I received this email through the contact form on my website today:

"I am looking for some part-time work. If you need any help, please call me at (405) ###-###. I am retired and am home except on Wednesday when we volunteer for HUGS from p:00 AM till 5:00PM."

Seriously? Do you really expect me to waste my time replying to this? First of all, nowhere online have I stated I'm even looking for help, second of all, if you can't even bother to type a proper cover letter and attach some type of resume or references, nevermind not even using spellcheck, then I can't be bothered to respond to you.

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Rebecka Melson ~ Virtual Business Services

Hi Rebecka,

Thanks for this post. I actually posted a question similar to this kinda thing (again today by accident). Now of course I would NEVER approach anyone about a job in this manner unless it was someone I was related to and extremely familiar with and even still some professionalism is deserved. What caught my attention is the fact that you mentioned not having advertised for help.

When someone cold-contacts you about possible work does it turn you off? I was trying to gauge how to contact other VAs for subcontract/contract work. How would you want someone to approach you about it?

LOL Agreed. BUT, I will say: get used to it.
The higher up in the search results you get for various keywords the more of these you're going to get...

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Originally Posted by Tess

LOL Agreed. BUT, I will say: get used to it. The higher up in the search results you get for various keywords the more of these you're going to get...

I get these things all the time. I once got one with a resume and it was so badly formatted, I sent it back to the sender with the formatting corrected and then she sent it to me months later (I had told her that I turned track changes on so she could see what I changed) and she hadn't accepted the track changes. She couldn't format a document properly to my standards and had no idea what track changes meant. I actually feel sorry for her.

I'm not in a position to subcontract right now but if I get a resume, I take a look at it with the codes showing so I can see how it is formatted. I'm a stickler for proper formatting and that's the first thing I look for.

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Julia

Originally Posted by rhonmanning

Hi Rebecka, Thanks for this post. I actually posted a question similar to this kinda thing (again today by accident). Now of course I would NEVER approach anyone about a job in this manner unless it was someone I was related to and extremely familiar with and even still some professionalism is deserved. What caught my attention is the fact that you mentioned not having advertised for help. When someone cold-contacts you about possible work does it turn you off? I was trying to gauge how to contact other VAs for subcontract/contract work. How would you want someone to approach you about it?

It doesn't turn me off at all that someone would contact me regarding sub-work. What offends me is my time being wasted by the lack of professionalism and the manner in which it was presented. I guess this has always been a sore spot with me. When I was in the corporate world and would place an ad for help I would get hundreds of responses and 98% of them would be worthless because either they weren't qualified, the application/resume was poorly presented (not filled out properly, misspelled, etc.) or they didn't meet specific requirements that were listed in the ad.

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Rebecka Melson ~ Virtual Business Services

My goodness, I know exactly what you mean! When I worked as an office manager, I frequently placed ads for employment and reviewed the resumes as they came in. I am a major stickler for following any instructions I may have placed in the ad, as well as, proper format, etc. I expect very high standards when it comes from someone applying for a job. A piece of paper, phone call or email is my first impression. It better well be a good one!

I would say about 1 month ago, I wrote an outline for a book I would like to write...how to effectively apply for a job...the what to do's and what not to do's, so to speak. I would like to base it on my experiences as a job searcher, as well as, hiring manager. I just have to find the time to sit down and write it!

While I have just opened my VA business, I have received a few phone calls and emails from people looking for work. I don't mind the inquiries at all, however proper grammar is recommended, as well as, proper phone etiquette too!

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Darlene Victoria Gonzalez
The Voice & Vision Behind Your Business

I actually had a call today of someone looking for employment. I have had some crazy messages through my website as well.

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Dawn Riley
A Virtual Assistant in Paradise
Our business is about making yours better

I'm actually getting more calls about employment at my firm than paying work! Plus, even though my name is all over my website, no one has referred to me by name (email or phone calls).

To whom it may concern..... wow