Resume Writing - Virtual Assistant Forums

Maria · #1 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008

Hi Everyone

I know new VA's want to send out resumes. But I just had to share some thoughts because a new VA emailed me her resume. Her resume was really long two full pages. The work history was all jumbled together making it hard to read. I also think she tried to list everything she did in one day instead of highlight important points. She also went back ten years for work history. How much is too much? Me being the way I am I sent her an email back and explained all of this to her. I even fixed the resume and sent it back to her. I don't think she was impressed. Was I wrong to send her an email?

virtual writing · #2 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008

I hope you explained things gently to her, as she probably really wasn't expecting such feedback. To be honest, you did her a big favor - one she'd have to pay money for elsewhere - because she won't get anywhere with an unreadable resume. But it's not likely she can appreciate it right now.
VAs need to know how to write well, because a great deal of writing is involved in everyday business. VAs don't need to send resumes, they need to work at establishing a business - two very different things. So this particular person will need to mature as a writer and as a businessperson before she can call herself a true VA.

Modern Marketing Support · #3 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008

I give you credit for sending her an honest reply Maria and for taking the time to do it. I think I got the same email as you and I just deleted it.

I'm not sure why VAs send other VAs their resumes when a VA is supposed to be a business owner not an employee.

Prime Admin Solutions · #4 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008

I get resumes all the time - the last one was also really scrunched up and she used 2 different fonts in it. There's no way I would give her work to do. I corrected another resume and returned it to her with track changes on and told her I did this. She sent me the same resume months later and hadn't accepted the changes. I'm ready to stop replying to these.

Bette C · #5 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008

that was nice of you to work for FREE for her. I've received a few myself that I just shook my head at and just deleted them. I personally have a Business resume and a personal resume. My personal resume is if (BIG IF) I ever decided to be an employee again. It saves me the trouble of remembering what I did before I started my own business. I would think I would have to overhaul it though if I ever needed to give it to someone. I've never been asked for my business resume.

Prime Admin Solutions · #6 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008

Originally Posted by Bette C

that was nice of you to work for FREE for her.

If you mean my correcting the resume, it was free but she didn't accept the changes, so she was no further ahead. I guess it meant that she didn't know what track changes was. The other one I didn't even reply to.

Bette C · #7 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008

Originally Posted by JuliaW

If you mean my correcting the resume, it was free but she didn't accept the changes, so she was no further ahead. I guess it meant that she didn't know what track changes was. The other one I didn't even reply to.

that's too bad that she didn't appreciate the effort or didn't understand what you had done. She was probably wondering why you messed up her document with all the other stuff.

BinAL · #8 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008

Because of my varied, but pertinent experiences, a straight chronological resume for me is too long and repetitive. I switched to a combo functional/chronological resume (badly in need of updating now that I am starting my own business) which works much better for me. For example with one company I had 6 different job titles/descriptions at 8 different locations in two states due to transfers, promotions, and cross training. This doesn't work well on a chronological resume!

I would recommend others look at changing their resume type as well, especially as a business owner, and consider possibly a functional or even targeted rather than straight chronological.

ETA: I have been working on the assumption that at least some clients will want a resume or some kind of report of relevant experience with which to make a decision. Is this not the case?

Prime Admin Solutions · #9 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008

Originally Posted by Bette C

She was probably wondering why you messed up her document with all the other stuff.

Exactly and if she didn't know what track changes was, why would I hire her? If I recall correctly, the stuff she aligned at the right margin was aligned using spacing or tabs across the page, rather than a right-align tab. I forget the other sins, but there were a few.

The first thing I do if I get a resume is to turn the codes on so I can see exactly how the alignment, etc. was done.

Bette C · #10 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008

Originally Posted by BinAL

ETA: I have been working on the assumption that at least some clients will want a resume or some kind of report of relevant experience with which to make a decision. Is this not the case?

I personally have never been asked for a formal resume. When I sit down with a potential client we talk about my previous "work" experiences etc.

The way I look at it... would you ask your dentist or doctor for a resume? I never have.

vainparadise · #11 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008

You guys are funny!

See I don't provide a resume. I have the thought process that I am not an employee I am a business owner. With my husbands business we never provided a resume, we provided references and I as a business owner have references that I can provide if needed.

Many VA's feel this way as well from what I have read. When I chose my accountant/attorney I didn't ask them for their resume. I don't understand the logic behind VA's providing resumes. We want to be recognised as business owners and not employees so to provide a resume just defeats the purpose I guess.

BinAL · #12 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008

Who did you use for references when you first started out? I don't even have my site up yet, so was unsure how to provide references to my first few clients.

Originally Posted by Bette C

The way I look at it... would you ask your dentist or doctor for a resume? I never have.

No, but I check where they went to school, status with the AMA, call several references etc.

I just feel like there should be some way for clients to do some kind of due diligence when one is first starting out.

Maybe a few references are enough.

virtual writing · #13 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008

You have to go ahead and do work for some people if you haven't already, whether for pay or not, and get references from them. It may be difficult to be credible without at least some of these.
I think your website should also show a basic outline of your work history, so you send people there to get the scoop on your background ....

Tess · #14 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008

Wow, Maria - you were a lot nicer than I would have been - I would have just deleted it. If the girl can't even create a resume correctly how does she expect to impress anyone enough to sub to her??

I guess you can take it as a compliment...I remember when I started getting emails like that I realized that at least *someone* saw me as 'established'

akjenniekt · #15 (**permalink**) 04-01-2008

To be perfectly honest I would have really appreciated potential employers giving me feedback like that. Sometimes you just don't realize that what you are doing isn't necessarily correct. When I was first starting out it would have been great to get that kind of information, even if I didn't get hired.
Jen