Top 10 Qualities to Look For When Hiring a Virtual Assistant
by Cielo Cloud
As a Business Owner, my business is like my baby. I gave birth to it and I have nurtured its growth with a lot of love and hard work. So, when it comes time to handing over the care of my child or in this case, my business to someone else, it better be someone I can trust to do a good job and definitely someone who I can get along with. Unfortunately, this is not always as easy as it sounds because most Virtual Assistants only work virtually and you may never actually meet this person face to face. Finding the right VA to hire can be a daunting task but well worth the effort.
If you are a Small Business Owner, hiring a Virtual Assistant to work with will be one of the most important business decisions you will make. You want to make sure that they possess all the right qualities. You must remember that this person will be completing tasks and managing projects for you. Even if the tasks or projects seem small at first, little mistakes can turn into large headaches later. Some VAs may be hired to assist in Customer Service. They will be on the front lines to represent your company. How will they handle that? What type of impression will they leave with your clients or customers? First impressions are often lasting impressions so making sure you hire the right VA can turn this into a positive experience.
If you have kids, imagine for a minute how it was like when you were searching for the right daycare or school for your child. Did you have a checklist of all the must haves? Did you make notes of the pros and the cons? Well, when looking for the best VA, selecting one should be handled in a similar fashion. Remember, they will be a care taker in your business and in my opinion they should not fall short of any of the following qualities.
1. Professional
Are they able to communicate effectively? Do they dress professionally when meeting with clients? They should be able to posture themselves with a high level of professionalism to represent their business and their clients.
2. Personable
When first meeting someone, chances are you will have an instant opinion of their personality and their demeanor. Are they easy to talk to? Are they pleasant? Do they smile a lot? Do they make you smile? You will be the one working with them, so it is important that they are likeable to you and your clients.
3. Confident
Displaying confidence is sure sign of someone who has the skills, abilities and the mindset to perform as you need. You don’t want someone who will be constantly second guessing themselves. That is unproductive and scary.
4. Positive
This goes hand in hand with confidence. Positive minded people whine less and uplift those around them. They will always see the cup half full and on bad days, you always can use a ray of sunshine.
5. Self-Driven
Good VAs are self-starters, they don’t need to be pushed to get started. They should already know what they are doing and how they are going to get it done.
6. Open-Minded
People who are open-minded are easier to work with because they are willing to see other people’s points of view or opinions. They understand that people have different ideas or different ways of doing things. They can also appreciate diversity in culture, customs or traditions. We all come from different backgrounds or walks of life and certain situations require this quality more than others. Open-mindedness is an asset and a lot can be learned from someone with this quality.
7. Humble
Are they accountable for their actions? Can they admit it if they don’t know how to do something or if they are wrong? The ability to be humble is an honorable quality. It doesn’t make you less of a person, it shows integrity.
8. Honest/Trustworthy
Do they talk badly about other people? Do they seem like they would take shortcuts even if they know they can compromise a project? Do they like to gossip? Obviously, you would want someone you can trust to do what is right despite who or who isn’t watching.
9. Patient
Patience is a Virtue. Does this person have what it takes to see a long-term project through? Do they get frustrated if they can’t figure out a problem? How do they deal with difficult people? This will be an important quality to have, especially if they will be working with your Clients or Associates. Remember, they will be a reflection of you and your company.
10. Creative/Innovative
Creativity is a form of expression and a reflection of how your mind works. Amazing things have been created during some inspirational moments. Does this person have the ability to think outside of the box? Are they always thinking of ways to make things better? They will need to exercise their creativity when planning a marketing campaign or be innovative if they are to streamline a system or project.
Your checklist may look a little different from mine but in any case, you should have one. There are many great VAs out there but bottom line, it is about finding the right one for you.
If you realize you still have questions or need further assistance. I will be happy to address any questions you may have. I wish you much success in business and I hope this information was helpful to you!
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Cielo Cloud is a Mother, Wife and Entrepreneur. Gaining most of her experience in Corporate America as an Executive Assistant, she decided to go into business for herself and founded Virtual Outsource Concept in 2008. She serves as the CEO, Business Developer, Business Trainer as well as a Distributor for Organo Gold. She passionately trains, develops new Virtual Assistants and teaches Business Owners how to maximize their full business potential. Her vision is to ultimately empower other women to start their own businesses that work in alignment with their true passion and purpose.