Looking into the current trend of how Virtual Assistant roles are rampant, some individuals fail to realize that their “Initial Interview” bears more weight than they thought. The interview process for VAs has become intricate and detailed, so it isn’t as easy as before. Not to mention that “Panel Interviews” and “Client/Final Interviews” are just as challenging.
Clients already know what type of VA suits their business and the personal one they want to work with. Assuming all clients think the same way, they likely follow a specific process to streamline their candidates.
Acing an interview may seem daunting; however, you must go through these nitty-gritty interviews to secure a job. Putting your best foot forward used to be enough, yet times have changed. Rather than focusing on your strengths and weaknesses, learning about the business or niche you plan on taking on is just the tip of the iceberg. Propelling yourself with experience, gaining skills that showcase your work above and beyond, and researching essential insights about products and services make you a well-rounded Virtual Assistant.
This guide will help you unlock your potential as an aspiring Virtual Assistant. Make sure you tick all the boxes your future client is looking for. Let’s get right to it!
Prepare For Your Interview
Job descriptions will usually have all the information you need to showcase your strengths; what aspiring VAs fail to consider is that clients lean toward candidates who have an idea of the business they are running. If you plan on applying for a niche or business that highlights computer programming and services, it would be best to cover your bases and check out their website or social media pages.
Even a slight understanding of what a business offers will work in your favor. There are instances where the client does not provide you with their Social Media platforms, nor do they provide their website. Still, they give information on what type of industry they are in, and that’s your opportunity to learn and showcase such knowledge during interviews.
As the saying goes, “You can never be “too” prepared”. Understanding the niche and industry of any business you apply to is the bare minimum. Why apply for a role or job with a company you have no clue what they are doing, what products they sell, or what services they provide?
So how can you do this?
Focus on the skills you have obtained throughout your work experience. Highlight specific projects you have succeeded in and how you played a vital role in achieving these goals.
Showcase Tools, AI, and Automation that you have encountered and how you have maximized them in your daily tasks.
Share experiences and stories related to the niche and business you are applying for. Emphasize how your skills and experience match their needs.
Have all necessary documents, portfolios, samples, and the alike compiled in a folder/drive/cloud? Easy access to these files allows seamless transitions when asked.
Mentally prepare yourself for any question that may come your way. Refrain from settling for basic questions and answers; think outside the box and assume that the questions they will ask are not common questions asked in interviews.
Tips To Stand Out
With the number of virtual assistants growing daily, you would need to stand out from your competition. How would you do that? You may ask, but the answer is simple: You must be capable of doing something they aren’t as credible at doing. A great example is being an expert in AI tools and Automation. Like the Virtual Assistants we have at Elly, they are multi-skilled; with that being said, they are adaptable and willing to learn new tools beyond their arsenal.
Clients are leaning towards Virtual Assistants who are not limited to black-and-white tasks available with any business. These clients thirst for Virtual Assistants who can do it all and want to learn more. It’s simple: the more tools and skills you unlock as a VA, the more valuable you become to a client or business.
Communication skills are also at the top regarding requirements for clients and businesses. Since we are working remotely, the limitation of monitoring and checking in becomes a challenge. Luckily, there are tools today that make feedback, random checking, and employee monitoring easy with just one click. Familiarity with communication tools and the ability to actively communicate thoughts and ideas is an edge for virtual assistants.
Let’s not forget that language barriers are apparent, and getting lost in translation can complicate maintaining VA-client relationships. Showcasing how credible you are at communicating will always be in your favor.
Lastly, one of the best things to showcase as a virtual assistant is how you can work independently. Clients and businesses are willing to cater to training and upskills; however, if they need to teach you every step of the day without skipping a beat, that becomes an issue. Working independently does not mean you work without supervision. Moreover, it’s working with minimal supervision so that your client or the business you are working on can focus on more critical tasks/matters.
A gentle reminder: clients and businesses hire VAs to ease their workload. Become the employee they need, not the employee they have to teach every little detail.
Post-Interview
Virtual Assistants who apply for remote work sometimes need to remember that their clients or businesses they use for have a lot on their plate. Asking for follow-ups is a must. How you ask for these follow-ups can make or break your standing in the interview process. Remember, if you ask for a follow-up, you must be prepared to show up. Also, treating the email, message, or call professionally is necessary.
While doing these follow-ups, remember to showcase your intent and utmost interest in the position you are applying for. Clients find it interesting when VAs are confident and driven for a role they have applied for.
After going through the end-to-end process of interviews, before jumping on to the next. Remember to reflect on previous interviews you have already gone through. Drowning what you said in your last interview does not mean you choose not to move forward despite the rejection. Pick bits and pieces that went well and bring them to your next opportunity.
Added Tips and Tricks
On top of all the severe notions and situations when it comes to interviews, there are some tricks that you can use to roll up your sleeves to ensure that you get the job. These tricks do not apply to all clients, industries, and businesses. However, it wouldn’t hurt to have them in your back pocket.
English Training - English has been the universal language for ages; being skilled and at the level of a native speaker can always work in your favor.’
Coursera/YouTube/Masterclasses - These platforms offer free training as Virtual Assistants or even specific roles that VAs have taken over that can benefit your cause.
STAR Method - Structuring your answers using the STAR method has been around for a while. Clients, Businesses, and even recruitment agencies always look forward to individuals who phrase and answer in a structured manner.
Showcase Technical Proficiency - Being tech-savvy in a world where technological advancements have come into play is something you wouldn’t want to miss out on. Many interviews today will have structured exams and assessments focusing on technical skills and usage.
Ask the right questions - Some applicants ask questions for the sake of asking questions, while some ask the right questions. Focus on something other than surface-level questions that can be answered throughout the interview. Take an interest in the niche and business you are applying for. Showcase how proactive you are in being part of the team.
Conclusion
These interview tips and tricks are only strengthened by how you handle yourself. You can read through all these aspects; however, you can't get the job if you can’t express yourself with the utmost genuineness and assertiveness. At Elly, we take pride in the Virtual Assistants who are credible in their craft.
If you want to avoid the hassle of screening and interviewing applicants, let us take the load off and hire a VA through Elly TODAY!