Having trouble balancing running your business and your personal life?
If so, you need a virtual personal assistant (VPA).
A VPA helps get your personal life in order by managing your schedule, arranging travel plans, and maybe even ordering your groceries for you.
Aside from basic administrative support, some VPAs possess specialized skills like social media management and content creation.
That said, how do you find the right VPA for your needs?
Here are some essential skills to look for in a virtual personal assistant.
Communication Skills
Clear communication is vital to any successful remote working relationship.
Thus, one of the most essential skills your virtual personal assistant must have is strong communication skills.
This reduces miscommunication and allows them to liaise effectively with external parties on your behalf.
In addition, good VPAs practice active listening, which helps them easily understand and anticipate your instructions.
Finally, they should be proactive when it comes to updating you about the status of their tasks and any challenges they encounter.
Organizational Skills
You want a VPA that can efficiently manage your calendar, do your online grocery shopping, and remind you to pick up the kids after work.
Having a well-organized VPA helps you focus on running your business instead of worrying about your household and personal errands.
The Ability to Multitask
Aside from managing your calendar, your VPA could also be answering emails, or arranging your travel plans.
To achieve these, they must be able to multitask.
This skill helps them handle all these tasks simultaneously and accomplish them on time without sacrificing the quality.
Good Problem-Solving Skills
Inevitably, your VPA will encounter challenges at work, such as sudden schedule changes, and you won’t always be on hand to talk them through it.
Therefore, keep an eye out for talents who display exceptional problem-solving skills.
They should be able to calmly assess the situation, identify the main problems and their causes, and formulate an appropriate solution.
In addition, they’re quick to adapt to new and sudden challenges and find ways to overcome them.
This makes them highly independent, freeing you up to focus on more important matters.
Tech-Savviness
In today’s digital world, tech-savviness is a must-have for any remote worker.
They must also be familiar with communication tools like Gmail and Skype, and project management software like Trello and Monday.com.
Aside from the ones above, look for someone capable of basic troubleshooting and who implements sound cybersecurity practices.
Attention to Detail
As they say: “the devil is in the details.”
A VPA with an eye for detail follows your instructions carefully, ensuring highly accurate work.
They scrutinize and organize your calendar in minute detail to avoid conflicting meetings and events.
When making travel arrangements, they’ll have your schedule, transportation, hotel accommodations, and even meals, planned from beginning to end and within your budget.
Discretion and Trustworthiness
Remember, your VPA will be privy to your personal information.
Thus, when hiring a virtual personal assistant for the first time, look for someone you can trust.
To ensure your prospective applicant has this skill, conduct a thorough background check of their employment history and credentials.
Additionally, discuss your company’s confidentiality policies and ethical guidelines and ask probing questions to see if they align with your company’s standards.
Finding the Right Virtual Personal Assistant Made Easier
Having a skilled virtual personal assistant keeps all your personal affairs in order, helping you focus on growing your business and/or spending more time with your loved ones.
That said, with so many applicants today, finding the right VPA can be challenging.
Fortunately, by looking for the virtual personal assistant skills listed above, you’ll have an easier time finding the right one for you.
However, another way to find skilled VPAs is through a trusted outsourcing company, like Remote Staff.
Click here to see our full list of candidates. Aside from VPAs, we also have candidates for regular virtual assistants and admin assistants. Good luck!
John Carlo Pagsolingan is a carefree yet hardworking writer with aspirations of becoming a teacher in the future. He believes that remote working isn’t just a substitute; but is a legitimate alternative to face-to-face work. Learn more as he writes about the advantages of remote work and tips for aspiring remote workers.
