Booming VO Busines? What to Look for When you Need to Hire an Assistant

First of all, congratulations! If your voice over business is doing so well that you’re considering hiring an assistant, then hats off to you because you’re obviously making it in this extremely competitive industry. But now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s talk about what it means to hire an assistant. Obviously, it means that you’ll be getting some much needed help, but it also means you’ve got quite the task ahead of you - finding the right person for the job. Here’s what you should look for when hiring a VO assistant:

●     Computer/technology skills. This one’s a no-brainer. You need an assistant that can work quickly and comfortably on a computer and is familiar with different types of software. Other tech skills are a bonus, too. An assistant who knows their way around a sound booth is worth their weight in gold.

●     Great interpersonal skills. While the relationship between the two of you should be a good one, it goes beyond that. There may be times when you need your assistant to make phone calls or send emails for you, and they should be able to do this with as much professionalism and knowledge as you yourself would do. And it goes without saying, he or she should indeed have a very pleasant, professional sounding speaking voice.

●     Social media and website management. Social media accounts - whether it’s Facebook, Twitter or YouTube - are an integral part of your brand. Keeping up with them can take up a lot of time, too, so finding an assistant to handle them for you can be a big time saver. Look for a person who is well-versed in a variety of accounts, and it’s a bonus if they can come up with good, original posts on their own.

●     Research skills. There are going to be times when a little research is required to familiarize yourself with a project. Someone with good research skills will come in handy when these moments arise, as they can spend their time finding the most helpful information for you.

●     Administrative tasks. Any good assistant, no matter what industry they’re in, should be able to handle basic administrative tasks. Things like accounting, data entry, scheduling and answering calls should all be passed to your assistant.