A general virtual assistant handles a broad range of administrative and operational tasks remotely, freeing up the business owner or team from time-consuming work that does not require their direct attention.
A great Virtual Assistant (General) does not just complete tasks. They own a function that directly frees you to grow. Here is what that looks like in a scaling business:
01Manage email inbox and correspondence
02Handle scheduling, calendar management, and meeting coordination
03Conduct online research and compile information
04Manage data entry, file organization, and administrative tasks
05Support social media, content scheduling, and light marketing tasks
How this hire moves your business forward: A virtual assistant gives you back hours every week. For founders and small business owners, this is often the single highest-leverage hire - clearing the administrative work that crowds out strategic thinking.
Why LatAm
Why LatAm Produces Great Virtual Assistant (General)s.
LatAm virtual assistants have experience across a wide range of administrative tools and workflows, with a track record of supporting US-based clients with reliable, consistent execution.
The timezone overlap with the US is strong. LatAm professionals work within 1 to 3 hours of US Eastern time, so there is no async lag, no late-night handoffs, and no communication gap.
Skills & tools
Know What a Great Virtual Assistant (General) Actually Brings to the Table.
Beyond the resume, here are the skills, tools, and traits that separate strong performers from strong interviewers.
Hard Skills
Calendar management
Email management
Online research
Data entry and organization
Basic content and social media support
Common Tools
Google Workspace
Slack
Zoom
Trello / Asana / Notion
Canva (basic)
Soft Skills & Traits
Proactive and resourceful
Reliable and consistent
Clear communicator
Quick learner
Organized
Compensation
What You Can Expect to Pay.
Based on Sur market data and regional benchmarks. Figures reflect total cash compensation.
Seniority
US Annual
LatAm Annual
You Save
Entry
$35,000
$18,000
$17,000 / yr
Mid level
$45,000
$24,000
$21,000 / yr
Senior
$74,000
$30,000
$44,000 / yr
Spot the right hire
What to Look For, and What to Watch Out For.
Green Flags
Has a clear system for managing inbox and tasks
Proactively updates you on progress without being asked
Resourceful - finds answers before escalating
Reliable on deadlines and follow-through
Red Flags
Waits to be told every single next step
Poor written English quality
Has no remote work experience or tools familiarity
Our process
Our Process for This Role.
We do not post and wait. Every Virtual Assistant (General) search we run is built from scratch around your business, your stage, your team, and your goals. And at every step, we are thinking about how this hire helps you grow.
1
Onboarding Call
We start by understanding what you actually need.
2
Role Scoping and Assessment Design
We build a precise role profile and design the custom skills assessment before we search for anyone.
3
Sourcing
We source actively across LatAm and the Caribbean and through our network.
4
Prescreening and Phone Screen
Every candidate is internally screened then put through an English phone screen.
5
Your Shortlist
3 to 5 candidates delivered early in the process with background, audio clip, and our team's recommendation.
6
Skills Assessment
Shortlisted candidates take a custom assessment built to replicate the actual work of the role.
7
Hire and Guarantee
We support the offer, help structure compensation for retention, and back every placement with a 90-day guarantee.
Common Questions About Hiring a Virtual Assistant (General).
1-3 weeks typically. Most placements are made within 21 days of the onboarding call.
Most LatAm professionals work within 1 to 3 hours of US Eastern time.
All Sur placements speak fluent English. We screen for language ability on every search. Moderate English acceptable depending on exposure.
A LatAm virtual assistant brings the same capability as a US-based VA at 40-50% of the cost. This is one of the most straightforward and highest-ROI LatAm hires for small businesses and founders.
If your hire does not work out within the first 90 days for any reason, we replace them at no additional cost.
Start with email management, scheduling, and research. These are high-volume, time-consuming tasks with low risk if something goes slightly wrong.
Document your most frequent recurring tasks in a simple SOP. Walk through it together in the first week. Add tasks gradually as trust builds.
Ready to Hire a Virtual Assistant (General) Who Actually Moves the Needle?
Let us design the role together and find you the right person from LatAm.