VA Guide - Authorify

● “Please send examples of your work,” if it’s a specialized position. ● “Please record yourself reading this script,” if they will be talking to people. ● “How would you respond to this scenario?” if it’s a communication support role. A Note on Test Tasks Included in the Job Description (CTA) An easy way to do a test task in the application is to tell prospective applicants to send an email with the line, “Application for the position of a virtual assistant” as the subject. You can also ask them to send answers to some questions in the email. This was a method I established when it became too stressful to go through the hundreds of applications I received. I realized it was a waste of my time to go through 100-200 resumés, knowing that most of them exaggerate their qualifications. The questions I ask are chosen for specific reasons. The first thing the email will do is help you identify people who won’t or who can’t completely follow instructions. It could be because they didn’t pay enough attention. You should avoid them. This is a much better strategy than just allowing them to hit a button and apply through a website. I vary the words I ask them to include in the subject line, depending on whether the advertisement is for a graphic designer, SEO specialist, writer, or another position. Once I have given the instruction, I can quickly filter out the applicants who didn’t follow my instructions. This is another great way to weed out unqualified candidates. Going through this process, I’m usually able to drastically reduce the number of applications from 200 to fewer than 40. That’s about 80% fewer resumés to go through and 80% of my time and effort saved. Job Ad Mistakes to Avoid ● NOT trying more than one ad if one version does not get enough response. On most job websites, you can see how many views your ad is getting. Make use of this statistic and see what works. ● Getting attached to your ad because you spend so much time on it. Do not be afraid to change the ad completely! The ad has a function to fulfill; if it’s not drawing candidates, it is worthless. ● Trying to make your ad perfect. Sure, spelling and grammar are important, but a beautifully written ad is not going to necessarily make a difference. You are doing the hiring, not the other way around!