netmoney1
Elite Member
- Feb 21, 2012
- 3,429
- 11,101
When you have great VA?s it can really help take the work load off you and allow you to focus on what is important: growing your business. I have hired (and fired) plenty of VA?s in the past and after receiving some questions about hiring a good VA I wanted to just throw these tips together. It will not only help you get the best VA?s available?but it will also save you time and money by not hiring/firing the low quality workers.
I always set the expectations high from the beginning. They know from the beginning that I demand the best and will not settle for excuses or anything but 100%. I make it clear from the first communication that there will be no nonsense tolerated.
Post ads on outsource websites. You can always hire through the site in order to be protected in the beginning, but always do your own interviewing and don?t rely on just ratings on websites. Who cares what others have said, maybe they don?t have the same high standards that you do.
I use these SIMPLE tips to automatically weed out the crap and give me good potential VA?s to interview.
Before I will even speak with someone I ask for the following:
Written Summary
Now, I do this because this is BARE minimum. The summary gives you an idea of the type of person that they are, but it also lets you take a quick look at their writing style and ability. If they can?t write a simple summary of themselves (which would be a topic they should be VERY familiar with) then how in the world will they be able to take an assignment from you and write good posts, content, etc. This will give you an idea about who they are, but it also lets you know if they can write.
Video Resume
The video resume shows you that they have access to a decent computer and set up. This is important. I can?t tell you how many VA?s I interviewed in the beginning that were borrowing a computer or wanted to do it form a public computer. This will never work. If they can make a video then they have some technical ability. Here is the kicker: MAKE THEM UPLOAD IT TO YOUTUBE! Tell them they must submit the video resume to you in the form of a YouTube URL. This will show that they have the ability to upload videos and other potential technical tasks. You can also get good feeling for their personality type from the video and determine if you think you could communicate well with them.
Research Assignment
This is another simple task. What happens when you need some blog posts about ?teachers salaries in New York? and your work load is stacked to the ceiling? You need to be confident that your VA can handle the task. Give them a topic and ask them to provide some research in the form of a 300 word recap.
Now, many VA?s will not want to do this ? GREAT ? they aren?t the type that you want to hire anyway. Provide VERY DETAILED instructions. Such as:
Now, if they do not follow the instructions, delete their email. Wait for the ones that follow them 100% correctly ? they are now worth doing a video interview with.
Would you rather 100 people or just a few that follow directions?
Who do you think will be easier to work with and more productive?
Many people told me ?I don?t have time to hire VA?s? ? do it this way and you will only have to interview a few ? but they will be the best VA?s available.
GOOD LUCK!
I always set the expectations high from the beginning. They know from the beginning that I demand the best and will not settle for excuses or anything but 100%. I make it clear from the first communication that there will be no nonsense tolerated.
Post ads on outsource websites. You can always hire through the site in order to be protected in the beginning, but always do your own interviewing and don?t rely on just ratings on websites. Who cares what others have said, maybe they don?t have the same high standards that you do.
I use these SIMPLE tips to automatically weed out the crap and give me good potential VA?s to interview.
Before I will even speak with someone I ask for the following:
Written Summary
Now, I do this because this is BARE minimum. The summary gives you an idea of the type of person that they are, but it also lets you take a quick look at their writing style and ability. If they can?t write a simple summary of themselves (which would be a topic they should be VERY familiar with) then how in the world will they be able to take an assignment from you and write good posts, content, etc. This will give you an idea about who they are, but it also lets you know if they can write.
Video Resume
The video resume shows you that they have access to a decent computer and set up. This is important. I can?t tell you how many VA?s I interviewed in the beginning that were borrowing a computer or wanted to do it form a public computer. This will never work. If they can make a video then they have some technical ability. Here is the kicker: MAKE THEM UPLOAD IT TO YOUTUBE! Tell them they must submit the video resume to you in the form of a YouTube URL. This will show that they have the ability to upload videos and other potential technical tasks. You can also get good feeling for their personality type from the video and determine if you think you could communicate well with them.
Research Assignment
This is another simple task. What happens when you need some blog posts about ?teachers salaries in New York? and your work load is stacked to the ceiling? You need to be confident that your VA can handle the task. Give them a topic and ask them to provide some research in the form of a 300 word recap.
Now, many VA?s will not want to do this ? GREAT ? they aren?t the type that you want to hire anyway. Provide VERY DETAILED instructions. Such as:
- Please provide the written summary in MS Word format using 12 point Times New Roman font. Also send it as a PDF.
- Send the YouTube video resume URL in a .txt file.
- Provide the research assignment in MS Word format as well as PDF format and include RESOURCE#1, RESOURCE#2, RESOURCE#3, etc at the bottom of the assignment hyperlinked to the information sources.
- Email everything to [email protected] with ?VA Position? in the subject line.
Now, if they do not follow the instructions, delete their email. Wait for the ones that follow them 100% correctly ? they are now worth doing a video interview with.
Would you rather 100 people or just a few that follow directions?
Who do you think will be easier to work with and more productive?
Many people told me ?I don?t have time to hire VA?s? ? do it this way and you will only have to interview a few ? but they will be the best VA?s available.
GOOD LUCK!
Thank you very much for food for my brain 
