Outsourcing Assistant guide
Assistant onboarding checklist
A simple first-week checklist for logins, SOPs, calls, QA, and scorecards.
Before day one
Prepare a task list, tool list, sample work, and access rules before the assistant starts. Do not wait until the first call to decide what they will do.
First-week plan
Keep the first week small. Teach the task, watch the first attempt, review the result, then update the checklist.
- Write the outcome in one sentence.
- List the exact tools the assistant may use.
- Record one example or screen walk-through.
- Set red lines: refunds, legal advice, payments, medical data, or customer promises.
- Start with three days of daily review, then weekly scorecards.
- Keep owner approval for anything risky until trust is proven.
Security basics
Use separate accounts where possible. Share only the access needed for the task. Turn on two-factor login. Keep refunds, payments, and account-owner settings away from the assistant unless there is a formal approval process.
Weekly scorecard
Track speed, accuracy, communication, questions asked, and missed steps. A simple 1 to 5 score is enough. The goal is to fix the handoff, not blame the assistant.
Questions people ask
How long should onboarding take?
Many simple assistant roles can start in 7 to 21 days if examples and access are ready.
Should I give full tool access?
No. Start with the least access needed and expand only after review.
How often should I review work?
Daily for the first few days, then weekly once the task is stable.
Source placeholders
Use these as citation starting points before paid traffic or outreach. Do not treat them as custom legal, tax, hiring, or cybersecurity advice.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Baseline context for administrative support work and task categories.
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework: Useful source for simple access, identity, and review controls.
- SBA hiring guidance: General small-business hiring and management context.