Whether you’re a new independent recruiter or you have been in the business for years, the decision to hire an assistant is the first big step to possibly improving your productivity.  However, a recruiter must be certain that hiring an assistant will really benefit their business financially.  How does a recruiter make the choice? Let’s take a look at a few questions a recruiter should ask before hiring an assistant:

1. Do you really need an assistant?  Sometimes a recruiter may think they need an extra hand when in reality they only need to manage their time more effectively.  Before scouting for an assistant, take the time to do an inventory of what you’re most important tasks are and how effectively you use your time to complete those tasks.
2. Are you missing out on opportunity because you’re engaged in too much busy work?  If you find that your hours are filled and you can fit another thing in, then ask yourself if you are missing out on opportunity because you’re too busy. Working with an assistant can free up more time for you to focus on revenue generating aspects of your business.
3. Can you really afford an assistant? If you’re hiring someone to work on-site there is the expense of a salary, equipment and possible taxes and benefits.  While there is the option of hiring a virtual assistant, you still need to account for the assistant’s hourly wage and how long each task will take.  Some virtual assistants even require that you have a minimum amount of hours you must purchase.  Ask yourself if you will use the extra time to earn more money than you’re giving the assistant.