How do you know if you have a good candidate in front of you, and how can you be sure that they already know what you need them to know? Recruiting the right virtual assistant (VA) — one that possesses the necessary skills, especially in communication and Microsoft Office — can prove to be a challenging task, especially when you don’t know how to assess their hard and soft skills before and during the interview. That’s why we’ve compiled the best hiring tests to assess virtual assistants in this post.
Fortunately, there are online tests (free & paid) and assessment strategies to help you gauge the competence of your virtual assistant candidates to improve your hiring success. Here’s where to find those resources and how you can make the most of them.
Evaluating Overall Virtual Assistant Skills
- Test Gorilla’s Virtual Assistant Tests: This company allows you to test skills for a variety of positions, including virtual assistants. They have aggregated a variety of tests to assess a virtual assistant including culture fit with your organization, verbal reasoning, Microsoft Outlook/PowerPoint, Communication, and Personality.
- Testlify Virtual Assistant Test: This test measures organizational, time management, problem-solving, and customer service skills. Testlify has received a lot of 5-star positive reviews from its users on G2 because of its flexibility and functionality.
- Expert Rating Virtual Assistant Skills Test: This $9.99 test assesses various hard and soft skills of a virtual assistant including communication, computer, marketing, business awareness, and social media skills.
Assessing Microsoft Office Skills
- Online Assessment Tools: Various platforms like Indeed Assessments, eSkill, or EmployTest offer specific tests for Microsoft Office Suite. These tests focus on Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, assessing the ability of the VA to perform common tasks efficiently. You can set the difficulty level according to the job requirements.
- Practical Assignments During the Interview: Set up some simulated tasks can also be a useful tool for gauging a VA’s capability in Microsoft Office during the interview. Assign a super brief project involving data analysis in Excel or a presentation creation in PowerPoint. Monitor how they manage the task, taking note of their speed, accuracy, and overall proficiency.
Evaluating Communication Skills
Effective communication is crucial for virtual assistants, and you can evaluate these skills in several ways:
- Writing Tests: Given the largely digital nature of a VA’s work, written communication skills are paramount. Use writing tests to evaluate grammar, syntax, punctuation, and clarity of expression. Platforms like Test Gorilla can help assess their written communication skills.
- Scenario-Based Questions: Ask your VA candidate how they would handle a particular situation that demands communication skills. This could be an upset client, a missed deadline, or a misunderstanding with a colleague. Their response can give you insight into their problem-solving abilities, tactfulness, and emotional intelligence.
- Video Interviews: The best wayou you can measure a virtual assistant candidate’s communication skills is through the video interview. Video conferencing platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams allow you to see and hear how VAs carry themselves. Pay attention to their articulation, clarity of speech, listening skills, and overall demeanor during the interview.
English Proficiency Tests
For VAs, a strong grasp of the English language is often essential. Online proficiency tests such as the practice TOEFL or IELTS can provide an objective measure of a candidate’s English language proficiency, covering listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills. Ask your candidates to share their score page via a screenshot to get an idea of their English proficiency quickly.
Personality Tests
Lastly, consider a personality test like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) or the DISC Assessment. While these don’t assess skills directly, they can provide insight into a candidate’s work style, decision-making process, and how they might fit within your team’s dynamic.
Before administering any of these tests, ensure that the candidate is aware of them and has agreed to participate. It’s also important to consider the relevance and appropriateness of the test to the specific role the VA is being hired for.
Recruiting the right VA is an investment in your business’s future. By leveraging the power of these assessment tests, you can ensure that you’re bringing on board a professional equipped with the necessary skills to drive your business forward. Assessing your VA candidates might require time and effort, but the return — in terms of increased efficiency, smoother operations, and business growth — will make it a worthwhile endeavor.
Want some help finding the perfect virtual assistant for your business? Talk to us at Global Hola where we match businesses with highly-skilled virtual assistants from around the world.