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August 2, 2021

The Good, Bad & Ugly. One Woman Shares How The Pandemic Has Affected Her Career

A disproportionate number of women have left the workforce since the pandemic began compared to their male counterparts, with four times the exodus. After 2.3 million women dropped out of the labor force between February 2020 and February 2021, women’s workforce participation declined to 57%—the lowest it’s been since 1988, according to NWLC. 

Not only that, the current unemployment rate for women has more than doubled compared to the pre-pandemic rates, with many economists predicting that this workforce departure could set women back a generation. 

These statistics leave an impact of their own, but it is vital to remember that these numbers do have faces behind them. The good news is that there are networks and platforms out there that are specifically committed to supporting women and particularly moms who balance both careers and motherhood. 

Let’s take a look at one woman who, thanks to being a part of the Hire My Mom network, was able to go from looking to be hired to the person doing the hiring. Rhonda Dobbs’ testimony is an example of how companies like Hire My Mom can uplift women, and mothers, in the modern work world. 

Rhonda Dobbs, the CEO and Founder of Legacy Solutions Together, LLC—reports on her former job as the Inspectional Services Administrative Assistant. 

 

Do you feel your company did or did not help to support you through the pandemic? 

My previous company did not support me through the pandemic. I worked for a local municipality. We were laid off because the state shut down due to the pandemic. There was no opportunity to do administrative work from home, even though I offered to do so. The state did not want to continue to support staff because of fears of insecure access via the VPN.

 

What are some ways that you feel your company could’ve better supported you? 

The local government was not prepared to go remote, and so we were sent home with pay based on the Federal Government law, at that time, for the pandemic. I was left with finding something new in an extremely disparate time, or waiting for an undetermined amount of time to go back to a job that didn’t value what I brought to the table.

I decided to walk away, and first ended up as a 1099-contractor virtual assistant for two companies—Heartcore and Summit Support. Getting laid off and then gaining skills from those first two companies ended up being a blessing in disguise. It opened a new door, and I haven’t looked back since. 

I ended up getting the opportunity to be an independent contractor with a seven-figure company. The company is a woman-owned business offering coaching programs, summit launches, along with virtual assistants who support you from beginning to end. They taught me how to offer summit support, along with connecting me to an amazing client who is a six-figure earner of multiple companies. I learned so much from that client, who ended up being more of a mentor within the progression of my career. Our ongoing relationship is something I am forever grateful for. 

Learning that it doesn’t take a large amount of capital to start a business was a key lesson for me. Additionally, it takes a belief in yourself, a mindset change, the removal of negative energy, and intentional connections to help you pivot to the next level in life. I encourage people to self-educate themselves and never stop learning for both personal and professional relationships. Standing in your authority and knowing your value will make you unstoppable.

 

Were there any technological tools that were newly implemented into your remote workday that you feel were especially helpful?

If yes, how was it adapting to using these new tools, and did your company provide resources and support?

Working remotely actually gave me the opportunity to learn even more digital skills on a wide variety of apps such as Teamwork, Google Workspace, Slack, Voxer, WordPress, Zoom, Webinar, as well as in Acuity and Client Retention processes.

HeartCore provided support and training for each of the platforms. I also did self-education to become more versed in using the platforms. With all of this experience, the  biggest win was becoming the CEO and Founder of Legacy Solutions Together, LLC. I am walking in my purpose and developing the greatness in me and others!

This is just one perspective. There are varying degrees of what a woman must defy in the negative circumstances in a 2021 work world. Regardless, it is important to note that a McKinsey analysis has shown that women’s jobs are nearly two times more vulnerable than men’s.

McKinsey research has also found that gender diversity is the key to a business’s financial success. Companies that fell in the top quartile for gender diversity were 25% more likely than those in the 4th quartile. Following Rhonda’s example from above, we can see how companies supporting their employees, with the tech tools and training they need, can keep women in the workforce, and the workforce in action.

 

 

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June 1, 2021

8 Mistakes to Avoid When You Work from Home

Working from home can be a fun and rewarding experience. There are many benefits especially for moms because of the flexibility and accessibility that comes from having a remote job.

