Their smiles are infectious—and so is their work ethic.
That’s what Abby, Director of Operations at a U.S.-based property management company, says about her team of six virtual employees from HireSmart. She didn’t expect them to shift her mindset—but they did.
“Collectively, they're some of the most positive people I've ever been in communication with,” Abby said. “They've helped me grow as a leader and I think they've really helped shift our team's dynamic on the way we look at things. I’ll be in a situation and when I talk to them, they’ll say something, and I’m like, ‘Yeah, that’s right, I should look at it like that.”
Wish They'd Started Sooner
Abby’s only regret is not hiring a virtual assistant in the Philippines sooner. Today, with six highly capable team members handling everything from phone calls to vendor coordination, Abby’s office runs more efficiently—and with less stress on her local team.
“We were on the fence for a really long time, for many years,” she said. “And when we got our virtual employee, I think about how different we could have scaled our company... if we had taken on virtual employees many years ago.”
From Hesitation to Confidence
Abby understands the doubts some business owners have when considering a remote assistant overseas. But the onboarding of their first virtual employee, Tiffany, quickly put those concerns to rest. Having HireSmart as a guide through the process made all the difference.
“The first thing is somebody else being in a foreign country. That can be scary. What is this going to look like? How do we protect our information? Are they going to be trustworthy? Even if you're hiring somebody locally, that's scary… So I would really encourage people to think about why they're worried about taking a VE on, and then have a conversation with people like HireSmart and just give it a chance.”
Greater Value, Lower Overhead
Abby says her company now gets six virtual employees for the cost of two in-office hires—without paying for extra office space, utilities, or equipment.
“All of those things play a huge part in our local team members and our management team being able to focus on other projects,” she said. “To really be able to delegate is a huge thing.”
This added manpower has strengthened the entire company, giving the internal team space to think more strategically and operate more efficiently.
More Than Just Admin Support
Abby encourages business owners to rethink what virtual employees can do. Her team handles complex tasks including vendor follow-up, phone support, renter communication, and email management—and continues to take on more responsibility with each passing month.
“A lot of people do have the mindset of a VE as just an admin, and they can really be so much more,” she said. “When you find a good VE, really take the time to invest in them because they want to work, help, and learn.”
Training Programs That Build Confidence
What made the difference? Abby credits HireSmart’s thoughtful training programs and support structure. HireSmart conducts an in-depth search, testing, and interview process, then presents the client with three top candidates. Once selected, the candidate must pass a 40-hour training and certification week before onboarding.
“I love the interview process,” she said. “It makes it a lot easier for HireSmart to do it than if I have to do it in-house. Every single HireSmart team member I’ve come into contact with has been so lovely, professional, quick to respond… They do a really great job partnering with the VE, with our company, and all the training that goes in between. We’ve had great success so far and I’m very happy with that.”
Interested in Hiring a Virtual Assistant in the Philippines?
Abby and her team waited too long—and now they’re making up for it with incredible results. With HireSmart’s proven training programs and carefully vetted candidates, your business can grow faster, delegate more effectively, and improve team morale with the right remote assistant.