There are some people who never seem to be able to get work. I mean they have top-rated skills, lots of knowledge, but no employers. Ever wonder why? Here are the Top 7 reasons that I’ve seen this happen.

1. Your Website. Now, I’m not to crazy about my own website at the moment, so I”m not casting stones. But here’s an honest observation — if you are promoting yourself as a Facebook Fan Page designer, a WordPress guru or Twitter Background creator, the least you can do is make sure your own website is pulled together.Using substandard graphics (I’m talking  cartoon clipart straight from Microsoft!), unattractive templates, etc. I’m pretty sure that you’re not getting the job.

 

2. Argumentative. Disagreements happen. Misunderstandings happen, but when you’re a control freak trying to dictate to your potential client how they should run their business, you’re probably not going to last long.  Here’s an example of what I mean — you’re a VA and you’re contacted by someone who wants you to do sub-contractor work for them. If the rates aren’t to your liking just politely decline and move on.Picking a fight over why they should pay you more or better yet, why their client should pay more for the service is the fast track to being blacklisted as a nut. See the beauty of being a VA means you can accept and decline jobs at your whim. Not that you can badger someone into doing your bidding (no pun intended).

 

3. Taxes. As VAs we’re all accountable for our own taxes — the good and the bad. Jabbering on about your personal accounting system when you get your 1099 at the end of the year is counterproductive and annoying.  If you don’t want the work for December tacked on at the end of the year, don’t submit your invoice until January. Can’t we all just get along?

 

4. Mis-communication of Availability. Things come up.  Sometimes you may get a project and BLAM! something happens so you need to extend the deadline. Most people understand that computer have a mind of their own and technical problems arise. But when this is chronic (with a litany of excuses tacked on for good measure), you’re not going to last long in this business. Word gets around fast in this industry.

 

5. Payment Systems. Okay, this is my husband’s pet peeve. When the job of paying  you gets to be harder than the job itself, it’s time to get someone else to do the job.  Most employers prefer to pay through Intuit, Paypal and other electronic means that don’t include finding stamps and mailing checks and money orders. If you’re a virtual assistant, getting paid virtually shouldn’t be a big deal, right?

 

6. No Communication. If your client emails you with a need to have something done and gives you a deadline, it behooves you (if you like getting paid) to answer them in a timely fashion. You see, you’re working for them, not the other way around.

 

7. Rounding Up Hours. As a VA we get paid for the work done. Most of us use timing systems to provide our client with accurate records. So, thinking that you can round up the time to the next hour is a good way to not work long in the industry.One of the largest selling points for our industry is that we only get paid for the time we are working – nothing less, nothing more. So stop trying to manipulate the clock, unless of course you’re trying to lose clients.

So, those are my Top 7. If you have any to add to the list, feel free to comment below. Who knows, we might help some people to finally find satisfying work!

It seems ridiculous but business owners everywhere continue to struggle with the oldest, yet most essential strategy in building their business – their ezines.

They either don’t send out an ezine at all because they struggle with what to write, how to format it, what to include … and so much more.  Even more… they don’t know how to leverage the time and content created for their ezines into other areas of their business.

This is a PERFECT area for a Virtual Assistant to help their clients.  Whether it be a new client relationship or a current, long-lasting one, helping your clients with their ezine and getting it out regularly will provide them with the ROI they deserve and solidify your relationship.

Join Cindy Greenway, author of Virtually Successful:  8 Simple Ways for Virtual Assistants to Find and (and Keep) Clients, and learn how you can help your client not only get their ezines out regularly (and build a positive relationship with members of their community) but also leverage them at the same time.

VANetworking is hosting one of their complimentary seminars on Thursday, April 21st at 6 PM (EST). This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about what the VA business and client concerns.

To attend the  Thursday complimentary webinars go here to register to receive password and further webinar information. You only ever need to sign up once and you’ll receive info for all future webinars with passwords.
http://www.vanetworking.com/vatraining/seminars/

Whenever I tell people what I do for a living I always hear, “How did you do that?”  It’s not magical, it’s just a whole lot of darn work. When I learned that I was pregnant I decided then and there that I would be home for my children.

I looked around, took on jobs, not because they were fun or exciting, but because it would give me experience so that when I found what I really wanted to do I’d have the experience behind me to demand attention.  

In today’s issue of the VOT Connection (I believe that they are loosely affiliated with Sohojobs another great place to find virtual jobs) their opening article really hit home for me because I remember the struggle to get to where I am comfortably working in a field I enjoy with people I’d hang out with even if we didn’t work together anymore.