There are however some common mistakes that can impact the quality and productivity of work if you’re not careful.

Here are 8 Mistakes To Avoid When You Work from Home.

 

MISTAKE #1: ALLOWING YOURSELF TO BE DISTRACTED

It can be easy to become distracted when working from home. From phone calls to unexpected guests dropping in – to your kids coming home from school with “big news” about their day  …

There are many opportunities to get pulled off task and this is why self-discipline is critical to the success of your remote career and lifestyle.

It’s important to set clear boundaries ahead of time and communicate them to your friends and family members (your children are another story, they may need some gentle reminders). 

 

MISTAKE #2: PROCRASTINATING YOUR WORK

When you work from home, it can be easy to procrastinate doing your work and placing personal tasks as a priority instead. “Oh I’ll just get some chores done first, and then I’ll work on that spreadsheet.” Sound familiar?

It’s important to treat every assigned task as a priority. If you have project management software, this is a great time to use it.

Set clear objectives and deadlines, block off time in your calendar to complete tasks at hand and keep track of your time (very important especially when it comes to invoicing). Batch your work so that you can focus on one task at a time and up your productivity. 

If you don’t have the software, a spreadsheet in Google or Excel is a great alternative.

You can color-code priorities by order of importance, set the framework for each project, assign time entries to each task, and more.

 

MISTAKE #3: LACK OF DESIGNATED WORKSPACE

Working from home is great but it does require commitment. 

Making sure you have the right technology in place is one thing but having a designated workspace is another (and no, your bed and couch do not count as a proper workspace).

It’s important to make your designated at-home work environment a priority so that you can stay organized, focused without disruption, and fulfill your tasks without compromising the quality of your work.

 

MISTAKE #4: NO BACKUP PLAN FOR OUTAGES

It doesn’t happen often but, from time to time the power could go out or the wifi might be disrupted.

When you find yourself without power and/or internet it’s important to have a Plan B in place so you can pick up and go with minimal interference to your workday.

Backup ideas include – your local coffee shop, public library, a friend or relatives place, or your local business center.

 

MISTAKE #5: DISORGANIZATION

When you work from home it’s important to stay organized. Not only does disorganization wreck havoc on your workday (especially if you can’t find something you need right away) but it also takes up your precious time. 

Time management is critical to the success of a remote worker’s career and goes hand in hand with staying organized so you can stay focused. 

 

MISTAKE #6: LACK OF ROUTINE

It’s important early on to establish a routine for your workday. 

Make sure you find enough time in your routine to:

 

  • Take appropriate breaks,
  • Start and stop work within a decent time frame.

 

A routine also sets the framework for your remote employee-employer relationship. This will help set boundaries for contacting you outside of your work hours. 


MISTAKE #7: ISOLATION 

Another mistake a lot of remote workers make is isolation. 

It’s important to keep balance in your life. We all need time with friends and family, time for ourselves, and time to maintain our homes. 

Stay connected with your colleagues, friends, and family. Join networking groups like our FB Community and if you’re a parent – mom’s groups can be a tremendous support system.

(We have a great article that discusses some ways online community support groups can help you build a successful work from home business here).

 

MISTAKE #8: LIMITING FORMS OF COMMUNICATION

They say “connection is currency” however with remote work, it’s easy to become distant and less connected with others.

Often remote workers start to lean towards one method of communication only (for example email) but in order to succeed, you need to offer more than one way to connect.

It’s good to get on the phone once in a while, take advantage of video conferencing (as offered through Microsoft Teams, Skype, Zoom and Google G Suite) and use team communication software such as Slack in order to stay organized, focused, and communicate more effectively. 

So there you have it, the 8 mistakes remote workers make that you can avoid. We also have some great tips on helping you grow your remote business, check out those tips here. 

 

At HireMyMom we carefully screen employers taking the necessary steps to offer only the highest level of work from home positions to you. Ready to get started? Visit our enrollment page here.

 

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April 5, 2021

Why Does HireMyMom Charge Job Seekers?

It’s a FAIR question!
And probably the one thing may keep you from signing up on HireMyMom.
Am I right? You want to know why in the world you should have to pay to find a job.
We get it. We know. We hear you!

