How To Hire A Virtual Assistant

Complete with job descriptions, skill profiles, and interview templates. Use this Virtual Assistant hiring guide to help you make the right decisions, fast.

VIRTUAL ASSISTANT RECRUITMENT GUIDE

What does a Virtual Assistant do?

A Virtual Assistant provides administrative support directly to a client while working remotely, normally at home. Support includes email management, calendar management, making phone calls, making flight and accommodation reservations, and preparing social media content.

Day to day tasks of a Virtual Assistant

Create presentations or reports as requested.
Answer emails from customers and external clients.
Answer phone calls or make phone calls to customers.
Set appointments; make travel arrangements or itineraries.
Cold calls for lead generation.
Encode information to a database or a system.
Create social media content and post to the appropriate channel.
Create a schedule for social media content planning.

Recruitment guide role overview illustration

VIRTUAL ASSISTANT DEFINITION

A Virtual Assistant’s primary responsibility is to provide administrative support to a direct client by doing it remotely. Because of this, they require a wide range of administrative skills as the tasks involved vary extensively, depending on the needs of the client.

HIRING PROCESS

Virtual Assistant Hiring Process

1
STEP 1
2
STEP 2
3
STEP 3
4
STEP 4
5
STEP 5

STEP 1

Build the Ideal Candidate Profile

To find the best person for the role, you need to understand what the role involves. You can complete this with the hiring manager to define the role, its contribution, and the skills needed.

STEP 2

Write A Job Description Based On Skills

Once you understand the requirements for the role, you’ll need to understand the skills for success. You can then write an effective job description to promote your role.

STEP 3

Selecting The Ideal Candidate

See which applicants have the right skills for the role. Send all your applicants a Vervoe skills assessment from the expert library, or customize one for your organization.

STEP 4

Interview Top Performers

Your skills assessment results will identify top performers. Focus your time on interviewing those that have met or exceeded your requirements. Assessment results will also help guide which skill areas to focus on in the interview.

STEP 5

Making An Offer

Once you assess your candidates against these skills, you’re ready to offer the top performer(s). You should base your offer on the value that the candidate would bring to your team and your business as a whole. It is also important to ensure your compensation and benefits packages are competitive in the industry and help you attract and retain the top talent.

BUILD THE IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE

Skills needed for a Virtual Assistant

A Virtual Assistant must be organized and a good multitasker. Because of the different administrative tasks involved, a Virtual Assistant must be able to manage several items and projects at a time. Also, a Virtual Assistant must be technologically-savvy as most of the tasks will be done online either through a software or an application since you will be working remotely from home.

Motivation
Communication
Technology

WRITE A JOB DESCRIPTION BASED ON SKILLS

How to write a Virtual Assistant job description

Once you’ve determined the skills required for the role, you can write the job description to advertise for your position. Here’s what to include in your Virtual Assistant job description:

Job Title: What position are you hiring for?
Summary: What makes your company unique? What would it be like to work for you?
Responsibilities: An overview of the role’s day-to-day activities, and how the position contributes to the organization
Requirements: Skills a candidate must have to perform the job successfully
Benefits: Details of compensation, benefits, and any perks on offer

Use our sample Virtual Assistant job description

SELECTING THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Sample skill tests for a Virtual Assistant

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Question 1

Communication

Question Type: Text

Explain how you can still communicate effectively with clients while working from home? How will you build rapport with people that you haven't necessarily met in person?

Question 2

Motivation

Question Type: Text

What are some habits you have adapted from within the workplace? How have these habits improved your performance?

Question 3

Technology

Question Type: Video

Tell us about a time where you have had to learn to navigate several new technologies, quickly adapting and becoming proficient. What Technologies were they and what were they used for?

INTERVIEW TOP PERFORMERS

How to interview a Virtual Assistant

Once your Vervoe skills assessment has surfaced the most qualified people for your open role, you can focus on interviewing these candidates. The interview should focus on any skills that require development that were highlighted from the skills assessment.

Now you know that candidates can do the job, the interview becomes more of a relationship building exercise where you can get to know the candidate on a more personal level, understand their motivations, and how they would fit in with the team.

MAKING AN OFFER

How much does it cost to hire a Virtual Assistant?

The US average for a Virtual Assistant is $37,870 according to Glassdoor. Meanwhile, Payscale.com reports it at $43,965. The lowest reported salary is at $22,000, while the highest is at $114,000. Some companies or employers offer additional pay through commissions, incentives, and bonuses, depending on the nature of the business and the niche of the Virtual Assistant.

United States

Virtual Assistants’ salaries in the United States range from $22,000 - $114,000. These salaries still vary depending on the years of experience, additional skills and expertise, and the location.

Source: Source: Payscale.com; Glassdoor.com

United Kingdom

Virtual Assistants’ salaries in the United Kingdom range from £13,000 - £52,000 (GBP). These salaries still vary depending on the years of experience, additional skills and expertise, and the location.

Source: Source: Glassdoor.com; Talent.com

Australia

Virtual Assistants’ salaries in Australia range from $30,000 - $85,000 (AUD). These salaries still vary depending on the years of experience, additional skills and expertise, and the location.