Virtual assistant interview questions that reveal how someone works

Independent outsourced-service working aid. Adapt to the actual agreement; not a universal legal contract.

Opening
We are discussing an independent service for [defined result]. We supply
[inputs and policies]. You would own [routine responsibilities], while
[reserved decisions] remain with our business. Is anything inconsistent
with the service you offer?

Relevant experience
Describe a comparable assignment. What did you personally receive, do
and check? What belonged to someone else?
Follow up: Which source or record established that the result was right?

Ordinary decision
Here is a fictional request and the applicable rule. What would you do
first, what could you complete, and what would remain unresolved?
Follow up: What additional fact would change your decision?

Changed circumstance
Now assume [one realistic change]. What changes in your response?
Follow up: What would you communicate without making an unauthorised promise?

Open-case ownership
What would you record while waiting for an answer? Who needs to act,
and how would the case return to your attention?
Follow up: What happens if that person does not respond in time?

Mistake and correction
Describe a mistake or misunderstanding in work you can discuss without
revealing confidential information. How was it discovered and corrected?
Follow up: What changed afterwards, and what evidence showed it helped?

Service fit
What availability and capacity can you actually commit to for this scope?
How would you flag overload, planned absence or a request outside scope?
Follow up: Which assumption in our brief would affect your quote?

Close
What do you need from us to deliver this reliably? Which part would you
want to test in a bounded paid assessment before a continuing agreement?

REVIEW AFTER THE CONVERSATION
Use the same relevant criteria for each provider. Record evidence before comparing impressions.
For the article's fictional appointment task, rate separately:
Constraint recognition:
Permitted action:
Escalation quality:
Completion tracking:

1: Ignores a material constraint.
2: Recognises the issue but leaves the handoff vague.
3: Safe action with a clear evidence and escalation route.
Not observed: Record the unanswered question rather than inventing a score.

Hypothetical example: 3 + 3 + 2 + 2 = 10 out of 12. Escalation and tracking still need evidence; this is not a validated pass threshold.
Serious unresolved privacy or authority concern (do not average away):
Exact answer or case detail supporting each rating:
Evidence still needed from a bounded paid task:
Decision and communicated next step:

No live access is granted by this interview. Keep notes private and relevant. Recording/transcription requires appropriate notice, permission and lawful information handling; it is not on by default.