Qualities of a Great Assistant

June 22, 2008 By Mary White

Are you thinking about hiring an assistant? Whether you’re planning to hire a virtual assistant (VA) or you’re looking for someone to work directly with you in your office, it’s important that you hire the right person. Before you start recruiting applicants, it’s important to spend some time thinking about what qualities you need to look for in the people you interview for the position. While each company’s needs vary somewhat, there are certain qualities that every great assistant will have.

Pleasant Telephone Manner
Will your assistant be answering the phone for you, or will he or she be placing call on your behalf? If so, his or her telephone manner will in many cases form the basis of the first impression your organization makes on other people. It’s important to hire an assistant who has both a good telephone voice and who communicates clearly and with the proper tone.

Multitasking Ability
Most small business owners don’t have the budget to hire multiple assistants to take care of different types of tasks. When looking for an assistant, you should search for an individual who is able to take care of many different types of assignments and projects. It’s also important to look for someone who has the ability to multitask as needed to meet the needs of you company and the position you are hiring the individual to fill.

Organizational Skills
Every great assistant has strong organizational skills. Since many of the tasks frequently delegated to assistants are ones that require organizational abilities, it’s impossible to overstate the importance of this trait in anyone you hire to work as your assistant. Many small business owners depend on their assistants to take care of appointment scheduling, travel plans, ordering office supplies, keeping up with bill payments, and other important organizational tasks. Hiring an assistant who has trouble keeping the workflow organized and things in order can often result in more work for you rather than less.

Customer Service
Strong customer service skills are vital for effective assistants to have. When interviewing applicants, keep in mind that it’s important to hire an individual whose communication skills are in sync with the type of service you take pride in providing to your customers. Once you have an assistant, you’ll want to be able to delegate some parts of the customer service functions of your job to him or her, so you need to make sure that he or she will represent you and your company effectively.

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