takes us to the third reason: relationships.
On these job platforms, it’s actually really hard to tell who you’re even hiring.
Let’s take Diana again.
By reading her profile, we learn where she’s from, that she has a Master’s degree, and that’s it. Unless I pop down and read reviews about her. From there, I learn that she has a few 5-star ratings (cool), and someone will hire her again when needed.
How sweet.
If you are a CEO looking to scale your business and expand your team, you have to invest in the people who work with you. Sure, outsourcing a few projects here and there may feel good and cheap in the short-term, but a VA earning $8/hour whose name you can’t even remember isn’t going to back you up when your company needs her most.
A great VA can free up your time, help scale your business, and grow within your team! So, if you are looking for a high-quality VA who you like, know, and trust, do yourself a favor and don’t pick them off some shelf of a job platform.
Rebecca Mason, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Rebecca Mason is a business coach for virtual assistants. She runs the successful Laptop Freedom Program, which empowers women to embrace their dreams and build a remote business. Join thousands of other women in learning how to start your business, find clients, and develop the skills you need. Sign up for her free guide at thewanderlustva.com.
