Must Read: What Is A Virtual Assistant and How to Find the Best One

Are you planning to hire a virtual assistant (VA)? Then you must first know what is a virtual assistant. A VA is not your usual employee. He or she is a person who provides services from a remote location. Services are not fixed to one administrative task. There are several things a VA does including social media management, event management, booking hotels and restaurants, and managing calendars, appointments and emails. They are capable of a never-ending list of tasks done virtually.

Hence, VAs are vital in business. Now that you know what they can do, it is time you read this list for the qualities you must find when outsourcing a VA.

- They should be reliable

It is important to find a freelance virtual assistant UK based with great organisational and administrative skills. A virtual assistant services UK based should have people with the necessary skills to be able to accomplish all the tasks you assign them. As a client, you are hiring them, so you do not have to worry about getting things done, no matter how big or small it is. You simply drop a task into their inbox and move on with the confidence that they can handle everything. You do not want to micromanage your VA just to ensure everything is going well.

A freelance virtual assistant UK based should ensure that they give you only the highest quality of work. They should proofread it first, or use different online editors, in addition to relying on word processor’s spell-check. As a client, your VA should be reliable to make your life easier. If you constantly have to point grammar mistakes on reports and emails, then you should start looking for a new VA.

- They should remain professional at all times

What is a virtual assistant that is professional? Being professional means being present to work. A professional knows how to get the work done in the most thorough yet time-efficient manner possible. This person does not only look forward to their paycheck. They also find value and fulfilment in accomplishing tasks and contributing to the success of a project.

- They should be flexible

Your freelance virtual assistant UK based should be flexible in terms of time. While there may be a fixed set of tasks that will be delegated to your virtual assistant and agreed with timelines for their turnover, there may be instances wherein you will need your VA to work on something that was not originally part of the plan. Your VA must be willing and able to take on these tasks. Flexibility on the part of your VA is a must.

- They have integrity

Integrity is important especially with intellectual properties. Plagiarising is unacceptable and can even harm your work. Even if you find a virtual assistant services UK based on their quality of writing, they should remain true to their work and the services they offer you. They should also be true to their time frame. If they promise to submit a project on Thursday, then it must be done by Thursday; if a delay is unavoidable, your VA should at least communicate the situation with you. You can rely on VAs who get things done early as they ensure they have time to make changes just in case.

They should be able to meet the expectations they set. Most virtual assistants want their clients to think that they are only working for one client, but the truth is, they may be taking on multiple projects from different entrepreneurs. Most of the time, VAs that take on too much work become too stressed and often pass that stress on to a client. Before hiring a VA, you should find out if they are honest about their work and abilities.

Outsourcing a VA is easy now that you know what is a virtual assistant. VAs are capable of a variety of tasks not limited to administrative tasks. As long as it can be done virtually, they are sure to make it happen for you. Because of these, VAs are vital in business. They are background supporters and ensure the business runs smoothly. With this list, you can now find the virtual assistant that is best for your business.