Hiring a virtual assistant (VA) can be a game-changer for your business—freeing up your time, streamlining tasks, and boosting productivity. But with so many options out there, how do you find the right one?

Here’s how to choose a VA that truly fits your needs (without the overwhelm):

1. 𝑲𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑵𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉

Before scrolling through profiles, ask yourself:

What tasks drain your time the most? (Emails? Scheduling? Social media?)

Do you need a generalist or a specialist (e.g., a VA with CRM or graphic design skills)?

Will they work hourly, part-time, or full-time?

Clarity here saves you from hiring someone who’s great… but not great for you.

2. 𝑳𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 & 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑺𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒔

A great VA isn’t just skilled—they’re dependable and easy to work with. Ask:

Do they respond promptly during the hiring process? (This hints at future communication.)

Are they proactive in solving problems, or do they wait for instructions?

Do they speak/write clearly? Miscommunication costs time.

3. 𝑪𝒉𝒆𝒄𝒌 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 (𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝑫𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓-𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝑰𝒕)

Experience matters, but a less-seasoned VA with the right attitude can be a better long-term fit. Look for:

Relevant past work (e.g., if you need Shopify help, find a VA who’s done it before).

Willingness to learn—especially if your business uses niche tools.

4. 𝑻𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝑺𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝑺𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑻𝒂𝒔𝒌

Before committing, give a paid trial task (e.g., organizing your inbox or drafting a response to clients). This shows:

How they handle real work.

If their work style matches your expectations.

5. 𝑻𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑮𝒖𝒕

You’ll be working closely with this person, so ask:

Do they get your business vibe?

Do you feel comfortable delegating to them?

The right VA should feel like an extension of your team—not just another hire.

𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕

A great VA isn’t just about offloading tasks; it’s about finding someone who helps your business run smoother. Take your time, ask the right questions, and don’t settle until you find the perfect match.