9 Job Interview Questions to Ask a Distant Assistant Applicant
Interviews are great opportunities to explore an applicant’s eligibility. They provide firsthand information about the applicant’s experiences, interests and goals. Here are 9 job interview questions to ask when you are looking to hire a distant assistant.
1. Tell us something about yourself.
This question goes beyond the applicant’s basic information, likes and dislikes. The primary focus is to determine whether the applicant has the technical requirements of the job role.
Check whether the applicant has the necessary tools and expertise to become your distant assistant.
These include their experience in using a particular software, the type of businesses they have had experience working with, the strength of their Internet connection and the availability of a backup computer in case of an emergency.
2. What do other people say is your greatest strength?
Each applicant comes with a unique set of capabilities and strengths. This question gives a good glimpse of the applicant’s ability to adaptto the work environment of your business.
Ask yourself first, “What does my business look like on a regular basis and what position do I need to fill?” That will give you an idea about the kind of distant assistant you need to hire. The right person for the job will have the qualifications to help address the challenges your business is facing.
3. Why should we hire you for this position?
Self-assurance is a special characteristic which not all applicants possess. There are applicants whose CVs reflect great potential, but they fail to provide additional information about their credentials when interviewed.
This question gives them the opportunity to showcase what they can
4. Can you tell of one story when you had to overcome a challenge in your workplace?
This seeks to assess the applicant’s problem-solving or decision-making skills. You are free to provide the applicant with a scenario and ask how he or she would respond.
With sufficient information, it can also give you a good glimpse of the applicant’s attitude toward work.
5. How did you arrive at this area of specialization?
33 out of 100 job seekers apply to 2-5 jobs before getting hired and there is a chance that your business was not on top of that search. There is always a story behind every application.
Whatever the story, this question helps you to look for cues about the applicant’s resourcefulness and initiative to learn. The coherence of the story also helps to determine the credibility of the applicant’s previous experiences.
You are free to ask additional questions to verify something that the applicant might have said or stated in the CV.
6. Where do you see yourself in three to five years?
Distant assistant job applicants, as human as they are, have priorities to fulfill outside of work. Asking about their vision helps to determine their availability and intent for applying to your business.
Some see the open position as a full-time career, while others enjoy the possibility of doing freelance work. There are also others who see it as a stepping stone toward something greater.
7. What are your weaknesses?
This question goes in tandem with question number 3 above. It seeks to determine the applicant’s level of self-awareness and ability to convert weaknesses into strengths.
8. How would you describe your ideal day at work?
Distant assistance gives people the freedom to work from home with minimal to zero supervision. Applicants with a clear-cut description of their ideal workday show a good understanding of their job role.
This question also helps to know their time management and organizational skills, which are highly useful qualifications for any open position.
9. What questions do you have for me?
The perfect answer according to one of our hiring officers is, “When can I start?” Applicants who answer with this question are usually eager to start working with your business. They did their research and are confident enough with what they can contribute.
Stay open for other answers and be ready to listen to their concerns. Remember, you are both trying to get to know each other better. You are looking to hire the right person, while they are looking to land a job with the right client.
Bottleneck Distant Assistants has a 6-step hiring formula that helps businesses to identify qualified talent. We invite you to schedule a free consultation with us today!
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About Jaime Jay
Meet Jaime Jay – a man who wears many hats, and wears them all admirably. He's a master connector, an entrepreneur extraordinaire, and a published author who knows how to get things done.
Before he found his way to the business world, Jaime served his country as a brave paratrooper in the U.S. Army. But that's just the beginning of his many accomplishments.
He's the founder of the renowned Bottleneck Distant Assistant Services firm, and his book "Quit Repeating Yourself" has become a must-read for entrepreneurs everywhere.
When he's not busy building his empire, you can find him on his beloved Harley Davidson, cruising through the countryside and taking in the invigorating effects of Uitwaaien – a Dutch practice that involves facing the wind to boost health and relieve stress.
He enjoys spending his free time outside building stuff with his wife, Nikita the dog and their two kittens (for now at least) Tommy and Tater.
He is ‘over-the-moon’ happily married to his wonderful wife Sara, his amazing daughter, Jessica, who is serving our country as a United States Army soldier. Jaime and Sara are the proud grand parents of two beautiful little girls.
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