5 Tips for Hiring the Best Virtual Assistant for your Business

virtual assistant shutterstock_139554230virtual assistant shutterstock_139554230Hiring the best virtual assistant for your business can be a difficult task considering all the different characteristics which a person needs to be evaluated on before considering to hire them as your virtual assistant. However, finding the best person which fits the description of your ideal candidate requires time and effort to find.

Virtual assistants can be hired in different ways, through various sources and in a number of possible employment arrangements depending on your needs. As such, if you are able to find someone who is well rehearsed in performing their duties, it can help you free up time for other tasks. For this purpose, here are some tips to help you the choose a virtual assistant which is best for you:

1. Design and Communicate the Job Description

Before starting your search for the best virtual assistant, you should come up with a job description for the position in question. Every prospective employee who shows an interest in a job opening expects you to brief them about their duties and the role which will be assigned to them if they choose to join your business. This will, in turn, help you to ascertain the work you will want them to do for you, painting a clear picture of your requirements.

2. Determine Budget and Location

Make sure that there is a need for you to hire a virtual assistant to take care of menial tasks. After all, hiring someone means you will have to pay them for their services. It is always helpful to determine a salary range by evaluating the current job market to ensure your job offer is attractive. Additionally, make sure that you hire a virtual assistant who is available at the time you want them. Refrain from hiring those candidates which reside in time zones which prove inconvenient to you.

3. Post the Job Opening

To ensure your job opening is seen by the relevant audience, you should focus on placing it on the right mediums to achieve maximum visibility. This will make sure that you receive a healthy number of job applications for you to consider and hire from. There are many websites and online communities which allow you to do this but if you want to attract some of the best applicants, posting on reputed sites such as Elance or oDesk can help you get applicants which are skillful and experienced in their field.

4. Hand Pick the Best CVs

After receiving the job applications of various candidates, shortlist those who you think will be the best at filling the position. Look at each candidate’s skills in the field to gauge whether they prove to be effective at performing their duties or not. Go through their job experience and see which industries they have previously worked in and which duties they have performed in the past. This will help you increase your chances of hiring the best virtual assistant for yourself.

5. Conduct an Online Interview

After you have selected a handful of the most attractive and relevant CVs, set up an online interview with each one of them to meet them on a one-to-one basis. This will allow you to see them physically and give them a chance to impress you further with what they have to say. Furthermore, it will give you an idea of the personality of the individual and whether they will be able to work in a way in which you are comfortable with.