How to Hire a General Virtual Assistant
In today’s fast-paced business world, time has become one of the most valuable resources. Entrepreneurs, small business owners, and even larger companies are constantly looking for ways to streamline operations without sacrificing quality. One solution that has grown rapidly in popularity is hiring a General Virtual Assistant (GVA).
A General Virtual Assistant is a remote professional who supports businesses by taking over essential but time-consuming tasks. From managing inboxes and scheduling appointments to data entry, research, and content support, GVAs are the modern-day right hand for busy professionals.
If you’re overwhelmed with daily operations or struggling to balance administrative tasks with growth strategies, learning how to hire a General Virtual Assistant could completely transform how you run your business. This guide will walk you through what to consider, the step-by-step hiring process, where to find qualified talent, and how to make the most of working with an expert General Virtual Assistant.
Related Article: Why Hire a General Virtual Assistant? Pros and Cons
ARE YOU STILL TRYING TO DO IT ALL?
Discover the SMART way to delegate without losing control—and finally free up your time.
What to Consider Before Hiring a General Virtual Assistant
Before posting a job ad or contacting agencies, take the time to reflect on your exact needs. Many business owners jump straight into hiring without fully understanding the scope of work they want covered, which can lead to mismatched expectations.
Here are some important considerations:
1. Identify Your Pain Points
Look at your day-to-day schedule and note which activities consume most of your time. For example, do you spend hours managing emails? Are you falling behind on social media updates? Do repetitive administrative tasks keep you from focusing on clients or strategy? Pinpointing these pain points will help you create a clear role for your GVA.
2. Define the Skill Set You Need
Not all virtual assistants have the same expertise. While some focus on general admin, others are proficient in social media, graphic design, or digital marketing. If you need help with specialized tasks like SEO, content writing, or video editing, look for an expert General Virtual Assistant with those skills.
Related Article: What Does a Social Media Virtual Assistant Do for Your Business?
3. Set a Realistic Budget
Rates can vary widely depending on location, experience, and skill set. A GVA from a specialized agency may cost more than hiring directly from freelancing platforms, but you often gain reliability, vetted expertise, and ongoing support. Think of your budget not as an expense but as an investment that saves you time and boosts productivity.
4. Decide on Work Arrangement
Do you want your VA to work full-time, part-time, or on a project basis? Some businesses prefer a few hours per week, while others need dedicated assistance daily. Determining this early will make the hiring process smoother.
How to Hire a General Virtual Assistant: A Step-by-Step Guide
Hiring the right VA is about more than just filling a role, it’s about finding someone who understands your business needs and can seamlessly integrate into your workflow. Here’s a proven process to follow:
Step 1: Define the Role Clearly
Write down every task you want to delegate, no matter how small. This becomes the foundation of your job description and ensures clarity from the start.
Step 2: Create a Detailed Job Description
Include responsibilities, required skills, expected working hours, and tools they should be familiar with (such as Google Workspace, Asana, Slack, or Canva). The clearer the job description, the better the match.
Step 3: Choose the Right Hiring Platform
You can post your job on freelance platforms, VA job boards, or partner with agencies like Smart Virtual Assistants (SmartVA). The advantage of an agency is that they pre-vet candidates, saving you time and reducing hiring risks.
Related Article: About Smart Virtual Assistant
Step 4: Screen Applications Thoroughly
Look for experience relevant to your business. Pay attention to communication skills, attention to detail, and reliability, qualities that are just as important as technical expertise.
Step 5: Conduct Interviews and Trial Tasks
Interviews help you gauge professionalism and cultural fit. A short trial task (such as organizing a spreadsheet or drafting a social media post) shows how they handle real work.
Step 6: Onboard and Train Properly
Once you’ve hired, set expectations clearly. Provide access to tools, share company processes, and communicate your preferred style of working. Good onboarding prevents miscommunication and sets the tone for success.
Following these steps ensures you’re not just hiring anyone, but truly learning how to hire a General Virtual Assistant who adds measurable value to your business.
Where to Find a General VA?
There are plenty of places to look for a General Virtual Assistant. Freelancing platforms like Upwork and Fiverr offer access to a wide pool of talent. Social media groups and LinkedIn can also connect you with professionals seeking opportunities.
However, one of the challenges with open platforms is the time it takes to sift through countless profiles, test skills, and verify reliability. That’s why many business owners prefer agencies that specialize in matching clients with pre-vetted professionals.
At Smart Virtual Assistants (SmartVA), we provide access to skilled and expert General Virtual Assistants who are trained in multiple areas, including administrative tasks, SEO, web development, graphic design, content writing, and video editing. Instead of spending weeks filtering candidates, you can rely on SmartVA’s process to connect you with the right fit quickly and efficiently. Book a call now!
Conclusion
Smart Virtual Assistant
👍🤵
Smart Virtual Assistant 👍🤵
Hiring a General Virtual Assistant is more than just outsourcing work—it’s a strategic decision that can free your time, improve efficiency, and help you focus on the bigger picture of growing your business. By carefully considering your needs, following a structured hiring process, and working with trusted providers, you can confidently bring on an expert General Virtual Assistant who supports your long-term goals.
At SmartVA, we go beyond basic administrative support. Our team of skilled VAs can help with web development, graphic design, SEO, administrative tasks, content writing, and video editing, ensuring your business runs smoothly while you concentrate on growth. If you’re ready to work smarter, not harder, a SmartVA could be exactly what you need.
READY TO FINALLY DELEGATE LIKE A CEO?
Learn the 7-day plan to build your dream VA team and step out of the weeds.
Frequently Related Questions
-
A General VA is a remote professional who assists with everyday tasks such as email management, scheduling, research, and administrative duties. They allow business owners to delegate time-consuming work so they can focus on strategy and revenue-generating activities.
-
Yes. GVAs are flexible and can be hired according to your needs—whether you require a few hours weekly, a dedicated full-time assistant, or project-specific support.
-
Virtually every industry can benefit, but they are especially useful for entrepreneurs, e-commerce businesses, real estate professionals, coaches, consultants, marketing agencies, and startups that need support without hiring in-house staff.
-
Clear communication is essential. Use project management and communication tools like Slack, Trello, Asana, or Google Workspace. Schedule regular check-ins, set expectations, and provide constructive feedback to keep everything aligned.
-
Commonly used tools include Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Asana, Trello, ClickUp, Slack, and Zoom. Depending on your needs, they may also need skills in Canva, WordPress, social media scheduling platforms, SEO tools, or video editing software.
Ready to Work Smarter, Not Harder?
Smart VAs provides a team of highly skilled specialists from around the world, ensuring seamless support no matter the time zone. We take pride in delivering efficient, fast, and high-quality service so you can focus on growing your business. With one subscription plan, you gain access to a complete team of digital marketing experts that’s customized to your unique needs, eliminating the need to train and look for one yourself!