VA Agencies - Virtual Assistant Forums

Kikisit · #1 (**permalink**) 09-24-2008

Hi,

Can you please tell me if it is possible to register with a VA agency and get work along those routes rather than set up a website and do my own marketing etc. I would rather just get down to it if I can... or am I rushing ahead? And do you know of any such online companies that are worthwhile registering with?

I am raising 3 kids on my own and so I really need to increase my income.

Kiki x

UKVAS · #2 (**permalink**) 09-24-2008

Hi Kiki

I am preferring not to register with a VA agency (for now at least), partly because I want to be my own boss and not be beholden to someone else! Yet again I may change my mind if business doesn't pick up though lol!

Websites are a good method of marketing yourself and, whilst you will have a web presence with agencies, those I have looked at are not really dynamic! They are not difficult to set up and will reap you benefits sooner than you might think.

I have recently been made redundant and, whilst I have a small cushion in redundancy pay, I understand the need to be able to make a fast buck!

Find yourself a suitable name and tag line, make up some business cards and flyers and market yourself locally at first. Tell everyone you meet what you do and make sure you give them something to remember you by... (by that I of course mean a business card lol).

Sharen x

Kikisit · #3 (**permalink**) 09-24-2008

I shall definitely take your advice and contact local companies and offer them my support. Also, if anyone else needs some assistance, I would be happy to help.

Thank you very much.

Nxxx

Louise C · #4 (**permalink**) 09-24-2008

You could also target recently downsized businesses - there are a lot of them about these days(!) and they will still have requirements in their admin departments! Let's know if that works for you!

Louise

UKVAS · #5 (**permalink**) 09-24-2008

Funny you should say that Louise, that is precisely what I have been doing this week! The company I recently worked for have announced today that they are laying off more staff.... I am not sure whether I trust them enough to do some work for them, but I am tempted to contact them to offer my services!

Sharen

Louise C · #6 (**permalink**) 09-24-2008

Sharen

You should definitely do it, I can't see that you have anything to lose. Not only do you know the sector, but you know the company really well !!!

My last employer (an architectural practice, very vulnerable sector) had 133 staff about 18 months ago, and by the end of next month there'll only be about 60 left, the downturn has been brutal to them. There'll be more admin staff leaving over the next few weeks, so I plan to appear 'out of the blue' and tell them how wonderful it would be if I looked after some of their admin requirements at a fraction of the cost of an employee ... I'm on very good terms with them so I'm hoping that I'll also be able to use all their facilities too (keep your fingers crossed for me on that one!)

I think there's an old saying about lemons and lemonade !!!

Good luck and keep us posted !!!

Louise

anisemama · #7 (**permalink**) 09-24-2008

From what I've seen, the problem with agencies is that you might have 100 people competing for the same position. Your chances of standing out, no matter how good you are, are slim.

There is at least one agency out there that has tough, tough requirements, and a long testing and application process, for what amounts to $10 an hour. But they do all the marketing, and actually seek work for you. They don't guarantee anything, but once you're in, you don't have to market yourself on their site.

Other sites, you are bidding and competing, and the only way to get work is to bottom-out and undercut everyone. Which ultimately hurts you even more, when you're stuck with a $5 an hour contract!

Take the advice you've been given, and work on a website. Ultimately, you'll be thankful you did!

TimeForLife · #8 (**permalink**) 09-24-2008

Hi Kiki,

Everyone has made great points thus far, but I thought I would add my two cents. What I have noticed is that VA Agencies tend to ask you for a very detailed "resume". I was able to sit down and get an outline for my business in the amount of time it would have taken to recreate my resume to fit what the agencies were looking for. Starting up a business is scary, but you will be able to make your own choices and take the business as far as you would like to go and increase your income based on what you need instead of waiting for someone else to provide you with work you are almost surely very capable of yourself. These types of decisions can be gruesome and only you know what is best for you and your family. Good luck with whatever it is you choose.

anisemama · #9 (**permalink**) 09-24-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimeForLife

Hi Kiki,

Everyone has made great points thus far, but I thought I would add my two cents. What I have noticed is that VA Agencies tend to ask you for a very detailed "resume". I was able to sit down and get an outline for my business in the amount of time it would have taken to recreate my resume to fit what the agencies were looking for. Starting up a business is scary, but you will be able to make your own choices and take the business as far as you would like to go and increase your income based on what you need instead of waiting for someone else to provide you with work you are almost surely very capable of yourself. These types of decisions can be gruesome and only you know what is best for you and your family. Good luck with whatever it is you choose.

And there's no guarantee of work even with the agencies. I've gone through the application process, long, detailed, tests, interviews, orientations, you name it, only to get no work at all, because while they have business coming in, when they've got their pick of thousands of applicants, they're going to go for their favorites.

Louise C · #10 (**permalink**) 09-24-2008

Well, Kiki, the general consensus seems to be "don't rely on agencies to keep you in work". I know it sounds daunting but ... existing contacts, website, marketing, networking is probably best way to go and will reap more rewards in the long term.

Keep us posted with your progress!

Louise

Good thread, btw