Top 3 Tips to Make Sure You Hire A Great VA – Practical Tips

Quick Answer

To hire a great virtual assistant, start by defining exactly what you need them to do, prioritize clear communication, and look for someone with the reliability and commitment required for an ongoing role in your business.

If you want to add a Philippines-based virtual assistant, a VirtualStaff Seat gives you a simple way to do it. You tell VirtualStaff.ph what type of staff member you need, receive qualified staff options, choose who you want, agree on salary, onboard them through the platform, and pay their salary through VirtualStaff.ph.

Once onboarded, your staff member plugs into your existing business operations, where you manage their day-to-day work using your own systems, processes, and management structure.

Key Takeaways

• Define the role and responsibilities clearly before choosing a virtual assistant.

• Strong communication is essential when someone works remotely inside your business.

• Look for reliability and long-term commitment, not just experience on paper.

• A VirtualStaff Seat gives you a simple way to add one Philippines-based staff member to your business.

• VirtualStaff.ph helps supply qualified staff options and provides the platform for onboarding and salary payments.

• You choose the staff member, agree on salary, and manage their day-to-day work inside your own business.

1. Define the Role and Requirements Clearly

Before adding a virtual assistant to your business, get clear about what you actually need that person to do.

Outline the responsibilities, skills, working hours, and outcomes you expect from the role. Are you looking for someone to manage your calendar, support customers, handle administrative work, maintain financial records, or support your e-commerce operations?

The clearer you are about the role, the easier it becomes to identify a staff member who fits your business.

For example, if you need e-commerce support, define the actual responsibilities. You might need someone to process orders, update product listings, respond to customers, maintain inventory records, or support your wider e-commerce operations. You can learn more in our guide on how to hire an e-commerce virtual assistant.

When you get a VirtualStaff Seat, you can tell VirtualStaff.ph what type of staff member you need and receive qualified staff options based on your requirements.

Key Takeaway: Don't rush the planning stage. Clearly defining the role makes it easier to choose someone with the right skills and experience to become a productive part of your business.

2. Prioritize Communication Skills

Good communication is essential when adding a remote staff member to your business. Your virtual assistant may be working thousands of miles away, but they still need to communicate effectively with you, your team, and potentially your customers.

As you review and speak with potential staff members, pay attention to how they communicate. Do they respond clearly? Do they understand instructions? Are they comfortable asking questions when something is unclear? Can they communicate professionally with customers or colleagues when the role requires it?

Strong English proficiency is one reason businesses around the world choose to add staff from the Philippines. Effective communication can make it easier for a Philippines-based staff member to plug into your existing meetings, systems, workflows, and customer interactions.

Key Takeaway: Prioritize people who communicate clearly and professionally. Strong communication makes it easier for a remote staff member to integrate into your business and work effectively with the people around them.

3. Look for Reliability and Commitment

Reliability matters because you're not simply looking for someone to complete a one-off task. You're adding a person who can become an ongoing part of your business operations.

As you evaluate potential staff members, look beyond their experience on paper. Pay attention to responsiveness, attention to detail, previous work history, communication, and whether they demonstrate a professional attitude toward the role.

Depending on the position, an appropriate skills assessment or practical interview exercise can also help you understand how someone approaches the type of work they'll be responsible for.

References can provide additional insight. Previous employers may be able to tell you about the person's reliability, consistency, communication, and overall performance.

Taking a little more time to assess these areas can help you choose someone who has the potential to become a dependable, long-term member of your team.

Key Takeaway: Look beyond the resume. Experience matters, but reliability, communication, consistency, and commitment are equally important when you're adding someone to your ongoing business operations.

How a VirtualStaff Seat Makes Adding Staff Simpler

Finding the right person matters, but businesses also need a simple way to get that person onboarded and working as part of their operations.

That's where a VirtualStaff Seat comes in.

A VirtualStaff Seat costs $99/month, plus the salary you agree with your staff member. One seat lets you add one Philippines-based staff member to your business.

Here's how it works:

1. Get a VirtualStaff Seat.

2. Tell us what type of staff member you need.

3. Receive qualified staff options inside your dashboard.

4. Review your options and choose the person you want.

5. Agree on salary with the staff member.

6. Onboard them through VirtualStaff.ph.

7. Pay their salary through VirtualStaff.ph.

8. Have your staff member plug into your existing business operations.

The salary you agree with your staff member is passed directly to the staff. VirtualStaff.ph earns the $99/month seat fee rather than adding a large agency markup to the person's salary.

Once your staff member is onboarded, you manage their actual day-to-day work inside your own business. They can use your existing systems, workflows, meetings, communication channels, and management structure just as other members of your team do.

VirtualStaff.ph helps you add the person to your business. You remain in control of how their workday is managed.

Add the Right Virtual Assistant to Your Business

Hiring a great virtual assistant doesn't need to be complicated. Start by defining exactly what you need, prioritize strong communication, and choose someone with the reliability and commitment to become part of your business.

If you're ready to add professional staff from the Philippines, a VirtualStaff Seat gives you a simple way to get started.

For $99/month per VirtualStaff Seat, plus the salary you agree with your staff member, VirtualStaff.ph helps you receive qualified staff options, choose the person you want, onboard them, and pay their salary through the platform.

You stay in control. You choose the staff member, agree on salary, and manage their day-to-day work inside your own business.

Your new staff member plugs into your existing operations and helps you increase capacity without the heavy salary markups associated with many traditional staffing models.

​Activate a VirtualStaff Seat and start adding Philippines-based staff to your business.

Want to understand what it costs to add staff from the Philippines? Read our guide to virtual assistant salaries and costs in the Philippines.