This is a very good question and one we are happy to answer so here are the reasons there is a fee to sign up on HireMyMom:

 

1. Unlike most job sites, we do not take any commissions from our job seekers.

  • Many so-called “free” sites don’t charge you to apply BUT if you are hired, you often will be paying 10-20% of your earnings back to the job site.
  • So if you got a part-time job on a “free site” that takes commission from your earnings and you make say $2,000 per month, you would be paying $200-$400 EACH month (10-20%) of that back to the job site EACH and EVERY MONTH!
  • With HireMyMom, your subscription fee can typically be recouped in the FIRST FEW HOURS of your new job.
  • On HireMyMom, what our Mom Professionals earn, they keep …. well except what Uncle Sam gets!

 

2. The small fee to sign up helps keep the number of job seekers to a REASONABLE SIZE vs a “free” membership where you are competing with THOUSANDS of other job seekers and are virtually INVISIBLE to hiring companies.

  • And remember if you are lucky enough to be hired by one of the “free” sites, you know what happens (see above)!

 

3. Businesses tell us they PREFER to use HireMyMom because we DO charge a small fee. When they post on “free job boards” they are inundated with hundreds or thousands of resumes and do not have time to sort through them all.

  • One business owner told us she got 900 applicants in less than 24 hours on a “free” job site! On HireMyMom, she got 24 applicants — MUCH easier for a small business to handle! OH AND she said the CALIBER of the CANDIDATES on HireMyMom was heads and shoulders above the “free” job sites. We think partially because we attract SERIOUS job seekers who put time and effort into their resume, cover letter and skills because they are READY to find a GREAT REMOTE JOB and don’t mind a small fee knowing there are NO COMMISSIONS to pay!

4. Unlike many other job sites, at HireMyMom we do not pull job ads off of the internet.

  • All jobs on HireMyMom are posted BY the employer and in most cases these jobs cannot be found anywhere else on the internet.

 

5. We aim to keep HireMyMom 100% scam free.

  • Each job that is posted goes through our approval process.
  • We research the company / person, look for negative reviews and other red flags before deciding if a job will be posted to our members. And there are many that do not pass the test and do not get posted.

 

6. By paying for a subscription, we also weed out non-serious job seekers who will apply for any and everything making it harder for you to stand out in the crowd AND harder for the hiring person to weed through 100s or 1,000s of resumes.

  • So you see, we aren’t trying to make a fortune on you to apply to unlimited jobs with zero commission fees.
  • We are actually setting you up to find a job QUICKER and with LESS HEADACHE for both sides.

So there you have it!

At least NOW YOU KNOW why there is a fee to sign up on HireMyMom!
Hopefully we’ll see you on the other side and be congratulating you in the coming weeks on your new job or clients!

Want to see some of the NEWEST JOB POSTS?

Ready to SIGN UP?

 

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March 27, 2021

Are You a Freelancer or Do You Depend on Them? Take Action to Protect Your Business Relationships from the PRO Act

As busy entrepreneurs, freelance professionals, and parents, it’s easy to lose track of all the potential legislation pending in Washington. That’s especially true right now, with school closures and pandemic-related restrictions forcing many of us to rethink our business models. 

But, a bill called the PRO Act is winding its way through the legislative process and, if passed, could have severe repercussions for freelance professionals and the small businesses that depend on them.

Whether you are a freelance professional or you hire them, this legislation could affect your business model. If it becomes a law, the PRO Act could limit job opportunities for mothers, retirees, and college students who depend on the freedom and flexibility that comes with contract work. And, the new rules will make it more difficult for small businesses to find the flexible, dedicated, and professional support that makes it possible for them to thrive.

In this blog, we’ll tell you more about the bill and how you can take action.

 

What is the PRO Act?

The PRO Act stands for Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (S. 420/H.R. 842).

It’s the most comprehensive labor relations legislation since the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) of 1947. The bill contains a variety of provisions that affect contractor workers and employers. (Here’s a summary from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.)

