Hiring a virtual assistant for your agency can be transformative, or a complete waste of time. The difference usually comes down to whether you asked the right questions before making an offer.
Why screening questions matter
Resumes and profiles only tell you what a candidate wants you to see. Screening questions reveal how they actually think, communicate, and solve problems, which is what matters when they're representing your agency.
The 5 essential questions
- Walk me through how you'd handle a frustrated subscriber who wants a refund.: This tests empathy, problem-solving, and whether they default to escalation or resolution.
- What tools have you used to manage multiple accounts or tasks?: You need someone who's organized. Bonus points if they mention scheduling tools, CRMs, or project management platforms.
- Describe a time you made a mistake at work. What did you do?: Accountability is critical. You want someone who owns errors and fixes them fast.
- What hours are you available, and how do you handle schedule changes?: Flexibility and reliability are the top predictors of VA success.
- Why do you want to work in the creator economy specifically?: Motivation matters. VAs who are genuinely interested in the space stick around longer.
What to do after the interview
Don't stop at the interview. Always follow up with a practical test, even a short one. On OFMJobs, you can send automated skill assessments that cover typing speed, written communication, and scenario-based problem solving. Candidates who pass these tests are 3x more likely to succeed in their first 90 days.
