10 Qualities to Look For in a Virtual Assistant
Having a virtual assistant has become one of the greatest trends among many US entrepreneurs, and sometimes, it can be really tricky to find the right person for their businesses
How many virtual assistants are there at the moment? Well… more than 25,000 worldwide and this number is still growing. And that’s without counting freelancers who work virtually in many different fields.
Given the large number of virtual assistants that exist and the diverse skills that each one has, we know that it is not easy to find the ideal candidate. To make it easier for you, we have created this list of 10 qualities to look for in a virtual assistant. Here we summarize the characteristics that we consider to be paramount when choosing the best virtual assistant. Let’s get started…
#1 A great virtual assistant must be responsible
At the top of our list is responsibility. The main job of a virtual assistant is to help you finish your task list on time. There is no excuse for a job poorly done or not done at all. If the deadline is the next day, the VA must finish the task by then. If, for some reason, a delay is unavoidable, then communication is key.
It’s all about maintaining good communication and managing time well. The idea is that you don’t need to remind your virtual assistant what to do all the time. After all, it is there to help you and not become a burden for you.
It is also important that your VA reports on their progress and is available to answer any questions. In a way, hiring a virtual assistant is just like building a local team.
#2 Trustworthy
It’s normal to have doubts about working with someone you barely know. But you shouldn’t be concerned, as virtual assistants have proven to be a valuable tool. In fact, it is estimated that 40% of workers in the United States will be working remotely by 2020. This highlights a significant increase in virtual assistant services.
On the other hand, your virtual assistant could have access to your confidential information. Find a virtual assistant who can be trusted. You can interview, review their work history, assess their reputation, and even hire a virtual assistant company to help you with the process.
#3 Personality
Another characteristic to take into account is personality. Personality is what distinguishes us from machines. This is what will distinguish your VA from Siri, Cortana, or Alexa. You will have a direct working relationship with your VA. Therefore, it is important that you and your clients have a good relationship with your VA. Ideally, they should be a positive, friendly person with a great attitude.
#4 Your virtual assistant must be self-confident
Hire a VA who demonstrates self-confidence and knows what she or he is doing. You won’t doubt their ability to perform tasks and you won’t have to worry about supervising them all the time. Confident Vas will also help you interact with potential clients effectively and solve problems easily.
#5 Work well under pressure
This means showing confidence in the midst of a crisis. It’s about not focusing on problems but seeking solutions. A good VA will know how to solve things without having to come to you every time.
#6 Expect your virtual assistant to be resourceful
Your VA should be resourceful. If they don’t know something, instead of wasting your time, they should be able to figure lots of things out on their own, or by asking people in their network. They should be a creative and resourceful person who can find their own answers. In addition, they should take advantage of the technological resources available in looking for solutions.
#7 Customer-driven focus
The best virtual assistants focus on helping you grow your business and not specifically on accomplishing tasks. That is simple tasks such as sending emails and making calls could be seen as an opportunity to attract customers, close deals, develop the brand, etc.
#8 Multitasking skills
One of the main virtual assistant services is to perform multiple tasks. Your VA must know how to organize their priorities and perform efficiently, even under pressure.
#9 Communication skills
If you need virtual assistant services in another language, consider hiring a fully bilingual virtual assistant. This will help you to avoid misunderstandings and expand in new markets.
In addition, bilingual virtual assistants who work remotely, as freelancers, must know how to use technology effectively. This also allows them to communicate via different means, be it by phone, email, text messages, among others. This is all part of the great flexibility that freelancers offer.
#10 Experience
The level of experience will depend on the tasks to be performed.
If you need to hire a virtual assistant to perform general tasks such as writing emails, scheduling meetings, or managing files, you will not need someone with as much experience.
On the other hand, if you require a specialized virtual assistant, consider really assessing their previous studies and jobs. This will give you an idea of what skills the assistant has and which ones can help you grow your business. For example, a marketing or sales assistant requires different skills than a project assistant.
Now that you know the top qualities to look for in a virtual assistant, you can evaluate different candidates and choose the one that best suits you. In addition, our VA company can guide you through the entire process.
If you would like more information or are ready to hire a virtual assistant, please contact us.