 

How the Bill Affects Contract Workers

Most concerning, it requires workers who are now classified as independent contractors to be treated as employees who are free to form a union. While many freelancers are likely not interested in starting a union, the prospect of unionization and the requirements to treat freelancers as employees could have serious consequences for freelancers and the businesses that hire them.

Currently, independent contractors are exempt from labor laws and can’t form a union to bargain with an employer. If enacted, the definition of “employee” would expand to the point that it endangers freelance professionals’ livelihood.

Work is likely to be restructured well before workers can even consider organizing. According to Michael LeRoy, an expert in labor law at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, by encouraging businesses to circumvent the law in two ways.

First, the law would incent some employers to automate jobs that can be done remotely. 

More concerning is that businesses would be forced to avoid working directly with contractors, who they’d have to treat as employees. The most likely way they’d do this is by using an agency, who serves as an employer for the contract employee. 

For example, when a small business owner decides to hire a freelance virtual assistant or social media manager, the owner will turn to an agency to avoid having an employee on the books. The agency would serve as the “employer” and charge a fee to both the business and the freelancer.

The net effect will be to reduce the freelance professional’s negotiating power, raise prices for small businesses, and reduce the contractor’s income because they are now sharing their fees with an intermediary. It’s hard to see any winners, beyond the agency, in this scenario. 

When we think of all the small businesses and home-based mom professionals we’ve worked with over the years through HireMyMom.com, we know firsthand how these rules could backfire and hurt freelance professionals and small businesses.

 

What Problem is the PRO Act Trying to Solve?

Sometimes companies misclassify employees as independent contractors to avoid costs associated with having employees. In many cases, these workers function as full-time employees for the business. But, because they aren’t considered employees, the employer does not pay the associated costs, such as unemployment insurance premiums and payroll taxes.

While we can understand the motivation to change that dynamic, this bill goes about it the wrong way. 

According to Forbes magazine, genuine independent contractors don’t want to be considered employees. They have many clients and prefer the flexibility and freedom of independent contractor status. 

This perspective reflects our experience as well. We’ve worked with thousands of employers seeking mom professionals and mothers looking for meaningful work that lets them show up for their families on their own terms through HireMyMom.com. In many cases, a contractual relationship is the best scenario for all parties. This law will harm both sides of this equation. 

In fact, this bill could disproportionately affect our job seekers–especially the virtual assistants, copywriters, project managers, bookkeepers, and social media managers, who have successfully launched businesses and are thriving as independent contractors.

 

What’s Happening with the PRO Act

On March 9, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the PRO Act. The Senate can now choose to consider the legislation. President Joe Biden has voiced support for the bill becoming law.

The PRO Act has a long history. It was initially introduced in May 2019 and failed. In May of 2020, it passed the U.S. House of Representatives, but the Senate did not pick it up. Now that Democrats control both the legislative and executive branches of government, the bill has better chances of moving forward.  

 

Take Action 

Reach out to your elected representatives and let your voice be heard.

Let your representatives know that you depend on the freelance economy and want to ensure it isn’t negatively impacted by the PRO Act.

 

 

 

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December 28, 2020

How to Get a Work-From-Home Job You Absolutely Love in Four Easy Steps

As we say goodbye to 2020 and hello to a new year full of opportunities, one of your goals may be to transition to a job that lets you work from home or offers more flexibility for you to work on your terms. If so, you are in the right place to find the resources you need to make this the year you transition to working from home or to life as a mompreneur. Let’s make a plan!

Get Started

Think About What You Want

As you think about working from home and your career goals for 2021, consider:

  • What type of work do I want to do? Am I looking to build on my existing skills and experiences or go in a new direction? Do I prefer being part of a virtual team or working solo? Is it time to start my own business? 
  • How do I want my workday to look? Do I want to be on the phone for a good portion of the day, or do I prefer solo work? Do I have concrete blocks of hours to do focused work, or do I need something that I can work on in short bursts of time? Can I work full time, or is part-time a better fit?
  • How does my budget look? Do I have a runway to start something new? Can I work on a project-by-project basis?  Do I need a job that offers a steady paycheck? How will my expenses change when I work from home? 

