I'm just starting my business, and I have applied to a number of jobs, and every time I can't figure out the best way to explain what I do. I want a one or two sentence description that I can use as my standard explanation. I have tried things like "I am a virtual assistant, I provide support services to businesses remotely." I'm trying to get across several pieces of information at once: that I am a temporary contractor, that I work remotely, and a very brief description of what we do that is vague enough to include most regular VA services offered, but specific enough that they have some idea if they might want to hire me.
Do you have a standard description of what a VA is? What do you tell people who ask what you do?

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Layah Barry
http//www.virtual-online-assistants.com

Jason Linsey wrote a great article about this in the 'Virtual Entrepreneur' newsletter....he came up with the following:

"I work with business owners who want to spend more time making money and less time doing
paperwork. I provide a virtual business support services that enables you to focus on the
more profitable activities of your business, whilst I assist you with the essential administrative
tasks."

Oh, that sounds great. Very well written. I may have to borrow that.

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Layah Barry
http//www.virtual-online-assistants.com

Originally Posted by Layah

I'm just starting my business, and I have applied to a number of jobs, and every time I can't figure out the best way to explain what I do. Do you have a standard description of what a VA is? What do you tell people who ask what you do?

I highlighted in red, what may be holding you back from being able to describe yourself. You are an entrepreneur - you are running a business, and as such you do not apply to jobs. I think it's very hard for some to shed the "employee mindset". I know it took me some time.

As the CEO of your own business, you make the decisions, including what types of services that you want to offer, and with whom you want to work.

Right now, I am a generalist - I provide administrative support to small business owners. I describe myself as an executive assistant and instead of telling people my title (it changes per client), I describe my services: (ie) email management, word processing, customer service, Wordpress blog updates and back-ups - etc. Often I'll summarize what I have done with a client or two over the past week.

As I am now starting to get my feet under me as a VA in the first year of business, I am starting my path towards my target niche and target market. I expect to still call myself a VA, but the types of work I do for and with my clients will change over time. The world doesn't care what we call ourselves (I don't think), but they do need to know what it is we do, and more importantly what we can do for them!

For examples of definitions, I suggest IVAA.org, VACOC, CVAN, CVAC and others (I know there are more, this is just off the top of my head) - they all have definitions - in addition to the AWESOME resources you can find here.

Hope that helps,

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Crystal Coleman, The Northern Edge

Layah,

This is where you need to perfect you elevator speech. This is not an easy task and as you continue on your journey will find the right wording for you. While our industry is being given more press as of late many people still don't get it. Keep plugging away and you will see their light bulb moment when they realize what you do and why they need your services.

Instead of trying to explain what a VA is try approaching it as a what I can do for you statement. Jason's approach is a great example.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

Hi Layah,

I'll admit I've never nailed down a single elevator speech. I've found my explanation depends on the person I'm talking to. I offer a thousand different services, so I tend to tailor my answer to whatever service the person will understand best. I've had luck leaving out the term "virtual assistant" altogether and saying "freelance secretary," "freelance writer," or "freelance editor."

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AnnaLisa Michalski, Sunny Words Writing Services