As a business owner, one of the most important things you will have to do is an interview and hire your virtual assistant. If you’ve never done anything like this before, you might be wondering how to tactfully go about it, or what sorts of questions to ask. To help you out, I’ve put together this step-by-step guide on how to go about hiring the right person for your business.

Step 1

Research and find relevant help

Once you’ve figured out what sort of things you are going to have your virtual assistant do for you, it is a good idea to start doing some research about who is available in your area. You can search online for virtual assistant websites or advertisements. Or you can ask your friends, colleagues, and acquaintances what virtual assistants they have hired.

Even if you already know that the person you are hiring is a good fit, it’s still important to research the options out there. When I was looking for help for my business, I didn’t just go with my first choice; I searched multiple websites to get a better idea of what was available in my area, and also how much the services were going to cost me.

Step 2

Evaluate the candidate

Once you’ve found a few potential candidates and started researching their qualifications, now it is time to do a little more evaluation of your potential virtual assistant. The first thing you need to do is figure out their availability. This is important because if they don’t have a flexible schedule due to work, they will probably not be available every day. If they are expecting to work, but you need them to work only certain days or hours, then ask them which days or hours they usually work. If they have to make a commitment, it is best that you try to set these in advance so that the conversation won’t end up being a stumbling block.

Next, you need to gauge their ability and knowledge. It is essential that your virtual assistant has the right qualifications and skills for what you are asking of them. If they don’t, you will probably end up disappointed down the line with your hire.

If you do find that they are a good fit, then it is time to begin the interview. During this conversation, ask them a list of questions that go through their previous experience working not just with you but also with other clients. It is important to make sure they are familiar with your standards and expectations of work.

Step 3

Discuss salary

While salary is important, the most important thing to remember is flexibility. If you are a client (that’s you) and want to keep your virtual assistant happy, it is best that you pay them according to their skills and experience in the market. One of the biggest mistakes a business owner can make is trying to underpay for work that virtual assistants feel they are worth. If you have to cut into their pay, it is best that you try to cut costs elsewhere.

Step 4

Move forward and make the offer

Once you’ve made your decision and a salary has been agreed upon, it is time to propose your hire to the virtual assistant. If they are happy with the offer, then it is probably time for both of you to sign an employment contract and get into the nitty-gritty of making sure that everyone is doing what they said they would do.

A final note

When you are interviewing and trying to hire a virtual assistant, you want to make sure that you choose someone reliable and with a good work ethic. This is important because it will ultimately determine how much you can trust them to get the job done. If your expectations are clear and fair and they meet them in a timely manner, then they will be worth every penny that they cost you.

Here at Gig Village, we make the process easy for you. Reach out to us and let us know how we can help. We will go through your project with you, give you a quote, and then set up a time to meet with you.