Skills Assessment: How to Know If Your Virtual Assistant Is Qualified for the Work?
A growing number of businesses are switching to remote hiring. The future belongs to online virtual assistants, so you should consider hiring one. However, how can you ensure that the remote virtual assistant you employ has the necessary skills? You must thoroughly interview them in addition to reading over their profile. This entails testing them on the abilities you’ll require of them. You can compare test results between candidates to see which remote virtual assistant is the most successful. What types of testing ought to be applied? For the best ways to evaluate virtual assistant abilities, keep reading.
Verify Their Level of English
The best thing about hiring a VA is that you may pick from a huge pool of applicants. However, it follows that many people speak English as a second language. It is essential to have an English-speaking remote virtual assistant for businesses that function in English. So, throughout the interview phase, check their English proficiency. There are several ways to accomplish this. Send them an audio file, and then request a transcription. It can be a file you need to be transcribed or make just for the test. Send them a text document filled with grammatical and spelling problems. Send it back to them after they’ve made any necessary revisions.
Check Their Knowledge of Software
Are there any particular programs your virtual assistant must use? It is advantageous if they have prior knowledge of it. Google Docs, Excel, Slack, and Skype are a few popular programs that remote virtual assistance should be familiar with.
Knowledge of accounting software is another typical requirement. Include tests for any industry-specific software you use.
Giving applicants specific software tasks can be used to construct a test for them. Utilizing equations in Microsoft Excel might be sufficient. or handling a QuickBooks invoice. Testing their typing abilities at this time is also beneficial. Fast typing is a requirement if you need them to fill out data rapidly. Assess their abilities by using an online typing test.
Confirmed Their Communication Skills
The most crucial quality for virtual assistants to possess is communication. You cannot be certain that your tasks are being completed because they are not completed at the office next to you. The goal is to respond quickly and professionally. Simply observe how quickly the remote virtual assistants respond to your emails during the interview to test them for this. Take note of their response’s accuracy and tone. After that, have a Skype interview to learn more about their level of professionalism. Ask them how they keep organized and manage their time without monitoring.
What Are the Skills You Need for a Remote Virtual Assistant?
Every business owner wants to devote more time to expanding their company and less time to administrative duties. You can hire a virtual assistant to do such administrative responsibilities. Make sure a remote virtual assistant has all the talents you require before hiring them. You can choose the ideal online virtual assistant by using the exams above. Contact us if you’re having trouble finding a virtual assistance service. Vgrow offers knowledgeable online virtual assistance services for a variety of activities.
It’s important to comprehend the purpose of virtual assistant services and the wide range of talents needed before hiring one. Virtual assistant services can handle various duties, such as managing several clients and ensuring that business owners receive the best help possible for their circumstances. Knowing a remote virtual assistant’s top characteristics and abilities will help you hire the ideal individual for your needs, whether you’re looking for someone to help your company handle phone calls or provide online customer service.
Top Virtual Assistant Skills
What abilities are required to work as a virtual assistant? Here are some essential qualities to look for in an online virtual assistant if you intend to engage one.
1. Skills in Communication
Whether or not they have years of experience, a successful virtual assistant will have excellent communication skills. Since emails, reports, presentations, and phone calls are all important ways organizations communicate with clients, customers, and workers, excellent oral and written communication skills are essential. It will always be a terrific skill to be able to write well.
2. Development Management
A remote virtual assistant may need to have abilities in project management to develop and implement specific strategies, support firm projects, write emails and other marketing material for projects, or provide online support like website maintenance.
3. Controlling Time
A key competency for any assistant is time management. To meet deadlines, they must be well-organized and able to prioritize their workload.
4. It Is Good
Since computer use is required for online virtual assistant activities, having excellent IT skills is a great asset. A distinct advantage is knowing Microsoft software, especially if you’re looking for a helper to prepare PowerPoint presentations, documents, reports, or spreadsheets.
5. Outstanding Attention to Detail
Virtual assistants must be able to multitask well, so they must pay close attention to every detail. Remote virtual assistance frequently handles multiple tasks concurrently. Therefore, they must uphold a high-quality standard throughout their work.
6. Make Good Decisions
Since virtual assistants frequently have to make quick decisions, decision-making abilities are essential. An online virtual assistant must decide on the best action or think outside the box to devise a workable solution if the company owner is unavailable to address queries or concerns. If an issue emerges, a remote virtual assistant may also need to think quickly, showcasing their ability to digest information quickly.
7. An Appeal to Learning
Being a virtual assistant requires constant learning; thus, having the ambition to pick up new skills and knowledge is a top qualification. Every day offers the potential for a learning curve; therefore, an assistant should be receptive to feedback and seek new approaches to organizing or reducing their job to contribute to achieving company objectives or KPIs.
8. Management of Social Media
Any company’s marketing strategy must include social media in some way. Excellent social media management skills are required if you’re looking for a remote virtual assistant proficient in social media. This could entail developing social media material, interacting with other users, and using a variety of social media channels. Another helpful skill is knowing how to cross-promote and schedule content.
9. Self-Motivation
Any virtual assistant must possess discipline. Working remotely demands drive, especially when deadlines are involved. Depending on the hours you require an assistant to work, being able to keep a strict schedule may be essential for your business.
10. Customer Service
Outstanding customer service abilities will require any assistant who interacts with clients or customers. This calls on them to maintain composure under pressure, perform well under duress, be proficient in phone or email communication, and go above and beyond to provide a welcoming impression. Hiring a virtual assistance service that comprehends how vital customer service is for both a business and a customer is essential since good customer service to your clients or consumers helps to improve your reputation.
Would You like to Find Your Next Virtual Assistant? We Can Assist You!
Vgrow can help if you’re looking for a remote virtual assistant with excellent office and administrative abilities. Our hand-picked pool of applicants is eager to be paired with a top-notch business like yours. Get in touch with us to find out how we can assist.
Kimberly Morrison
Kimberly Morrison has been the Director of Client Relations at VGROW since 2019. She builds strong customer relationships, drives client retention, and oversees team productivity. Kimberly's approach to customer engagement is key to VGROW's aim of streamlining business processes through virtual assistance services.