Hiring a virtual assistant might be harder than you think. First, there is the task of finding your pool of applicants, and then there are the skills to take into account. Finding the right ingredients to make the best virtual assistant lie in your personal recipe for success. So here are a few things you may consider before hiring your virtual assistant:

1. Language. If you need your VA to answer e-mails, make phone calls, and talk to clients, you may as well determine which language your market speaks. If it’s French, Spanish, or English, then make sure your virtual assistant is fluent in the language that needs to be used.

2. Innovation. A virtual assistant needs to be creative. Through the many pitfalls that s/he might encounter, you need a person who can turn a defeat into a miraculous triumph – for her/himself or for your own business. It is always good to have someone flexible on your team.

3. Time management. Let’s face it. The job you are asking your VA to do is no joke on the time map. You may be able to focus on future trends, but your VA needs to be able to focus on what is present and to fill in the necessary dates. You cannot afford to have things buried and forgotten, so try them out for a test on time management. Can they juggle the work? And can one virtual assistant handle all the tasks?

4. Techie. Part of the virtual assistant’s job description is web management, social media, and back end data input. Your assistant might be very organized, but if s/he does not understand the web itself or a computer, then you’re better off doing the work yourself.

5. Perseverance. After a few let downs, virtual assistants need to go out into the world with much gusto. A great attitude towards work is what a virtual assistant needs.

Consider the criteria mentioned above when choosing the right assistant for you. By making the right decision, your business will meet promising results in no time.

Author's Bio: 

Matt Hallaran is the founder of Sidekiiks Incorporated. Sidekiiks is an offshore outsourcing company that specializes in providing a wide range of business solutions such as Call Center Services, Executive Virtual Assistant & Online Marketing Management for lead generation to entrepreneurs and SME’s.