12 Reference Check Questions For A Virtual Assistant

Why References Matter More For Remote Roles

You will not see a remote assistant at a desk. You will see output and messages. A past manager can tell you whether that output arrived on time for a year, which no interview can.

The Twelve Questions

• What was their role, and for how long did you work together?

• What did they own end to end?

• How reliable were they on deadlines and hours?

• How did they handle a task they had not done before?

• Tell me about a mistake they made and what happened next.

• How did they respond to direct feedback?

• How were their written English and tone with customers?

• How often did they need to be reminded about something?

• Did they raise problems early or wait?

• Would you hire them again? For what kind of work?

• What kind of manager gets the best from them?

• Is there anything I should know before we start?

How To Read The Answers

Managers rarely say negative things outright. Listen for pauses, careful wording, and answers that shift to the team instead of the person. A reference who hesitates on “would you hire them again” is telling you something.

Strong references give specific examples without prompting. Generic praise is a weak signal, not a bad one.

Logistics Across Time Zones

Offer a written option. Some references in the Philippines or Latin America prefer to answer by email in their evening. Written answers are slower but often more candid.

Questions To Skip

Anything about age, family, religion, or health is off limits and irrelevant. Salary history is a poor predictor and, in some places, illegal to ask. Stick to how the person worked.

When A Reference Will Not Talk

Some companies only confirm dates and title. That is policy, not a warning sign. Ask the candidate for a former direct manager who has moved on, or a client, who can speak freely. Two short conversations beat one official confirmation.

What This Looks Like In Practice

A founder calls two references for a bookkeeper. Both confirm accuracy. One adds that the candidate flagged a duplicate payment the owner had missed. That unprompted detail is worth more than the confirmation.

A Quick Checklist Before You Start

• Two manager references requested, not peers.

• Dates and role confirmed first.

• Notes taken during the call, not after.

• Same questions asked for every finalist.

Questions Owners Ask

What if the candidate has only freelance clients?

Client references work. Ask the same questions about deadlines and communication.

Can I skip references if a company vetted them?

Ask the company what its reference process was. If it was thorough, one call of your own is enough.