It's important, when selecting the right virtual assistant, to make sure that they possess the skills that qualify them as "the right fit" for your business needs. To understand and size-up the virtual professional you're considering, prepare for the interview ahead of time; it's essential to have a plan of action. Recognizing what you want in a VA, knowing the right questions to ask them, and understanding how to confirm the VA's credentials will lead you in the right direction and to the right virtual assistant for you.
Start with Knowing Yourself
First search yourself for some answers as to what you really want in an online business manager. What services or skills are most important to you, what programs do they need to be familiar with, and what kind of rapport should you have with them. Also think about the logistics; how will you be sending payment, how should they invoice you, will the work be hourly or project based, and would you be willing to sign a service agreement. These are just a few examples of things to assess about yourself before you actually begin speaking to potential candidates.
Now that you know what you're looking for, it's time to prepare some questions for the VA's. When interviewing different candidates knowing how to ask the right questions will help you determine who lands the job. A list of questions to keep on hand might include the following:
Ø How much experience do they have?
Ø What professional certification do they hold?
Ø What kind of education and training do they have in the field?
Ø Ask them to talk about how they work virtually?
Ø What kind of software do they use and what kind of office equipment do they have? (i.e. fax machine, scanner, web cam, etc)
Ø What programs are they familiar with?
Ø What types of skills do they have?
Ø What skill do they specialize in?
Ø What part of their work do they most enjoy?
Look for Flaws
After speaking with the candidates, validating their credentials will be a way to safeguard your time and efforts in engaging in business with a VA. A few ideas might include:
Ø Reviewing their portfolios
Ø Giving an assignment to complete
Have them provide a list of references and contact them. Inquire as to whether they would work with the VA again and ask how they feel about the service that was offered to them. Also, have the candidates arrange a portfolio of their work for you to review. If you are looking for a VA with more specialized services like maintaining a website, writing blog articles, or social media management, you might want to consider requesting the candidates to complete an assignment. You could offer to pay them for this work or not; that's up to you. It will be the decision of the applicant as to whether they would like to proceed. Examples of an assignment might be writing an article or a few Twitter posts about a named topic of your choice. This is a perfect method of shaking loose those who are not serious about the position and will reveal the true skills and talents of those who are.
There is nothing like having a multi-skilled virtual assistant at your right hand; that's why working with a Virtual Executive Firm is so appealing.
When working with a firm like Hess Business Professionals & Associates, you have the advantage of being able to utilize all the skills that are offered by a variety of certified VA's all in one place. Professionals who specialize in remote skill sets like graphic designers, writers or editors, marketing managers, or online business managers will be just an email away. No need to go through the interview process over and over again every time you have a new project. Talk about made-to-order administrative support! Having confidence in your chosen VA firm will give you the peace of mind of knowing each virtual assistant you work with has proven themselves in the field and you will always know that you have the right VA!
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