One of the things I find compelling about this field is the DIY, direct to user aspect. I was thinking about the selling points of using a VA versus using a staffing agency, and my experiences from both ends (job seeking and hiring) and I drafted a quick pros and cons page. It's un-proofed (well, un daylight proofed )- my main concerns are whether it sounds too anti-agency or overly critical. Would something like this be okay?

Quote:

I've experienced staffing firms on both ends of the spectrum. As a prospective employee, I've spent hours filling in forms and doing basic (and I mean basic) skills tests at the best firms, only to be met with a voicemail box full of "temp" offers and low hourly rates. Yet in Human Resources, I was shocked at the over-market and budget rates quoted for a mediocre set of candidates. Fees were more than twice what we paid our experienced permanent staff, and finding the correctly qualified candidate seemed increasingly unlikely and definitely unaffordable. Less tech-savvy agencies and less-experienced administrative staff benefit from these age-old services, but smart businesses and savvy employees don't. Here's why: Staffing agencies are gorgeous inside. A sight to behold. Modern, glassed in offices, the latest technology, a large staff in a beautiful facility... the generous premium paid by less-experienced contractors and busy, overwhelmed corporations and small businesses generates a hefty profit. Staffing agencies are a last resort. We've all been there early in our careers. We can't make the right connections or get the right interviews so we go to the agencies. But the limited pool of candidates almost ensures only some of your needs will be met. A Virtual Assistant can be hand-picked to provide exactly the services you need. Don't eliminate the middleman... ...or it will cost you. Using third-party recruiting locks you out of a direct relationship with a potentially valuable resource and ultimately incurs a cost of thousands of dollars to "buy" an employee. Even then, there's no guarantee the employee will want the same longevity. So then, back to the agency... The clock is ticking... Third-party employees cost money to train and re-train with heavy turnover. With the money an employer of mine spent in the ten weeks leading up to Christmas on temporary low-level staff, we could have paid three full-time skilled employees to provide at least 80% more on-site time and guaranteed a better result. And when can I have it? By the time you receive a list of candidates, vet and interview them, a Virtual Assistant could have finished several projects.

I'd polish it a bit more, but in my marketing I am hoping to target companies that could benefit from my services and might consider using or have used these services in the past.

Thanks for any feedback!

Interesting thinking here, great article idea. I would work at clarifying your points and making sure it all strings together. Your intro paragraphs, for example, don't mention virtual assistants, but I think that's the comparison you're making, right?

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