Showcase Excellence (Even the Small Details Count!)
Realizing what employers seek in virtual assistants as there are no perfect candidates is the first step in the job search process. Since we are human beings and not machines, mistakes will always occur.
Writing ability is one of the most crucial characteristics to look for in a written application because we have little tolerance for error in this area of work.
Since an application is typically your sole opportunity to make an impression on a hiring manager, it should be a representative of your best work. They get the impression that you are either speeding through the process or aren’t taking the opportunity seriously when you don’t capitalize the letter “I” or leave apostrophes out of contractions.
Assuming you read every line you write at least twice; you might have an advantage if you tend to overthink things. Just watch out that your analytical tendencies don’t get you petrified! At some point, we must all press the “Send” button and believe we have done our best.
Showing Emotional Intelligence (You’re not a Robot!)
When applying, having flawless grammar should be your top focus; emotional intelligence should follow in next.
You run the danger of coming off as inconsiderate, arrogant, or robotic if you are unable to recognize and react to the subtle emotional clues and subtexts in communication processes.
An emotionally intelligent email answer includes certain characteristics, such as acknowledging what the consumer or client has stated and demonstrating empathy. Instead of merely being a means of conducting business, it gives the other person the impression that they are being seen and cared about.
This is true of both your client’s customers and your client’s relationship with them. Learning how to establish a harmonious relationship quickly is the key to developing long-term client connections because you’ll probably be communicating with your clients on a daily basis.
Develop Your Senses to Listen Carefully (Especially For Interviews!)
When you land an interview with a virtual assistant agency thanks to your excellent writing abilities and kind demeanor, your next goal should be to demonstrate your active listening abilities.
Like emotional intelligence, active listening has recently gained some notoriety. However, the idea behind it is very straightforward: active listening is paying close attention to both what is said and what is not said, as opposed to simply delaying a response.
Take turns giving and receiving attention with a trustworthy friend or family member to practice active listening. It doesn’t matter if the individual receiving attention chooses to talk or remain silent. On the other side, the role of the one giving attention is to pay as much attention to the receiver and absorb what they’re saying (without interrupting or interfering).
Both participants relate their experience after a set length of time (let’s say three minutes) has passed. The person who is being paid attention will describe what it was like to be seen, while the person giving it will try to convey everything they saw. While the giver’s intention is to see, the recipient of this activity experiences the feeling of being seen.
You might also include a third party in this situation to provide some additional insight. This person would watch the entire procedure and then report back on their observations.
Review Your Mentality (Be A Life-Long Learner)
The mindset of a virtual assistant is the final topic we’d discuss.
Is the applicant more inwardly or outwardly focused to begin with? These questions, such as “Why do you want to work for our company?” examine this balance to determine whether you’re only in it for the money or whether you also value the chance to help a client through administrative tasks.
I do believe that the finest virtual assistants have a strong sense of compassion in all that they do, even if it’s normal to seek both fulfillment and a reliable income. Perhaps you get happiness when you are able to relieve your customer of a burden so that they can at last spend time with their family. Or perhaps you enjoy guiding a troubled consumer toward the solution they require.
I like to find out whether a virtual assistant is a problem- or solution-solver as another part of their attitude. When you are faced with questions you might not know the answers to in awkward circumstances (like an interview! ), this is really put to the test.
Problem-finders are very good at identifying problems but not so brilliant at solving them. Troubleshooting problems on their own is frequently tough for them, thus they frequently outsource activities that seem too challenging. A fundamental conviction that they don’t have (or won’t find) the solution appears to be what underlies this.
On the other side, problem-solvers are able to handle unpleasant or difficult circumstances. They exude an unflustered quality, a profound sense of composure, and a conviction that they can get the information they need to solve the problem on their own. They believe that since it is rare that they will encounter an issue that has never been solved before, the solution must already exist.
Since self-doubt causes us to check our responses twice and so reduce errors and blunders, some virtual assistants struggle to have the confidence to suggest solutions. That’s okay (as long as it’s not paralyzing!).
When the objective is always to reduce overwhelm, the problem occurs when we place work on other people’s plates. Fortunately, confidence can be developed with time, especially with the help of a mentor or training manager, a second virtual assistant, and other supportive individuals.
How Do You React To Criticism?
How a virtual assistant responds to criticism is another indicator of mentality.
This question has both better and worse solutions. The finest ones come from applicants who view criticism not as a personal jab but rather as a means to advance.
The worst respond by not taking the topic seriously or by saying something like, “I normally don’t require input because of my prior experience,” or “I’m my own boss for a cause, I know what to do.”
The ability and willingness to learn something new or try something in a different way are at the heart of this question, which is about leaving room for growth.
Since we are virtual assistants, our customer is ultimately in charge of the business we serve. It’s crucial to respect the client’s preferences, even if they differ significantly from our own (if their company operates under an ethical code of ethics that prioritizes respect!).
Practically, many people have difficulty receiving constructive criticism, but it’s important to avoid becoming defensive (or fully closing down), and to adopt a constant learner perspective. The less personally we take things in this position, the easier it will be on our minds.
