If you are researching questions to ask a virtual assistant, I am guessing that you are considering taking that leap and hiring one? Congratulations, you are one step closer to enjoying more time and more freedom in your life and business.

Still not sure if a VA is for you right now? Hopefully this blog post will help get your head around the hiring process and give you the confidence to go ahead and get started.

The virtual assistant world has grown massively in the past nearly 7 years I have been a part of it. More and more people are branding themselves as virtual assistants offering a vast array of services and expertise. This is of course a fantastic opportunity for you as an entrepreneur, coach or consultant, as you can benefit hugely from highly skilled people to support you and your business. Equally it means there are so many people to choose from, which can be overwhelming. So where do you begin?

Getting Started

Before you even consider signing a contract, there are a few things you need to consider to make sure you are in the right place to hire a VA:

• Get really clear on EXACTLY where you need help
• Identify the MUST HAVE personality traits, who do you work best with? What type of person are you looking for?
• Write a job description outlining the tasks so you can easily identify the skill set you need, this will help you hire for the role rather than just the tasks.

You could easily hire someone to help with your tasks on sites such as Upwork and Fiver. Although I wouldn’t recommend that necessarily, my first port of call would always be to ask your network for a recommendation before using a freelancing site to hire someone. More often than not you will find there are a number of VAs in the groups you are members of on Facebook or someone in there will at least know a VA and be able to recommend them. Lastly my suggestion would be to use social media, such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to find a VA using hashtags or a quick search.

My personal favourite is to go with a recommendation, as this is likely to increase your chances of finding the right virtual assistant for you. Now it’s time for some research

Questions To Ask A Virtual Assistant

Once you have found a few VAs, undertaken some social stalking, shortlist your favourites and then interview them. Most VAs that are running serious businesses will offer new clients a free Discovery Call to see if you are the right fit to work with one another. Use this call as your chance to find out as much as you can about them, to make sure you are on the same page and share the same values. To help you get started here are 20 questions to ask before you hire a virtual assistant.

So here are a list of the questions to ask a Virtual Assistant before your hire them:

1. How long have you been working as a virtual assistant?
2. Why did you decide to become a virtual assistant?
3. What do you enjoy most about your work?
4. What is your background, experience and do you have a specific skill set?
5. Do you work as a freelancer or do you have your own company?
6. What time zone are you located in?
7. What are you normal working hours?
8. How many clients do you have?
9. Will my work be subcontracted to someone else?
10. What are your main methods of communication?
11. What is your turnaround time on projects?
12. How soon can I expect you to respond to an email or voicemail?
13. Do you charge for time spent emailing or on the phone?
14. How is time billed? In 15 minute increments? By project?
15. How much do you charge an hour? Do you offer retainers?
16. How do you invoice?
17. Are you willing to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement?
18. What software/programmes do you use and are experienced with?
19. What security measures do you have in place? (Password, Data, Backup etc..)
20. Do you have any client testimonials?
21. Out of everything you do for clients, what is your favourite? Where is your zone of genius?
22. Do you have insurance?
23. What happens if you need to take a day off sick?

These questions to ask a virtual assistant are intended to get your started, I am sure you will think of your own as you go through them, ones that are more relevant to you and your business. However, hopefully these 20 questions are enough to help you feel less overwhelmed and more in control. I’ve created a copy of them for you to download HERE.

My Top Tip

Always go with your gut. If it feels right and you think you’ll work well together, chances are you will. The times I haven’t gone with my gut instinct are the times when things haven’t quite worked out the way I wanted or expected and I’ve ended up kicking myself! If you still aren’t sure, give them a trial project before your hire them, ‘date’ them and see how they perform. Then you’ll know if you can trust your gut or not!

Are you looking for a VA? Do you need some advice? Let’s grab a coffee and have a virtual chat. You can book a call here.