Running Your Own Show

Lately I have noticed, most likely due to the current economic climate, there has been a noticeable increase in people wanting to know how to become a Virtual Assistant (VA).

On a daily basis I'm reading comments online such as "I need more money/can't find a job/want to work from home, so I'm thinking of becoming a VA“ etc. Whilst it is great many are considering entering this exciting home based industry, unfortunately there are many misleading "Anybody can do it!“ articles that do not properly address the realities of what it takes run a successful Virtual Assistance business.

Being your own boss certainly has benefits, but it's definitely not for everyone. It's not a matter of being able to type fast or even having years of great administrative or secretarial experience – it's about being able to manage your own business well.

There are so many factors to consider when thinking about starting your own Virtual Assistance business, all of which should be covered in a detailed business plan BEFORE starting up. Things to include would be:

• What do you have to do to set up properly?
  

• Are you going to specialise or offer general services?

• What hardware and software do you need? Budget?

• How will you price your services and what sort of terms will you have?

• What are your short, medium and long term goals for your business?

• Will you be working totally virtually or also doing onsite work?

• How will you market your business on and offline?

• How many unbillable hours will you have per week to attend to necessary bookkeeping, marketing activities, ongoing training and development etc?

• Do you have the time and energy to really focus on your business alongside your other life commitments?

And so on...

A major issue many VAs still have is the "I'm an employee“ mentality which is a big no-no and has to be changed before you seek any client. What's the difference? Simply, a Virtual Assistant is also a business owner who is in control of their own rates, hours, terms etc and already has the experience and skills necessary to do the job. It is also normal to have many clients at a time, so a VA is more like a consultant rather than an employee. (for more read "What Does Virtual Assistant Really Mean?")

Basically, if you're looking for an easy full proof way of making a living, a Virtual Assistant is not it! There are no guarantees, and you have to put a constant effort into all aspects of your business if you are to succeed in the longterm.

I've been asked many times how the global recession is affecting my business, and truthfully it has actually worked in my favour, but that's only because I am very diligent in seeking opportunites and doing the work - putting in the hours 7 days a week. I work "overtime“ and on weekends if the need arises, but that is my choice as I love the work and the flexibility it offers me. I am a mother and really appreciate that I can be there for my family and still have a rewarding career, on my own terms.

So, if you're thinking of becoming a Virtual Assistant do the research beforehand, join networks and forums because the more you learn, THE MORE YOU EARN!

Alex

Putting your best resume forward!

As part of my series on specialised services available virtually, I thought I'd ask Kirsty Stewart, Resume Writer, to do a guest post.

Now, more than ever, jobseekers need a competitive edge in order to successfully obtain a job, and it starts with your resume.

You may have heard it said that it takes 30 seconds or less to decide if your resume is going into the “yes” pile, the “maybe” pile or straight into the trash. Having worked in recruitment, I can’t reinforce enough how true this is.

This is why everything I do for my clients, from including a cover letter in the price of our resume writing service, to strongly advising against sending a photo with your resume, the format, fonts and general layout I use, is done for a reason. That reason, above all else, is to make sure your resume gets read!

In the very competitive field of Resume writing, my pricing is definitely mid-range. Sure I’d love to earn $250 an hour, but I know that personally I would never pay that much, and I don’t expect my clients too either. However, my pricing is a little higher than a Virtual Assistant (VA) because I specialise in one particular area. Most VA’s, and other secretarial services, generally charge less because they are more likely to simply type up the information that you give them, in a standard template, without giving real thought to what information is missing and how they can make your application stronger.

While this means that your resume will be neat and tidy, it is unlikely to offer anything that will make an employer sit up and take notice.

As a Resume Writer, I try to keep up with the recruiting industry and have many contacts that I regularly liaise with. I can tell you that we are definitely starting to see the effect of the recession with a dramatic drop in the amount of jobs advertised, and a sharp increase of job candidates applying for jobs, compared to 12 months ago. One recruiter recently told me that she was receiving over 100 resumes for a job, whereas 12 months ago they struggled to get 3 applicants.

Another area people often neglect is the quality of their cover letter. When you consider that the cover letter is usually the first thing a recruiter reads, it only makes sense that you would put as much, if not more, effort into it than your actual resume. This is why I include a complimentary letter with all resume purchases.

I am pleased to offer, for a limited time, the choice of a 20% discount on all resume/cover letter and selection criteria packages, or an in-depth critique of your current resume/cover letter exclusively through VIP Virtual Solutions! Critiques are a great option for those that have written their own resume, but would like some professional feedback at a cheaper rate, and are confident in making their own changes.

To take advantage of this offer, you can simply email me a copy of your current resume and I will get back to you with further information. To receive this special discounted price, or be eligible for a critique, please make sure you include “VIPResumes” in the subject title.

Happy job hunting!