FSBO Guide - Authorify

For most jobs, creating an effective test task is quite easy. All you have to do is develop a test based on the skills the worker will need to complete the tasks you are planning for them to do on the job. For instance, I will have a graphic designer create some graphics for me as their test task. Then I can easily choose the best design out of the submissions. For a writer, I might have them write an article for me on a topic of my choosing in order to evaluate their writing skills. It is in your best interest to match the test conditions close to the task you have for the applicant. Also, don’t give them more help in the test than you will when they start working for you. For example, you should only give an SEO specialist sample articles for the test task if you will continue giving them sample articles to use in their regular work. If you eventually need them to do their own research, then you should have them conduct research for the test task, too. The test is very important no matter which position you are hiring for, but it’s even more so when you are looking for a virtual assistant with a specific skill set, such as graphics, SEO, or writing. The test tends to expose mediocrity. Here’s an example. Perhaps you need an assistant who will build a website for you. As a test task, you could give applicants access to a simple website and ask them to make some specific changes. If that’s not feasible, you can ask them to explain the process of editing a website in step-by-step detail. Based on responses, you should be able to tell which applicant is the most skilled web developer. Alternatively, you could have them create a page for you on their own website. You can request that they place your logo or some other item on their site so that you can be sure they actually created the site content. Good web developers should be able to do this in very little time. You want someone who can do good work for you in the shortest time possible. In the event that two of your applicants perform work of similar quality, you can differentiate between them by seeing which one finished more quickly. I once needed to hire a web programmer and it was a bit difficult to design a test task for him. I decided to do a paid task instead. I got him to build me a little web program that allowed me to modify my website without using Dreamweaver, WordPress, or any of the higher-end programs.