Build an evaluation rubric to determine fit

Now that you know what skills your VA will need, you’re going to use that information to evaluate the candidates you’ll interview. 

The importance of an evaluation rubric

Interviewing candidates is tough. You’ll talk to a lot of new people and it can be difficult to remember differentiating details. Having an evaluation rubric allows you to quickly document the skills and impressions of each candidate. 

An evaluation rubric also reduces the chances of bias within the hiring process. You might love a candidate who doesn’t have the skills for the job. Or you might interview someone you weren’t sure you clicked with, but then check the evaluation rubric and see that their skill set matches your needs. This may convince you to reconsider that candidate. 

How to use the rubric

During the interview, take notes about their answers. Not only do you want to assess the quality of their answers, but also the questions they ask you. A stellar VA will use the interview as an opportunity to learn more about your business, your needs, and your goals.  

When the interview is complete and everything is fresh in your mind, score the candidate using the rubric you’ll make in your workbook. 

When you’re done interviewing all the candidates, compare the scores to narrow down your list of potentials and make the comparison process more objective. 

Exercise: Make your rubric

Take the list of skills you developed in the last step and add them to an evaluation rubric. Before you even start interviewing, you want a clear understanding of what makes a poor, moderate, or excellent answer to your questions.

1. Take the top skills that are must-haves for your VA. I recommend prioritizing 3-4 maximum.

2. Add these to the Evaluation Rubric tab of your workbook. Use the 3 columns to write out unsatisfactory, satisfactory, and excellent answers for each. 

Check your workbook for an example rubric, and use the template to start building your own.

What did you learn?

During the interview process, you’ll need an effective way to evaluate your candidates. So, we discussed:

• The importance of an evaluation rubric

• How to create an evaluation rubric

• How to use an evaluation rubric during the interview process

• How to use an evaluation rubric to compare candidates objectively 

Next, you’ll learn how to create an effective job listing that will attract your dream VA.