 

The questions above can be tough to answer. These resources can help:

  • Check out the Top 10 Work From Homes Jobs for Moms. This list can open you up to new possibilities you may not have considered in the past but could be an excellent fit for your skills, interests, and abilities. 
  • Read success stories of others who successfully made the transition to working from home.
  • Review these tips for finding at-home work without a lot of experience, if you’re new to the workforce, or returning after a long absence.

 

Consider Additional Training

As you narrow down the type of job that interests you, take a look at the training and credentials needed to get a job in this field. Online training is available for many at-home jobs. Several free training classes are available in the resources section on HireMyMom. You can find training on starting a virtual assistant business, work as a bookkeeper, a social media manager, a content creator, and more. 

 

Start Your Own Virtual Assistant Business                                                                                                                                                

If you’re ready to start your own business this year, consider becoming a virtual assistant (VA). As a VA, you take care of many tasks, including email response, appointment setting, travel planning, and calendar management. You can work as a general VA, who does a wide variety of tasks or become one with a specialty in a particular industry or need. 

VA work is catching on quickly. It’s a great business model because it solves a problem so many people have — squeezing more tasks into a day. It’s also an excellent lifestyle for moms who want to control their own time, skip the commute, and put family first while still keeping professional ambitions alive. 

At HireMyMom, we’ve partnered with four different training programs to help our members learn more about this business opportunity and acquire the skills needed to launch a VA business.

 

Find Job Opportunities

With a clear vision about your plans, it’s time to start looking for your work-from-home job. Having a plan to find job opportunities will make you more successful. Start by taking the Online Job Seeker 101 class available through HireMyMom.com for proven strategies to help you find and land jobs. Then, set aside an hour each day to find jobs that interest you, tailor your resume and cover letter, and apply. To find jobs:

  • Sign up as a Mom Professional on HireMyMom so you will have exclusive access to legit, work-from-home opportunities.
  • Research the types of employers that may need your skillset or offer the jobs you hope to land. 
  • Talk to friends, neighbors, and family members who may have leads.

 

Get Started!

Once you land your work-from-home job, it’s time to manage the logistics of working from home. 

  • Designate a quiet place to work and set it up with the tools you’ll need to work efficiently.
  • Identify your optimal work hours.
  • Talk with your spouse and kids (depending on their age), and ask for their support as you begin your new work journey.
  • Make a plan for your kids so you can find the time you need to work.
  • Consider ways to overcome the hurdles that are likely to pop up, such as internet outages, school holidays, and the general distractions that can come up when working at home.
  • Look at new options for managing day-to-day chores and household responsibilities that free up more work time for you.
  • Review my favorite productivity tips for moms who work at home.

 

 

Enjoy Your Success!                                                                                                                                                               

You’ve worked hard to get to this point, and I know that you will be successful in your pursuit of a job that lets you stay professionally engaged while working at home. I can’t wait to hear your success stories—best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2021.

 

 

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December 7, 2020

It’s Time to Celebrate! How to Make the Holidays Special From Your Home Office

Whether you’re new to working from home or a veteran, the holidays can pose special considerations.  With work obligations and the focus on making the holidays magical for your family, how can you find the time and space to make the holidays fun and meaningful for you? And, what’s the best way to get into the holiday spirit without some of the office-based traditions that can make this season feel special? As a work-from-home veteran, here are my top tips for celebrating the holidays from your home office without missing a beat.

 

Create New Traditions     

 The first year I worked at home during the holidays, I missed the office holiday lunch and gift exchange. By the next year, I knew the key was to find a way to replace those traditions with new ones that made sense from my home office. Think about the office parties and activities that you cherished and how you might replace them this holiday season. For example:

  • Gather a few like-minded work-from-home moms and organize a holiday lunch at a local restaurant.
  • Organize a virtual gift swap or Secret Santa exchange with co-workers or remote team members.
  • Host an online cookie recipe swap or a Zoom cookie decorating party.
  • Invite your virtual co-workers to a Zoom-based holiday party — maybe even wearing your best ugly Christmas sweaters! Encourage everyone to enjoy hors d’oeuvres, snacks or toast with some bubbly for more festivity.
  • Choose a holiday-themed book and organize a Zoom call to discuss it or gather with your children and have someone read a children’s Christmas story.
  • Ask your virtual co-workers to join forces with you to adopt a needy child or family to shower with holiday gifts.
  • Launch a holiday scavenger hunt where co-workers or friends search for holiday-related items around their neighborhoods and share pictures. This tends to work best if you designate a specific time frame to conduct the search and host a Zoom party to share the images. Appoint one or two people to serve as judges. Provide virtual prizes ready at the end.

