Pearl Lemon Outsourcing is an agency which can help you with virtual assistant services in UK. Here we list everything you need to consider before hiring a virtual assistant.
Table of Contents
Communicate Expectations Clearly
Evidently, you want to delegate tasks. Find out what you need first. It’s sometimes difficult to pinpoint exactly what a personal assistant will do for you, besides a few tasks.
No worries. It won’t take you long to realize that there is plenty of work to give your assistant over the next few weeks. A competent assistant will be able to assist you with these tasks.
Identify the qualities you seek in a candidate
As with any employee, you need to ensure that your virtual assistant is qualified for the role.
Rather than focusing solely on a candidate’s past work experience, interviews should assess how that candidate deals with various situations.
There is a STAR method you can follow, it is an interview pattern, where you discuss Situation, Task, Action and Results. This method can help you assess the potential hire better.
What contribution would they make if they worked on a team? How did they respond to X when it happened. It is important to take responsibility for mistakes.
We all make mistakes, but the expectation in this situation should be an admission of fault and a commitment to rectifying it.
What are the skills you seek?
In order for your virtual assistant to meet your needs, you must understand exactly what those needs are. Does your assistant need to manage your social media accounts?
Are they required to have Quickbooks experience? Do they issue invoices? How about someone who can prepare a PowerPoint presentation for you?
Does the person need sales experience? Experience in customer service? So on. As many needs as you can fill from your list of demands. Just be aware that nobody knows everything.
Communicate clearly
It is vital to have a physical presence when hiring a virtual assistant vs. a full-time employee. Virtual assistants do not have access to your cabin like a regular employee. They must communicate effectively.
To ensure complete transparency in communication with your virtual assistant, look for one who maintains it at all times.
Communication Channels and Approaches
You need to adopt a platform and style of communication that you both adhere to in order to keep communications open.
Relationships are built on communication, especially ones with people who are outside your office. Developing a process that you can stick to is crucial.
Do you make a call every day? Would you like to use Skype or Zoom? Does Slack figure into your daily routine? It’s your responsibility to make sure both parties remain informed by maintaining an open communication line.
Consider a candidate with experience in the industry
In the case of a business that caters to business professionals, your target audience is more sophisticated and sophisticated.
Would it be beneficial to hire a novice who has no prior experience in the industry? Not likely. A professional with enough knowledge about the field in which you are engaged is best. An individual with experience in the industry will have a better understanding of the audience’s needs.
Ensure they are able to admit their mistakes
If mistakes are made at work, a professional virtual assistant does not shirk responsibility. Working with a professional virtual assistant is easier because of this trait.
As a virtual assistant, you should prefer a person who is accountable and values their work and contributions. They take ownership for mistakes and misunderstandings in order to do better in the future.
