Hiring a personal assistant is a milestone for many business owners. This step is a reminder that you’ve achieved key goals and grown your business to a degree that you need outside help.
However, you don’t need to hire a traditional in-office employee. You can save money and find the right assistant for your needs by hiring a virtual assistant. A virtual assistant (VA) is a personal assistant who works remotely as needed. Ask the following interview questions when meeting with candidates for a virtual assistant role. Doing so can help you find the right fit for your needs.
What specific services do you offer?
This is among the most important questions to ask a virtual assistant before hiring them. Not all virtual assistants offer the same services or handle the same tasks.
For example, one virtual assistant may only help with basic tasks like data entry. Another may help you revamp your entire social media strategy.
Don’t just consider your current needs when hiring a virtual assistant. Also, consider how your needs may grow and change as your business grows. Your goal is to hire a virtual assistant who offers all the services you need now and all the services you may need in the future.
What projects similar to this have you worked on in the past?
A virtual assistant may be cautious when discussing past experiences during the interview process. Depending on the contracts they entered into, they might have limited freedom to discuss the specific projects and needs of past clients.
However, a virtual assistant should be able to sufficiently describe how past experiences show that they’re qualified to serve your needs. For example, maybe you think you’ll need a virtual assistant to handle some project management tasks. You would want to know if a candidate has project management experience in these circumstances.
What time zones do you work in?
Bring up this topic when discussing working hours. One of the benefits of hiring a virtual assistant is they may help you serve customers in other time zones.
What is an example of a time you proactively addressed a client’s needs?
You don’t want to hire a virtual assistant who always needs someone to prompt them to get to work. Ask a candidate if they can describe an instance in which they anticipated a client’s needs and addressed them accordingly. Hiring someone who could proactively address your needs can give you significant peace of mind.
How would you handle a situation with difficult team members?
Modify this question to present an example of a situation specific to your business. Your virtual assistant may end up coordinating with other members of your team one day. Even if you don’t have other employees now, you may hire them in the future. It’s important to know your virtual assistant is prepared to navigate any complex co-worker-related situations that might arise. Their answer to this question could provide insight into how they would interact with you, too.
Why do you think you have the skills and experience necessary for this role?
When coming up with interview questions for a potential virtual assistant, it’s always smart to give candidates the chance to explain why they think they deserve the job. A good answer to this type of question will be one in which a candidate explains how specific skills or experiences they have apply to specific aspects of the work they’ll be doing for you. They may also address the soft skills they have that may help them succeed in a role.
For example, maybe you’re hiring a virtual assistant to assist you in running and optimizing your social media campaigns. If so, a smart candidate might explain how a past experience helped them cultivate problem-solving skills that are helpful when managing social media marketing.
How do you meet deadlines?
It’s important that you hire an assistant who can explain in clear terms how they avoid submitting work late.
What tools or technology do you use?
A virtual assistant might already use certain tools and technology in their work that you thought you’d have to purchase on your own. Ask about this to understand what tools a virtual assistant may bring to your project.
What is your philosophy on handling customer service issues?
Hiring a virtual assistant who has managed customer service and support tasks in the past is wise. Many virtual assistants end up handling these tasks for their clients anyway. Thus, when learning about a candidate’s work style, learn about how they approach customer service. For instance, do they have a “The customer is always right” mentality? Ask how they handle difficult or belligerent customers.
Finding a Virtual Assistant Is Easier With an Agency
These are all good examples of questions you could ask when interviewing potential virtual assistants. Be aware that finding a qualified assistant is often easier when you hire one through an agency.
At PEAK Outsourcing, we can connect you to reliable virtual assistants. Work with us, and you can be confident you’ll find the right assistant to serve your needs. Learn more about our virtual assistant services online, or contact us today at 1-866-796-0948 to discuss your project and learn more about how we can help.
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