There are many benefits to trying virtual assistant services. Flexibility, cost reduction and economies of scale are some of the compelling reasons to hire a virtual assistant. Despite all the advantages, if you don’t ask the right questions, you may not be able to assess your strengths and weaknesses.

Consider asking these 11 basic questions before you hire your next virtual assistant.

What is your normal working hours?

Today it is possible to hire virtual employees from all over the world thanks to the presence of outsourcing marketplaces. It should be noted that most people (including online workers) have the propensity to operate within their own local time zones. “What time zone are you in?” is an important question to ask yourself. Knowledge of normal business hours is essential for both parties. This will help both of you maintain healthy virtual relationships while operating on completely different schedules. You can also set a particular schedule that should work for both parties. What is of the utmost importance is that you should know your availability in no uncertain terms.

What kind of internet speed do you have?

“What kind of internet speed do you have?” This is one of the major considerations while hiring a virtual employee, as a virtual employee’s job revolves around the internet, they must have access to the high-speed internet connection. There’s nothing scarier than a broken internet connection. It’s in the essential physical state of things that you should ask the virtual employee to do a quick test using one of the many free tools available online.

Fixed gold price per hour

Most virtual assistance services fall into one of two categories: fixed price or hourly. A business owner needs to know if hourly or flat rate will work to get the job done.

How long have you been working as a Virtual Employee?

While it’s not to say that new virtual employees aren’t well-equipped for their job, it’s a good idea to know how much experience a virtual employee has working with clients.

The more experienced someone is as a virtual employee, the more likely it is that they have set up their own processes to operate. This can be very useful for him, especially if he is still figuring out how to work with virtual employees.

How do you deal with deadlines?

When it comes to completing a task, every boss wants it done on time. However, it is unlikely that you will be the only employer of the virtual assistant and it is prudent to ensure that the virtual assistant has adequate time for your project. However, there is a chance that deadlines will be missed, and your employer understands that. Therefore, a good virtual assistant must be honest and direct about their timeline.

When you hire a virtual assistant, you’re hiring someone who works on an as-needed basis for different clients. In this case, if you are on a tight schedule, you should ask the virtual assistant right away if they could do your project justice against the needs of your other clients.

What are your favorite communication methods?

If your preferred communication channel is email, Skype or Google Hangouts and the Virtual employee’s is the phone, the relationship will not go too far. Go through those means of communication that are to your liking and work for you. This question is about making sure your work styles are aligned. Are you tied to your email all day? The ideal candidate will be one who is comfortable communicating with you through the communication methods you use most frequently.

What is the fee for your service?

This is a good question to ask to make sure it’s not out of your budget. Since all virtual employees are paid differently, it’s important to establish a baseline. As a business owner, you must also be willing to pay more if you intend to look for top-notch and reliable services.

Can you provide me with references?

When hiring a virtual assistant, you should always ask for references. Whether you use the referrals or not, they ensure that the virtual assistant is a wise investment. Even if you check the virtual assistant’s references, it’s worth asking what it was like to work with said person. This will give you an idea of ​​whether the virtual assistant has the work culture that aligns with your personal work style.

What is included in your rates?

This is a necessary question because virtual employee rates vary significantly based on their experience and skill level and they use different pricing structures. You should ask the virtual employee if you have to pay extra for a project that was a fixed-price job but requires a review. Added to this, if your virtual assistant has to make a lot of phone calls during the project, you should ask if the cost of doing so is included in their fees.

Do you have the necessary tools to manage your work?

The tools a virtual employee uses to do their job is a good indicator that they have all the necessary processes for an effective and efficient workflow. An experienced virtual employee should know what tools will help them get the job done efficiently.

Do you have a specific skill set?

This question makes a lot of sense because it allows virtual assistants to share their specific skills. Knowing their skill sets allows business owners to choose the right candidate. It also helps them determine whether or not the virtual employee understands what is required in the project.

In addition to adding some of your own questions to personalize the interview process, you should add the above questions to your interview checklist. Once you’ve gotten the answers to the questions to your satisfaction, you’ll find the perfect virtual assistant for your project.