Have you decided to become a virtual assistant? With the increase in virtual work, many people are gravitating towards this field as it gives you more freedom and flexibility. But how do you make sure you’re taking on clients and projects that will be a good fit for you and your goals?
Not every client is looking for the same thing, so it’s important to know what questions you should be asking before signing on to get a sense of what they’re looking for. In this blog, you’ll find three key questions to ask any new or potential clients as a virtual assistant to help you see if they’re a good match.
What does your typical work day look like?
Asking about a client’s typical work day can help you as a virtual assistant find out how you can best serve your client’s needs. Does your client run a virtual company, or are most employees working in-office? How frequently does the team meet? And, most importantly, what is their day-to-day schedule like? Asking these questions can give you a better sense of where you’ll fit in.
By hearing about the typical day in your client’s life, you can then evaluate where you can best help out. If they’re wasting hours a day on a task that you have expertise with, you can offer to help out in this area. You’ll save them time, and gain more experience in your area of interest.
What do you currently have on your plate that you need help with?
One of the most important questions to ask before agreeing to work with a client is what projects or tasks they’re seeking help with. Maybe they’re looking for someone to help them with bookkeeping, or maybe they’re looking for someone to run their social media, or maybe they’re looking for someone who can help out in a number of different departments. Getting a clear sense of the work they’re looking for help with before signing on will help both you and the client.
Say they’re looking for help with bookkeeping, but you’re a social media expert. In this case, they’re probably not the best fit. Knowing ahead of time what they’d be asking you to do will save both you and the client from potential disappointment. You don’t want to sign on for a project you’re uninterested in, and they don’t want to bring on a virtual assistant who doesn’t have the skills to help them. Asking them what they need help with, and seeing if this matches both your skills and your interests, will help you find jobs that benefit both of you. You’ll also be more prepared for your first day, as you’ll know exactly what projects you’re going to be working on.
How involved would you like to be in the projects or tasks you’re hiring me for?
This is a key question to ask any new or potential client, and different clients will have different levels of involvement they’re looking for. Some clients will give you a list of tasks they want you to complete, and simply want you to hand in the work by a certain deadline. Other clients will want to be more involved, work collaboratively, and have regular meetings with you throughout the week.
When chatting with a potential client, ask them how involved they’d like to be. That way, you can get a better sense of what your work with them will look like. One of the things that draw people to becoming a virtual assistant is the ability to both work independently and move away from the typical 9-5. Ask potential clients about their preferred level of involvement so you can evaluate how they align with your ideal work life.
There are so many benefits to working as a virtual assistant, but it’s important to know what questions to ask before taking on a new client. With these three questions, you’ll feel more confident about any work you take on!