 

Bring the Holidays Into Your Office                           

One of the things you may miss by working from home is seeing holiday decorations around your office. Well who says you can’t decorate your home office with some fun decor, Christmas smells and music and maybe even a small tree? And wouldn’t it be fun to see how your remote teammates decorate and celebrate holidays? Here’s are some fun ideas to consider:

  • Decorate your home office space so that you can enjoy the visuals of the holidays. Even just a few lights or some greenery can change your desk enough to give you a merry holiday feeling.
  • Find a holiday-scented candle and burn it in your workspace.
  • Get a small Christmas tree for your desk or office.
  • Play carols in the background as you work.
  • Wear your holiday sweaters and clothes for Zoom calls.
  • Ask your co-workers to share pictures of their holiday decorations in a private online community or take turns on zoom to show your holiday decor and Christmas tree.

 

Schedule Time for Holiday Rituals

When you work at home, it’s easy to let work bleed into your personal time. For much of the year, that might be OK, but it’s essential to carve out time specifically to participate in holiday-related traditions at the end of the year. Planning is the solution to this dilemma.

Find a quiet moment well before the rush of holiday activities and think about the things you want to do this holiday season. Your regular roster of holiday parties and travel will likely be smaller than usual this year due to COVID. Think about how you want to spend that extra time. Make a few notes about holiday must do’s, things you’d like to squeeze in, and new ideas you want to add. Here are some items you might jot down:

  • Baking
  • Wrapping presents 
  • Completing your holiday cards
  • Watching special holiday movies
  • Making crafts with your kids

Next, grab your calendar and schedule a specific time to do the things that make the holidays feel special. When you set aside time, be generous in your time estimate. If you expect to need 90 minutes for baking, plan two or three hours, so you don’t feel rushed. When the time you designated for holiday activities rolls around, honor it. You’ll be glad you spent the time marking the holidays.

 

Make it a Merry Christmas! 

The extra time that comes from working at home is a gift that makes it easier to balance professional pursuits and family life. But, it can feel lonely during the holidays. Taking a few steps in advance can help you fill your holidays with cheer and make them memorable and meaningful.

Tell me what you do to make the holidays special from your home office.

 

 

 

 

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June 20, 2020

Challenging Times Call for Creative Hiring Solutions

In today’s economy, many businesses are having to downsize and cut back expenses every place possible in order to survive. This includes letting valued employees go – often times with much regret. And unfortunately some believe our economy will not improve for a couple of years. So what are businesses to do? How do you support and grow a business if your employee pool is or will be dwindling? Are there creative hiring solutions?

Outsourcing is a Creative Hiring Solution

The good news is that many businesses are finding a perfect solution in outsourcing to independent professionals. These professionals offer the same skills and experience as an on-site employee yet they work as an independent, not requiring employee benefits or office space. One of the largest pools of independent professionals is mom professionals who have left the workforce voluntarily or involuntarily.

Many of them are looking for ways especially now to help supplement their families’ income. And in some cases support their family altogether if their spouse has been laid off. These professionals are experienced and educated but are seeking the freedom and flexibility to work hours that are more conducive to having a family. Some of them work part time and some work full time. Some of them work on an hourly basis and others work on a salary or by the project. What’s great for them and for the company is that studies have proven that a person’s productivity actually goes up when working from a home office. This is at least partly due to the fact that independent workers want to prove themselves and go above and beyond expectations to ensure the work keeps flowing to them.

A Win-Win Solutions

The beauty of it is that these creative hiring solutions is a win-win for the company and the professional. In the majority of cases the company saves on payroll and employee benefits and the professional is pleased to have flexible work and puts forth his or her best effort to make sure the work keeps coming in. For more information on hiring at home professionals, visit www.HireMyMom.com.

