Virtual Assistant

Immediately you can gage the experience this VA has. Have they set up their own VA business rather than simply freelancing? If so, they will understand your needs not only from an assistant’s perspective, but from a business point of view as well.

A good virtual assistant should be able to pick up on your needs and be perceptive enough to identify the source of a problem. This comes from understanding both you and your business. Asking questions to better understand the problems you’re facing is a good sign.

This question is about making sure your work styles are aligned. Are you tied to your email all day? Or do you prefer to text while on the go? Do you like talking face-to-face over Skype or Google Hangouts? The ideal candidate will be comfortable communicating with you through the channels you use most naturally.

Because virtual assistants may be based anywhere in the world, it’s important to make sure you’re able to communicate. If you’re based in New York and your virtual assistant is in India, for instance, they may be almost 10 hours ahead of you. What matters is that you clearly establish their availability and your needs so that you can tell whether it’s a good match.

While there are virtual assistants who have reviews and testimonials you can read on their blogs or website, it is still important to contact the applicant’s previous clients who can vouch for his professionalism so you can validate his claims. If there is any sign of hesitation on the applicant’s end when you ask this question, you might want to think twice before hiring that person.

Knowing the best times and days you can contact your VA is essential to your business. As such, you should get the VA’s working hours and compare them to your requirements. And if you’re going to hire someone located on the other side of the world, be mindful of the time difference.

Hiring a virtual assistant should help you become more effective and efficient. To accomplish that, they need to be able to prioritize tasks based on your particular needs and goals. A good candidate should be able to identify which messages are time-sensitive and which can wait.

There are many. Exceptional research skills, the ability to be organized and meet deadlines and capability of handling several tasks at the same time are just some of them.

Over the years, I have gained expertise in handling bookkeeping duties, online research, database management and data entry, calendar management and call handling duties. Additionally, I am well-versed in responding to support tickets and providing online troubleshooting advice.

Whether or not you consider your company to be “corporate,” this question should give you insight into a candidate’s maturity, professionalism, and communication skills. Great candidates will have organizational experience, as well as a high level of comfort with different work and communication styles. For this reason, candidates with a few years of office experience tend to make more effective assistants than people right out of school.

Because there are many different kinds of virtual assistants, it’s important for you to have a clear idea of what you’re looking for. Do you need someone to organize your schedule, book travel, and arrange meetings? Or are you looking for someone to help with bookkeeping and data entry?

The reason for asking this is just to ensure that they have enough time for you. The last thing you want is to find a fantastic VA who has 20 other clients without any support and is therefore difficult to get meet your deadlines.

With excellent communication means nowadays, answering this question in the negative is a bit difficult. Working from a remote location is not difficult at all, however, one does sometimes miss having company.

Ask your own questions and find out first hand what it’s been like for an existing client to work with this VA. This should help put your mind at ease that they are reliable, professional, and trustworthy.

I have a proper space set for myself in my house. It is like a mini office. So it is not a domestic setting that I am working in. The hours that I dedicate to my work are for that particular work only. Even my pet is not allowed to come to my work space during the hours designated for my work.

To make sure it’s not outside of your budget! If there is a pricing structure, make sure it’s clear so you know what you’ll be getting billed each week / month.

This question is pretty open ended and good answers will vary depending on your business needs and the candidate’s specialties. Great examples include identifying and streamlining inefficient processes to cut down on meetings, or identifying more cost-effective vendors for particular goods or services. The best candidates won’t just solve problems when you assign them; they’ll be constantly looking for ways to streamline and improve your workflow to help you save time and money if possible.

☛ Why are you looking to leave your current job?

☛ What do you know about my organization?

☛ What are you looking for in a new role?

☛ What experience do you have in relation to what I do?

☛ Does your skill set meet my requirements?

☛ What have you done in the last 12 months to improve your skills?

☛ How long would you expect to work for me should you get the job?

☛ If I were to hire you today, what would make you an asset to me and my company?

☛ Tell me about yourself. What do you like to do on the weekends?