I hope you’ll take their words to heart as you prepare (or continue) your journey to work from home. Whether you are working from home either as an solopreneur, telecommuter or virtual assistant you need to be prepared to do some hard work. Here’s the article:

A Word About Getting Hired.

Not everyone will land a job or project right away. It takes time. More importantly, it takes experience, education and a fantastic resume profile. So, I thought this would be a good time to provide you with a basic rundown of what you need to do to get noticed.

1. You must have a detailed, accomplishment based, professional resume profile. There are more than 500,000 virtual assistant resumes in our database! You cannot expect to land a gig with a short but sweet profile.
2. You must actually APPLY for the projects that we post! This would seem obvious but some virtual assistants seem to believe that
   simply being a registered user is all they need to do. The truth is, you
   must actually apply to each project that interests you by following the
   directions posted with each listing. This might mean clicking the
   “Apply” button (to apply using your VOT resume), or click on a link that
   takes you to an external website to apply online. Each employer
   specifies their preferred method.
3. Become a FEATURED Virtual Assistant. Our most popular virtual assistants are featured on the VirtualOfficeTemps.com homepage. To become featured you must prepare a detailed keyword rich resume, have education and experience and you must login to your account at least once per week. The more you login, the higher your resume will rank. Employers are only interested in ACTIVE  candidates!
4. Spread The Word! Take charge of your career! Along with your virtual assistant resume profile, set up your personal website too. (No programming experience is required). And remember to share links all over the web to your VOT Resume Profile. The more ‘hits’ you get, the higher your resume will rank and the more attention you will receive from hiring employers.Mary, at Virtual Office Temps also provided a list of resources that I”ve listed below:

We suggest you read the following:

• WRITE A JOB WINNING RESUME
• CREATE YOUR VIRTUAL ASSISTANT APPLICATION
• GET ONLINE
• IMPROVE YOUR RANKING

photo credit: IrishFireside

This just in from the VOT newsletter.  If you’re looking for working, you might want to consider signing up for their weekly alerts.

T H E . V O T . C O N N E C T I O N
____________________________________________

Virtual Project Opportunities Newsletter
for the Virtual Office Temps Community.
http://www.virtualassistantjobs.com
Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Palm-Beach-FL/VOT-Virtual-Assistant-Jobs/245741724778

————————————————————–

Hiring 1,000 Researchers
http://www.kqzyfj.com/a9103lnwtnvACBHKCIFACBIJGDCC

—————————————————————

NEW VIRTUAL ASSISTANT PROJECTS

Please login http://virtualassistantjobs.com/login.php so that you can
access these job opportunities -

(NEW)

*TEMP PROJECTS HIRING VOT VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS NOW*

Virtual Interviewers For Staffing Agency
We are looking for home-based interviewers to provide contract interview
services to our clients. Our goal is to simulate as closely as possible
a face-to-face interview experience for both an applicant AND the client
viewing the recorded interview.
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=371

High Volume Data Entry
Great opportunity available in growing organization. Urgent need for
strong Data Entry Operators that have the skills and abilities to take
care of their customers. Will be taking calls from oil company
customers, getting all pertinent information for jobs
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=368

Data Entry Operators
IMMEDIATE NEED FOR 7 DATA ENTRY OPERATORS TO WORK ON A 6 MONTH PLUS
TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT. MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL SHIFTS. WORK AT HOME.
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=367

Administrative Researcher
Large Corporation has an immediate need for an ENTRY-LEVEL
ADMINISTRATIVE/RESEARCHER. Looking for someone with strong Word and
Excel, type 60 WPM, and excellent communication skills. Internet
researching experience is required.
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=369

Phone Customer Service Agents
are expanding our customer service department in order to offer weekend
support and eventually 24 hour support. Before you apply please beware
that you will be required to work weekends. You will be offered a
minimum of a 40 hours per week.
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=370

*NEW VIRTUAL JOBS AND PROJECTS*

Customer Record Updaters
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=36

Virtual Assistants
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=361

Transcribers / Typing
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=366

Educational Seminar Reps
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=365

Virtual Recruiters
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=364

Reservations Representatives
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=363

Critique Websites
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=360

Typing Transcribers
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=359

Web Search Evaluators
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=358

Telecommuting Appointment Setters
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=357

PPC Consultant
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=356

Travel Counselors
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=355

Team Leaders and Managers
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=354

Project Managers
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=353

Homebased Associates
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=352

Virtual Local Account Reps
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=351

Seasonal Tax Advisors
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=350

Domestic Reservations Agents
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=349

Virtual Customer Service Reps
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=347

