One of the first things I thought about when deciding to subcontract is why I wanted to work for someone in the exact same industry. Share your reasons with us. It's a great way to think outloud, in a round about way.

1. Learn from others. There are VAs that are expert in a lot of ways.
2. Being able to only work PT while trying to get clients during normal business was difficult.
3. My verbal and written communication needed improving. I watch others and how they communicate with their clients.

http://www.virtualassistantforums.co...-road-success/

The want to subcontract, for me, comes from a desire to learn from more experienced, successful and established VAs.

I am responsible for my own skills and further developing my own service offerings - but the day to day things, like how to handle clients and sticky situations, best practices, and tried and true procedures and techniques are invaluable lessons that I want to learn. There are books and courses, but I don't think they can compare to actually working closely with someone in a mentor capacity.

Another reason is to develop a trusted relationship on which to build referrals and testimonials for my own business.

I don't see subcontracting as a stepping stone for myself, but a part of my overall business plan. Maintaining healthy working relationships with other VAs once my own practice is thriving can help ensure I have access to trusted and experienced colleagues for help or back-up should I require it.




http://www.virtualassistantforums.co...-road-success/

__________________
Crystal Coleman, The Northern Edge

I, myself, have accepted a couple assignments from another VA- and I really appreciated those assignments, because it was an easy way to use my skills to gain more experience, while working for someone that already has the clients. I am finding it very difficult, myself, to find clients, so to work with an already established VA, that will give me recommendations after completing assignments with them, will also help me to widen my client base, as well as do some networking as well.

~ Rhonda

Others have pointed out the benefits of using other VAs as mentors and building a working network. Another positive to subcontracting is that it is simply easier to communicate VA to VA. With most clients there is a lot of upfront time spent training the client on how to work with a VA, showing the benefits, and building trust in the whole VA concept. If you are not into educating and coaching clients, subcontracting with a VA is just a matter of communicating the details of the work and getting it done.

Interesting thread,

__________________
Karen Cole, MBA
www.aveonservices.com

Great question!

My very first client was me being a subcontractor for another VA. As others mentioned, the experience and being mentored by an experienced VA was invaluable.

Another benefit I received was having exposure to different industries. At that time, I was still trying to nail down my target market and wasn't quite sure where I fit in. By getting exposured to 3 different industries (she didn't have a target market, but rather was diversified in her client base), it enabled me to see what their needs were, what type of skills were needed to support them, and what their demands were (such as they were needy on a day to day basis versus needy on a weekly basis - just depended on what services they needed).

I've also run a multi-VA team and my team members were eager to work with me so they could get experience and mentorship, but also to learn new skills. Most weren't interested in marketing their own biz so they welcomed clients being assigned to them.

__________________
Tracey DelCamp | EZ Ezines
www.traceydelcamp.com

Great question, and answers! One of the most delightful things about the VA industry is our sense of mutual cooperation. Subcontracting provides the 'leg up' and the mentorship necessary for newbies, and the comprehensive service that established businesses want to offer. Though I work alone, I can likely find a source to satisfy business requests on almost any level, through our ongoing, almost real-time communications.

__________________
Mary H. Ruth/Virtual Writing & Communications
http://www.writingVA.com

I've worked as a subcontractor and I also subcontract work out to some of the best VAs in the industry. Working as a subcontractor gave me experience and a leg up. Subcontracting out to others also gives me a leg up because I'm able to offer my clients a wider range of services and the get job done faster than if I was working alone.

I think subcontracting is a beautiful thing. I wouldn't be able to operate my business without subcontractors and I'm grateful for each one of them.

__________________
Shari Sultana
Online Business Manager (marketing for retail ecommerce)

Working with another VA is equal to having someone else in the office. This job can be very lonely (sitting in my office by myself, communicating on skype or the phone), it is nice to have another VA, who understands what I do, to talk with, bounce ideas back and forth, learn from and possibly teach.

I do have my cats keeping me company, but they dont say much...

__________________
www.sageva.com
Shelley Halpain,

lol Shelley, my cats talk ALL the time....always on my desk in my way of trying to see the monitor.

__________________
Rebecca Thompson
CLR Virtual Connection * fanTABulous fan pages

My cat likes to get up on the desk also. When she was a kitten she could fit between the desk top and the monitor shelf. Now she's too big but "pretends" she can do it - which means she's sleeping on everything I have on my desk top. Sometimes I can put her in the chair next to mine and she's happy. But on those days she wants the desk - SHE WANTS THE DESK!!!

Her cousin sits on the floor and cries because he's too big to get up there.

I love to hear them talk and purr. Lets me know I'm loved even when I'm having a bad day!

Carol
CJ's Virtual Business Solutions