Don’t Be An Idiot Like Me

I find it ironic that I’m sitting here typing this post out because it just goes to show that I need to learn to take my own advice! Anytime anyone asks me about hiring a VA I always tell them to ask for references, look over their website, read customer testimonials, etc.

So the story unfolds…

Most of you know that I recently was away for 7 days. I was lucky enough to be able to attend the NAMS event in Atlanta, Georgia. I knew when I came back I had a very large transcription project scheduled.

While there (NAMS) I was given the suggestion to look for an intern and give them a trial run at transcription. Most interns are not paid but because transcription is such a time consuming project I knew I had to offer them a payment so I came to a reasonable price and went on a quest for an ‘intern’.

I found one and ended up getting screwed over!

I liked that this person is also a Virtual Assistant, liked that this person and I have a mutual acquaintance with someone and most importantly I liked the fact that this person was familiar with transcription.

On Friday the 5th at 9:25 pm they email me and I knew it was going to be bad news when the email started like this:

Hi Tishia

I just wanted to let you know where I was in the transcription. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I am only about 40 minutes in…

40 minutes in? Uhm hello! This was a 150 minute audio (2.5 hours!) This is AFTER I had already extended the deadline once during the day when this person was dealing with a sick child and at that time during the day they were a lot farther along than 40 minutes…so they said.

I won’t go into details about WHY they say they were only 40 minutes into the audio at this point because quite frankly I don’t believe it!

So the point of this?

I didn’t do my research!

I didn’t look at their VA website (had I, they would NOT have been hired because it’s not very professional looking, there are NO customer testimonials and just some other things). I didn’t ask for references.

So don’t be an idiot like me! Do your research! Ask for referrals, etc!

p.s. In case you were wondering I did find someone else to help me – my friend and ‘newbie’ to the internet marketing world Angel Williams. I also had to do a renegotiation with my client about my deadline which was a horrible feeling but I was in a major bind and had no choice. But in the end it all worked out for the best. Although I’m pretty sure Angel hates me now after that transcription project (it was looooooong)