You’ve reached the place in your business where you know it’s time to make an investment and build a team -- or at least bring on one team member so you can see the light at the end of the tunnel when each work day is finished. By now, you’ve surely heard how hiring a virtual assistant is “life-changing”, or the “one thing” that allowed your friend’s business to grow! You definitely know you need help... but you have NO clue where to start or how to hire a virtual assistant. We’d love to pass along some great tips to help!

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1. Find a Virtual Assistant

(It sounds so easy, right? This is often times the hardest part!)

LinkedIn, Facebook groups, and even a simple Google search will deliver enough choices to make your head spin! Of course the choices are abundant, but then what? What questions do you ask? Are you certain you’ll be able to delegate if you find the “right” person? What if the person you find has amazing skills but a flat personality and doesn’t want to do things the way you like them done? How much should you be paying for an experienced VA? What if there are problems - do you have the managerial skills, time, and brain-width to deal with the issue?

2. ApplicatioN

Once you’ve found a few virtual assistants that seem reputable, you must have them fill out an application. You’ll need to ask the right questions in the right way so you hear truth in the answers you need! It may take some time to go through the applications, so be sure to block off more than a few hours to really evaluate the person you’re considering bringing into your business. You don’t want to make a hasty decision and find out later that perhaps their answers really were too good to be true! Ask the right questions to find the best teammate!

You’ll also need to evaluate each applicant’s skills. It is SO important to make sure they have solid experience as well as the particular skill set you need. Perhaps you ask to see their past work or evaluate social media analytics from their other clients. Don’t forget to keep track of their response times and written communication skills. You need to make sure everything is spot-on! Remember, this person may be the client-facing member of your team one day and they really need to know how you like your customer-love to be handled!

3. Interview

Okay!! You’re gaining some ground and have narrowed down the field to just 2 or 3 potential teammates! The written and skills portion of the interview process is complete -- now it’s time to meet “in person”. You can use Google Hangouts (or Google Meet), Skype, Zoom, or any other video conferencing service you like. I really recommend you don’t just interview by phone. SO much more will be discerned in a face-to-face visit!

Some of the questions you need to ask will feel a bit invasive or personal, but please remember you are inviting this person into every aspect of your business - as well as a few aspects of your life in general. You really do need to know all. the. things. You should be asking questions about their past experience and job history - including asking for and checking references. We recommend checking references by phone, not email, and really evaluating their past experience! Ask them about their strengths and weaknesses and compare the answers they give to the answers their former employer or clients give.

This is also a time to see if your personalities are a fit! If you are very exuberant in your daily life, like to have fun while you work, and tend to be the most extroverted person in the room, you don’t want to find a VA who is quiet, shy, and prefers limited verbal contact. If you are a “big-picture” person, you need to find a teammate with an astute eye for the smallest of details! Again, evaluate EVERYTHING!

4. Hire & Onboard!

Once you have found the perfect fit, you will want to have them sign a contract outlining your expectations and business guidelines. You will need a completed W-9 so you can send a 1099 at the end of the year, and any other sub-agreements that apply to your business specifically. (Don’t forget an NDA protecting your business!)

FINALLY... it’s time to get to work! (Whew ~ that was a long process!)

Begin integrating them into your team & training them in the responsibilities they will have within your business. Remember to share your passwords and any important onboarding documents. You may need to block off some time to train them in a few platforms you use that they may be unfamiliar with as well.

OR do it the easy way!

You can do a google search, search on Facebook, ask a friend for a referral, but the easiest way to find a great VA is to ask us!

At Rock Solid Virtual Assistants, we do all the background work, testing, evaluating, and (insert sigh of relief) - we handle the match-making! Working with us not only means you’re getting a VA who is tested and whose skills are above the bar every time, but it also assures you that you’ll have a VA who matches your work style and personality. Best of all, you have a full management team behind you every step of the way for support!

We work with the best assistants in the business. We take them through a lengthy 6-step application process plus an hour-long video-interview and ask them all the right questions, as well as take care of all the contracts and end of the year taxes! We even help you successfully onboard them to your team. All you have to do is contact us and we will set you up with the best assistant matched not only to your business needs, but matched to your personality as well!