What to look for Virtual Assistants? My Top5 must have!!!

Hello Everyone.

I just thought that we may really have some differences in our opinion and preferences about this topic because first and foremost beyond the diversity of our needs, we have different locations. Its quite a hot outsourcing location Philippines is right now and it is where I am located.

So looking and finding VAs with the traits I've mentioned in my list will be much easier compare with you guys. So let me add something in here.

Aside from your Top5 must haves, will you also please include how you verify such skills and traits in your list. Again, WHAT are those? WHY? and HOW you verify it? esp. the traits?

Thanks.

Chris

I would put "availability" during my working or planning hours. I would also add "consistent", which I define differently than reliable, reliable shows up every day, consistent produces the same quality and amount of work from day to day.

A good blog post by John Jonas today shows the basic emails he uses to communicate when hiring new VAs. A good read!

My Process For Hiring a Filipino VA

Marvin

For me the main thing is excellent english. This is a really important point since all pinoys pretty much speak English to some degree. But if their english isn't native-like, it can be really frustrating trying to communicate subtle points.

I dont pay much attention to seo softwares they claim they know in their resumes, because their knowledge of these applications is usually superficial anyway. so it's better to have someone with a little 'initiative' who can learn.

The question i have is how to find out who can do this. It's so time consuming!

Ideal VA Traits

1. Must be resourceful. Should be able to maximize the utility of available resources.
2. Must be ambitious and confident. Each employer needs big dreamers, big thinkers, doers.
3. Must be driven towards constant career and lifestyle growth. Big goals, focused goals.
4. Must possess professional mindset and work ethics. Thoughtful, each step, every detail.
5. Must be motivated to learn new challenging tasks. New problems, new level of thinkers needed.

A text chat IM interview with an interested applicant can provide an employer with accurate insights about these traits...

Ideal VA Skills

Most VAs with excellent research and writing skills, in the employer's language, can quickly learn non-research and writing tasks relevant to IM and SEO/SEM. They can also quickly learn marketing communications skills. My observations, test results and actual experience point this out as an accurate opinion...

Most Filipinos with excellent marketing communications skills, in the employer's language, can quickly learn task fundamentals and specifics with minimal guidance. They can easily learn to use software they have yet to use. They just navigate through its functions to test it out and learn on their own...

Interview questions should be thoughtfully developed to accurately pinpoint traits present in an applicant. Relevant tests should be thoughtfully formulated to determine existing skills of an applicant...

Employers = Sit down. Develop those interview questions. Formulate those relevant tests. Develop a system for daily communications and task reporting. Formulate ideas to inspire and motivate your employees. Implement everything...