Customer Care Reps
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=346

Virtual Customer Service Reps
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=345

Virtual Administrative Assistants
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/job_view.php?id_code=344

HOW TO APPLY AND BE HIRED

1. You must be a registered user. (Registration is free)
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/register.php

2. Your resume must be posted in the DIRECTOR -
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/directory.php Our Virtual Assistants
are ranked based on work experience, resume content and keywords, number

of links or “hits” on your resume profile, and the number of times you
login to the VOT website. The more you login and keep your account
active, the higher your resume will rank. For additional information:
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/Improving-Your-VOT-Ranking-To-Get-Hired20100908.php

3. You must have a Virtual Assistant Website. But don’t worry. You don’t

need design skills or knowledge. And it’s free!
http://www.virtualassistantjobs.com/Setting-Up-Your-Virtual-Assistant-Website20110122.php

OTHER PROJECTS
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/network/job_listings.php

Already a member?
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/login.php

—————————————————————-

FEATURED JOBS – IMMEDIATE HIRE

Remote and Virtual Telecommuting Openings, hiring now

Telecommuting, remote and virtual jobs listed with our Partner site. Try

jobfox.com‘s job matching engine free. Find a job free now!
http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=267157&U=390989&M=29890
Use keywords “telecommute” or “telecommuting” to find many excellent
virtual job opportunities. Absolutely no scams or fee based offers are
listed and No Ads!

——————————————————————-

VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS GET FREE WEBSITE

Now more than ever – virtual assistants need to have a web presence to
land a job. This means an online Resume Profile and a Website. We’ve
made it easy for you to have both so that you can have the best chance
possible to land a virtual assistant job or project.

If you are a VOT Registered Member then you should already have your
Resume Profile set up and live in our Virtual Assistant Directory so
that employers can find and contact you.

VAs with a strong and professional website are usually hired first
because they can showcase their skills and abilities while also proving
that they are capable of working in an Internet based environment.

If you have not already, be sure to set up your Virtual Assistant
Website before you apply to projects. No experience is required and the
templates are free!

http://www.virtualassistantjobs.com/Setting-Up-Your-Virtual-Assistant-Website20110122.php

————————————————-

HOT JOB – HIRING 500++ VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS NOW

Medical Transcription is THE HOTTEST home based work at home job with
literally THOUSANDS of opportunities for immediate hire virtual work.
The problem is, we have a hard time finding enough qualified virtual
assistants to fill all the jobs! For this reason, we hope you will take
a few minutes to read about becoming a medical transcriptionist. It’s
probably easier than you think!

http://virtualassistantjobs.com/How-You-Can-Become-A-Medical-Transcriptionist20110117.php

Hundreds of immediate hire jobs -

Medical Transcriptionists from Home
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/network/job_view.php?id_code=338

UK Based Medical Transcriptionists
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/network/job_view.php?id_code=337

Medical Transcriptionists Full and Part time
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/network/job_view.php?id_code=336

Remote Medical Transcriptionists
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/network/job_view.php?id_code=335

IC Medical Transcriptionists
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/network/job_view.php?id_code=334

Career Minded Medical Transcriptionists
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/network/job_view.php?id_code=333

Telecommuting Transcriptionists
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/network/job_view.php?id_code=332

Medical Transcriptionists with flexible hours
http://virtualassistantjobs.com/network/job_view.php?id_code=331

—————————————————————–

MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR

http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-1078789-10783002
Apply for Entry-Level Jobs- work from home, virtual and freelance.

—————————————-
VIRTUAL OFFICE TEMPS
http://www.virtualassistantjobs.com
info@virtualassistantjobs.com
—————————————-

~ Have you recently been laid off from your job in the corporate world?

~ Are you looking for a way to profitably stay home with your children?

~ Would you like to make a second income from the comfort of your home?

~ Or maybe you just need to jumpstart your current virtual assistant business?

If you said YES to any of the above, let me show you how to (kick) start your own profitable home-based Virtual Assistant business quickly and easily.

Tawnya Sutherland is a well-known and successful veteran Virtual Assistant since 1997.  She is the founder of the largest social network for Virtual Assistants online today (with over 17,000 registered members at VAnetworking.com). She’s also a Certified Internet Marketing Business Strategist who has helped online businesses turn their clicks into cash since 2000.

I’m a member of Tawyna’s Virtual Assistant online community and the resources that she provides are really eye-opening. I wish that I had discovered her earlier because it would have saved me from a lot of confusion when I first opened my business. She has forms for EVERYTHING that you may come across in your business. I spent a lot of time  (felt like years) searching for necessary business forms, agonizing over  market rates,  the best ways to advertise and the other nuts and bolts of business.

