I wish there was a Virtual Assistant Job Fair soemwhere where business people could either meet VA's and learn what they do and VA's could meet potential employers looking to start working with VA's. Any VA event planners out there ever think of organizing such an event and making it a travelling event? I would LOVE to be involved in something like that if anyone else out there is interested. I live in Canada but it doesn't matter. There are many job fairs out there and they REALLY work! Why not for us?


Thanks

Helen in Montreal

Hi Helen,

In Oregon there was a "virtual" VA filling in for someone who was unable to catch a plane to attend. I met the "virtual" there and that is how I started to research and begin my full time career three years ago. So far, I have only heard/seen virtual "agencies" that have attended job fairs and/or specific events to show how virtual assistants can assist a business. With the fees involved in attending those fairs, it is a hefty investment.

It might be more feasible to make a video using a virtual assistant to market to prospective clients. For one of my clients, I made a presentation on how to do a task for his other staff members. In return, I picked up some extra business when he showed one of his friends the video.

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Mary Hettwer
Hettwer Virtual Office

Then a team of us should plug into local job fairs and educate business people who come to them. It does not have to be such a huge event. And as for the "Virtual Agencies", whenever I come across them and try to apply, I get an e-mail saying that they are full and there are no openings at the moment. I don't know of too many Virtual agencies. Maybe someone can list them out here somewhere but I really wanted to get feedback from people about what they think of this idea and how we could make it work?

I love this idea...I like the fact that you are taking initiative and not just waiting for something to happen. We have to be more like advocates for VA professionals. Most people are not as familiar with the VA biz and a job fair would help to educate them. We can partner with others that have services that compliment what we have to offer.

EXACTLY!

We should be able to come up with some people here who are interested and would like to expose themselves to more businesses. Like a meetup but only a potentially very profitable one!

The phrase "job fair" concerns me. I don't look at my business as a job. I'm in a business and I market my business like any other business person does. I've never heard of lawyers, accountants, etc. having a job fair so that potential clients could come and look them over. Actually when I was working for someone else, I never went to job fairs either. To me they seemed like cattle calls - and it kind of seemed like desperation - people lining up to hand their resumes to potential employers. We're not selling widgets or kitchens or bathrooms at the county fair or home show.

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Julia

Well said Julia I agree completely!

Enjoy your day (lots of snow here this morning)

~Mj

I would also have to agree completely with Julia.

It is very hard to get out of the 'job' mindset when you've spent years working for someone else, but its important to make than leap. Think of yourself in terms of being an entrepreneur and a business owner who is seeking clients to come to you, not someone who is running around handing out their resumes to people. It's doubly important to keep in mind we are looking for 'clients' and not 'jobs' and to convey that attitude to potential clients and educate them on what being a VA means.

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Kate V. Kerans
Kerans Virtual Assistance

I think there is a better term than job fair I just can't think of anything at the moment. It is more like a networking type thing where you are bringing VA's and potential clients together to educate them and sell them on our services.

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Originally Posted by acctgva

I think there is a better term than job fair I just can't think of anything at the moment. It is more like a networking type thing where you are bringing VA's and potential clients together to educate them and sell them on our services.

I really don't think you'd get people out to an event like that. Most people don't even really think of VAs until they need one - which is really human nature. Most of my clients came that way - they knew about VAs or me (from marketing). Two actually contacted me before they needed the work done.

My recommendation would be to keep networking - either through formal networking groups, at the gym, whereever you go. In many cases people aren't going to engage you unless they have forged a relationship with you, been referred to you or have found you through your web page and checked references (and yes, I do provide references - I offer them to new clients when they first contact me - it shows I have nothing to hide, makes the PC more confident and usually seals the deal).

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Julia