Virtual Assistants are very important when running a business. Hiring one helps in saving operational costs since virtual assistants are not required to report in an office setting. If you are someone who’s looking for a virtual assistant for your company, there are criteria you need to follow to get a reliable virtual assistant. Remember, the role of the virtual assistant is very crucial because it helps you with your everyday tasks. Highlighted below are some qualities:

1. Detail Oriented: Being detail-oriented is also a good characteristic of a reliable virtual assistant. Remember, there are records and documents which have to be read thoroughly. If he/she is not detail-oriented, you might be missing relevant information that might cause huge problems in the future. Having a reliable virtual assistant for these tasks allows you to do other important aspects and activities for your business.
2. Punctuality: Meeting deadlines, be ahead of time. A virtual assistant should understand and deliver each project assigned to him/her by providing the finished product ahead of schedule, the client will go to you first with new projects. This habit needs to be maintained all of the time.
3. Organized: A reliable virtual assistant should be organized. If at any point one needs to create a report, it should be something that can be understood by other people at a glance. It is also the role of some virtual assistants to manage the client’s schedule. If he/she isn’t organized, it will be at the expense of the client’s business.
4. Communication: A reliable virtual assistant should be in constant contact with the client to keep them informed of the status of projects being worked on. Most times virtual assistants do not keep the client informed as much as the client wants to be informed, to prevent any confusion in communication, updates should be provided to the client as regards any project being worked on.
5. Positive Attitude: A reliable virtual assistant should maintain a positive attitude. This is very important, you cannot have the client think they hired someone with a negative attitude towards work. This makes the client feel the work will not be done the way it should be.
6. Honesty: As a virtual assistant, you have to show your client that you maintain a high standard of honesty and integrity. This can be done by the quality of work and discussions you engage in with your client concerning the details of the work.
7. Resourceful: Lastly, get a resourceful virtual assistant. He has to find his ways to get through some difficulty. He needs to do his findings when necessary. It is important to get someone whom you can rely on in case you have to step out of your business for a few hours or days.