To Send A Resume Or Not To Send A Resume?
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there is a lot of debate in the virtual assistant community surrounding whether or not VAs should send resumes. Some coaches, instructors, and VAs say that you absolutely shouldn’t. While others say, “why shouldn’t I? It’s not a big deal!” or they’re on the fence about the whole thing. As someone who’s been in business for a while with a VA Agency (since 2015) and who occasionally does freelance writing, I’ll give my two cents. So keep reading to see what I have to say about virtual assistants sending resumes! There’s also a video on the topic that you can check out below!
#1 The Typical Hiring Process
The first thing I want to point out is that the typical hiring process for businesses involves asking those they might hire for a resume. This is how it’s been done for decades. So when a business owner asks you for a resume, they’re simply following the process they’re most familiar with. It’s learned behavior and not meant to insult your credibility.
But I’ve noticed that many VAs get offended by a resume request because they’re business owners too. They feel like being an owner or entrepreneur means you shouldn’t have to send your resume because that’s what employees do. Many find that it’s more appropriate for business owners to provide a portfolio and/or website instead.
However, I’m going to tell you something. Some self-employed people don’t have a website at all and are only sending a resume. And guess what? They’re making big bucks! In addition, their clients still respect them and treat them like the self-employed person that they are. For example, I’ve personally made six figures writing health and wellness content on Upwork just by sending my resume and samples of my work.
I’d also like to point out that it’s not that uncommon for employees to send portfolios and websites too. When I was an employee, I used to do this myself, and I’ve witnessed others do it as well. Therefore, portfolios and websites aren’t just things that business owners provide. And resumes aren’t just things that employees provide. So don’t overthink the virtual assistants sending resumes thing and end up losing a good-paying client because you’re trying to figure out if you should send it or not.
#2 When You’re New, It’s More Common
If you’re new to doing virtual assistant work, potential clients are more likely to ask you for your resume. I’ve found that such requests decrease when you have testimonials and/or case studies that you can provide. Once you establish yourself as an authority figure in your niche or demonstrate your value, people honestly stop asking for them.
#3 Your Service Offering Plays A Role
I’ve also discovered that sending a resume may depend on your experience or the service that you’re offering. If you provide graphic design assistance, social media services, or email marketing, for example, then potential clients might not expect a resume from you. That’s because what you do can easily be demonstrated by a portfolio or website that contains examples of your work. However, it’s not easy to showcase your work when you provide administrative or customer support tasks.
Something else that matters is your role in your company. For example, if you have a Virtual Assistant Agency and are more hands-off when it comes to doing the actual work, clients may not ask you for your resume.
#4 Websites & Portfolios May Not Tell The Full Story
Another factor we can’t overlook is that many Virtual Assistant websites and portfolios say what a VA is willing to do. However, rarely does it showcase what you can actually do. Understand that listing your services doesn’t tell a potential client if you’re really capable of helping them. It just tells them that you offer the said service. But do you know what often does demonstrate your ability to help them? Probably your resume. For example, if you have on your website that you can provide administrative support, that alone doesn’t tell them much. But your resume will likely show different jobs you’ve held in the past where you’ve done various administrative functions.
My Overall Thoughts on Virtual Assistants Sending Resumes
Ultimately, my opinion on resumes is that I don’t mind sending a resume if asked. Some of the larger companies I’ve worked with have asked for them, and I’m unbothered by it. I’m confident in my role as a business owner, and I establish boundaries to ensure my role is respected.
I understand that you might feel like some business owners, like painters and hairstylists, might not have to provide their resumes. However, their skillset and experience can be demonstrated with pictures. With some types of VA work, that’s just the case.
Also, understand that a client wants to feel comfortable hiring you to complete certain services. This is their business we’re talking about, and they don’t want it ruined by making the wrong hire. This happens more than you know!
If You Don’t Have A Website, Start Anyway!
Something I’ve noticed a lot over the years is people delaying the start of their VA business because they don’t have a website. Or they do have a website, but it’s not as nice as they’d like it to be. I advise you to start anyway, and don’t be afraid to send that resume! My first website was terrible, and I still got paying clients. You don’t need to be perfect to start; you just need to start. Get out there and begin making some money and use that money to improve your website down the line. That’s what I did, and I see many people doing that.
Also, don’t feel like you have to start off with website builders like WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, and more. These have a learning curve and can be intimidating to navigate. They’re definitely beneficial and have more to offer, but it’s not something you have to use to get started. Canva now lets you build a one-page website for free that you can host on their platform! I’ve created a website template just for virtual assistants that you can download right now. All you have to do is change the font, colors, pictures, and more to make it your own. You can see it live and in action right here: https://imperativeva.my.canva.site/.