This month Tawyna is offering aspiring Virtual Assistants the opportunity to invest just a few hours a day in a proven system that will have you up and running in JUST 1 MONTH.

Her 30-day course will help you to:

> Have your own professional Virtual Assistant website optimized to rank HIGH in the search engines

> Have your entire business/marketing plan FINISHED.

> Know exactly what to do to attract targeted clients HUNGRY for your services.

> Be “networked” with some of the best VAs in the business.

> Have a clearly defined niche that will give you a fierce competitive advantage.

> Work from home with NO MORE commutes and stresses of the corporate rat race.

> Begin to attract a following of prospective clients through the social networking world.

> Have all your promotional materials designed and ready to market your business.

> Easily jump on the blogging bandwagon to being promoting your products, services and expertise.

> Have the freedom to take holidays or time-off from your work whenever you like.

> Find the much wanted time for you and your family again being your own boss.

> Have the confidence AND practical tools necessary to go forward as a profitable, highly sought after professional Virtual Assistant!

The  Virtual Business Start Up System (VBSS) makes it even easier to get started online. It gives you a guided step by step process eliminating the road blocks that come from not knowing how or where to begin. You can read up on it at

http://www.VirtualBusinessStartups.com

Oh, and while you’re there, you can download Tawyna’s  F.R.E.E. VA Startup Checklist to get your virtual business up and rolling as a gift from one professional to another.

PS:  Tawyna’s holding a webinar on Thursday, July 8th, 2PM EST called “Learn How to Become a Virtual Assistant” at http://www.VANetworking.com/seminars

PPS: Pop by Tawyna’s website to download your FREE 48-page sampler of my Virtual Business Start UP System (VBSS) to see for yourself.

photo credit: zugaldia

Disclaimer: http://cmp.ly/5/jv45lp

When I was away on that homeschooling/business retreat in Destin, FL I met many aspiring virtual assistants including my new best friend Mimi of Your Virtual Services. We were roommates and talked a lot (I’m sure you can tell I’m the quiet type — not!) and during one of our marathon conversations Mimi told me about an interesting VA niche called “Virtual Event Specialist.”

Disclosures: http://cmp.ly/5/m4l2iq

Leveraging your time is one of the ways that smart businesses operate. One way that you can do this is by borrowing resources, trading skills and services instead of using money. But first what is a team? According to Webster’s dictionary, a team is “a number of persons associated together in work or an activity.” There are many ways to assemble a team, and one way is through what is known as a joint venture. How does a joint venture work?

• Let’s say that at one of those business mixers you meet a Ms. Escribe who runs a transcription business. You two develop a friendly relationship. Now somewhere down the road you decide to create an audio or webinar product that you want to sell to your client base, but you want to also include a free eBook for those who prefer reading information to watching or listening. You think of Ms. Escribe and give her a call. You tell her your situation and plans. You offer her a deal. If she will do the transcripts for the product launch for free you’ll split the profits from the sale of the eBook and product. Ms. Escribe accepts and now you are in a joint venture.

Carefully planned joint ventures can be a winner for both (or more) parties involved. All you did was exchange skills (her transcription skills for you marketing skills). By exchanging these skills you’ve created another source of income for both of your businesses without any additional cost to either partner.

• Another way to add members to your team is to enlist contractors to get the work done for you. Some virtual assistants are Marketing Mavens and can bring in business faster than you can blink. However, the downside for these gifted people is that now they may have more work than they can physically accomplish! To alleviate the stress (and panic!) that this will cause they reach out to fellow Virtual Assistants for help. These subcontractors are paid to do the overflow work for the Marketing Maven VA who is bringing in the business.

This is another win-win scenario. Newer virtual assistants can join up with experienced VAs while they learn the ropes and gain greater skills. For VAs that may not be as successful in attracting clients, this allows them an opportunity to earn a living while still doing the work that they love. And in many cases they also learn some marketing skills from an expert. Of course the subcontractors are still responsible for their own taxes, so the Marketing Maven VA has not added any additional tax liability to her business.

VAs that create joint ventures and make up a team not only gain the monetary benefits, but have a built a talented support system to keep their business chugging along in good and bad times. Speaking of which, I just found out about an upcoming free teleseminar that’s being held on January 27th, 2010 at 8 PM (EST). It’s being hosted by someone I just discovered named Sydni Craig-Hart. She’s a coach to virtual assistants and has some great material at her websites EAtoVA.com. You can sign up for her seminar by visiting VASuccessSecrets.com.

