[B]**This is a preview of what I'd like to post to my "official" blog page. I have included contributing members' names and links to their Web sites. Please let me know if it is OK with you that I refer to your comments. Absolutely feel free to let me know that I can use your comments, but prefer to stay anonymous :lipsrsealed2:. I just don't want to run my blog and use your words of wisdom without acknowledging your contribution in any way!:grouphug: Thank you![/B]


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One of the most interesting and sensitive subjects that I have come across so far amongst virtual assistants has been the use of resumes. Being a somewhat newcomer to the virtual assistance industry, I admit that I was uninformed about many of the “inside” aspects of this business. Knowledgeable, experienced, and well-educated in my business as an administrative support professional and transcriber I am. Knowledgeable, experienced, and well-educated in the virtual assistance industry I wasn’t. And most importantly what I didn’t realize was the bond and unity that exists among virtual assistants.

Having been in the corporate world for many years, I clung to my resume because I felt it would be extremely useful to me as I got my business up and running. I assumed potential clients would want – let me rephrase that – I assumed that potential clients would need to see my past accomplishments, experiences, etc., so that they would feel comfortable and confident with my services. And wasn’t that what my resume was for?

I learned that the answer to this was emphatically, absolutely, positively NO! And the reason for this is actually quite obvious, as you will see. However, there is an alternative to a resume – but we’ll get to that later. I first would like to talk about why professional virtual assistants should never provide a client with their resume.

It is important to remember that the owner of a virtual assistant company is exactly that: the owner of her or his business. As stated by [URL="http://www.25thhourassistants.com/"]Amanda Brienza of 25th Hour Assistants[/URL], “A VA is a professional service provider along the same lines as an attorney or an accountant.” When we seek out advice or services from an attorney or an accountant, we would never ask him or her for a resume. Therefore, as providers of professional services, we should not be asked for a resume either. Amanda further explained, “I provide plenty of information without going into the level of detail a resume implies. My company information includes information about my background and education -- as it typically does for any professional service provider.” Amanda, you hit this on the nose!

It is really important for us as virtual assistants to understand how to portray ourselves as business owners, and more importantly, to understand the need to stick together. [URL="http://jkvirtualoffice.com"]Kimberly of JKVirtualOffice[/URL] explained, “It's important to understand that as an industry, we all work very hard to get the ‘world’ to understand that we are business owners and not employees. As an industry, it is important for us try and be united in how we present ourselves. Understanding about the VA industry has come very far in the past few years, but part of that is because we have stood together in presenting ourselves as an industry to be taken seriously as independent business owners.”

Kimberly, you are so right. There have been many before me who have worked really hard and long to get the industry known and accepted as a profession. I feel it is my duty to respect the standards set by those who have worked long and hard. I have a commitment to them to “play by the rules” so that my industry keeps its momentum and continues to prosper.

And it really is all about educating the world on the virtual assistance industry. As [URL="http://www.YourVirtualWizard.com"]Janine of Your Virtual Wizard[/URL] said, “Clients who routinely ask for resumes are not used to dealing with a VA, and it's a great opportunity to start educating them on the mechanics of the relationship. VAs are business owners who partner with other business owners. By offering them an alternative to a resume by way of a professional summary related to your business, it helps new clients become acclimatized to the idea that you are a partner in their business and not an employee.” I love how Janine explained this because she showed me that there is an alternative to a resume.

In reality, most potential clients are used to hiring employees and naturally ask for a resume. [URL="http://www.keransvirtualassistance.ca/index.html"]Kate Kerans of Kerans Virtual Assistance[/URL] explained that she routinely provides new clients with a professional summary as well as a welcome packet. Kate states that “the professional profile portrays who I am and is an overview of what my business is about. Within it I can include any relevant achievements, specialties, products and experience related to my professional history and it can be personalized based on what interactions I have had with that potential client.” This is a great point because, just as Janine stated, Kate also recommends an alternative to the standard employee resume.

Why this whole topic on resumes was so important to me is because I believe every client deserves the right to feel confident in whom they contract with. After all, it is their business and their livelihood that is at stake. It is important to respect their concerns and requirements. However, it is equally important to respect the standards set forth by the founders of the VA industry. And what better medium than a professional summary?

Thank you to all of my new friends in this industry for your input and for your guidance. We are a lucky bunch. I do not think there are other professions out there that have such a great group who support each other the way that virtual assistants do!