If you’re a small business owner, how do you know when you need a VA? And more importantly — what do you do with us once you’ve decided to use our expertise?  This is one of the more frustrating aspects of being a VA. People hire you and then don’t let you do anything to help, which of course means less hours, less money and more frustration.

I am very glad to hear about this webinar being hosted by Rhea Perry.  She’s answering questions that small business owners have surrounding the mystique of virtual assistants as well as explaining the best ways to use them. So, if you’re a small business person, please jump on this webinar and find out how we can all work together to build the business of your dreams.  Your virtual assistant will thank you!

“To have a successful business, it helps to have a strong team.

One of the key players on that team can be a Virtual Assistant who operates your  business or ministry completely virtually, like Denise manages everything we do at Educating for Success.

Yet the more small business owners I talk to, the more I realize that way too many folks either don’t know how to hire someone, don’t trust giving their business details to someone else or don’t know who to hire.

I understand completely.

So tomorrow night, Tuesday, Dec. 8, I’m going to conduct a web class for you to explain all that and answer your questions. I want to help you determine what’s keeping you from going forward so you can make 2010 even better than 2009!

Our web class is tomorrow night, Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 9 PM Eastern Time.

Register here to reserve your seat:

http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=7S4s7&m=1dN4mJvOz3dPeP&b=bN7rhz6DUXrP9TKkgeJZtw

I want you to succeed.

You want to succeed.

God wants you to succeed.

What can stop you?

Let’s go!

Rhea!”

When I tell people that I work as a virtual assistant, many times people are confused. Why would any one hire a virtual assistant when they can easily pick a local person to take care of their needs?  How do you know that the person will even get any work done without you standing over their shoulder? And most of all, why would anyone want to hire me to work for them in this capacity?

I wish I had found the resources that are available a lot earlier than I did. One thing that always burned me up when I worked at Morgan Stanley and other large companies was their total inflexibility with even flex-time. Most things that are done in offices can just as well be done remotely, as all the companies who have outsourced to India do happily every day. My beef, even back in the 1990s, was why couldn’t I stay home and do the transcription, Powerpoint slides, etc.? What’s the difference?

Well, my new favorite website is the VANetworking site. And they had this really great calculator that they generously share with other VAs to prove the point that not only are we more cost effective, but we get the job done correctly which is more than I can say for India. (One day I’ll share my husband’s frustrations with his dealings with overseas staffing!) So, here’s one very real reason to consider hiring a VA if you are a small business owner. And it also provides people considering entering the VA arena an idea of just how money they can make from the comfort of their own homes.

Full-time Employee vs a Virtual Assistant Cost Comparison

Want to SAVE over $60,000 in business expenses this year?
If you answered yes, read on …

A cost comparison for a full-time employee
versus a Virtual Assistant

Difference = $60,160.00 per year

By hiring a Virtual Assistant …You SAVE over $60,000.00 per year!

Although the Virtual Assistant’s hourly rate is more than the employee’s rate in the first place, you save the cost of benefits and overhead that would have to be applied to the new employee’s wage. And, because Virtual Assistant’s are usually more experienced, more efficient, and better connected than the employee, you’ll need to devote far less time to the project to get the same results, only 480 hours a year versus 2,080 for the new employee.

**Remember, with a Virtual Assistant, you only pay for the time on task by the minute! No more paying for socializing, hour long lunches or frequent trips to the washroom.

Your employee’s 8 hour day can be crunched into 3-4 hours with a Virtual Assistant.

Simply put, you should contract with a Virtual Assistant because it’s more cost-effective and Virtual Assistants go above and beyond the normal assistant’s duties to impact your own productivity. No task is too big or small for a Virtual Assistant to handle. Even if you only have 1 hour of work a month for a Virtual Assistant to do, a VA can (and will) do it.

Visit www.kafellc.com to find out more.

*Source: Virtual Assistant Networking Association Cost Comparison

The Largest Global Network Online for Successful and Aspiring Virtual Assistants

So many busy moms have asked us about the successful Virtual Assistant training we offered earlier this year that we have decided to make it available as part of Rhea Perry’s Stimulus Package.

If you are an organizer and thrive on helping others organize their lives to get more done, then join us on the call tomorrow night to see if this is right for you. If you have friends who need to make some extra money part time from home, forward this invitation to them. They will thank you, trust me.

In the meantime, register to grab your seat for tomorrow night’s web class right here:

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/929697944

Space is limited so don’t put this off.

The web class will be at 9 PM Eastern Time, tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 1.

P.S. Learn how you can turn your organizational skills into a part-time business in our web class tomorrow night.

Register here: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/929697944