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Lesley Pyle is the founder and president of HBWM.com Inc. which includes the national association of Home-Based Working Moms helping moms network, learn and grow in their role as a Home-Based Working Mom and HireMyMom.com connecting at-home Mom Professionals with home-based jobs and projects in virtually every career field.  Pyle has been featured in numerous publications including Forbes, Entrepreneur, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Home Office Computing, and many others.  Twitter @lesleypyle and @hiremymom

Check out these other great articles about tips for mom as a work from home professional.Also check out our current job postings for mom professionals.

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June 1, 2020

Top Jobs and Tools for Today’s Virtual Assistant

The year is 2020 and times have sure changed compared to where we were last year. A huge part of the COVID-19 prevention has resulted in the closure of many small to medium sized businesses. For the companies that can continue to operate, they have been able to convert to remotely running their businesses to meet the changing protocols within their cities and states.

The demand for a quality virtual assistant is becoming more of a necessity now, which means great news for VA’s around the world.

In fact, as the world revolutionizes to functioning almost 100% remotely, businesses are recognizing the true value and positive impact a virtual assistant can make on their company’s growth, success and retention rate.

Today, we’re going to cover the top highly sought after virtual assistant jobs as well as the most utilized software pertaining to these roles so that you can take advantage of the many workplace opportunities that are arising.

 

Administrative Assistant

The need for administrative assistance has become increasingly popular especially now when a lot of businesses have been pivoting to accommodate the changes from COVID-19.

Common tasks for administrative assistance include; email and calendar management, scheduling meetings, booking appointments, answering and returning phone calls, initial research and more. If you are interesting in attaining training as a VA, look at some of the training options available here.  

Commons Tools and Apps

Email & Communication

You’ll want to become well versed in the most common communication platforms such as

Email Marketing

You could also be expected to send out emails through software like;

Booking Calendars

It’s also important to learn the most popular Calendar applications such as;

 

Content and Website Maintenance

A virtual assistant can become a huge support for an online business’s website.

Whether you are helping with writing or editing of blog posts or maintaining the overall content of the company site, more and more businesses are leaning on their virtual assistant to help with this time consuming and sometimes highly repetitive task.

Suggested Software Experience:

Website Platforms:

Content Management Software

 

Customer Relations Management


With so many businesses now operating online and e-commerce on a steady incline, the key to customer retention is to stay on top of the customer service department..

Building a really great customer service protocol helps ensure that customers are happy, coming back, and referring others.

If your job as a virtual assistant includes handling aspects of the customer relations department, you’ll probably be responsible for handling customer inquiries and any concerns/issues. Providing solutions quickly and effectively helps deflect any unhappy customers and converts them to happy ones. This leads to positive word of mouth advertising and customer loyalty.

Below is a list of the most common CRM platforms:

 

Project Management

The debate is on for companies right now … do they need a virtual assistant or a virtual project manager? The answer in most cases is both!

Virtual assistants have started to take on many hats in their roles. We’ve already highlighted the three most common roles in points 1-3. 

There’s a difference between a VA’s role to take tasks away from companies and alleviate workloads compared to managing other departments and teams to ensure projects get done. 


Companies are recognizing a synergy between the two so we are seeing an increase in the level of responsibility a virtual assistant can take on. 

If you do find yourself taking on the role of project management, you’ll probably be responsible for tasks like; streamlining projects and timelines into project management software, creating a balance between short and long term goals within the company and ensuring they are met, research and analytics, all while helping each department stay on time, task, and budget.

Most common Project Management Software include:

 

Bookkeeping 

As a virtual assistant, bookkeeping tasks could fall on your plate from time to time or all of the time.

It’s an important skill set to have because let’s face it, everyone needs to be vigilante with their books (including you!!!).

If you’re a VA who will be taking on some accounting tasks, you’ll probably find yourself doing; accounts payable, accounts receivable, data entry, and inventory to name a few. If you are interesting in getting some training as a bookkeeper, look at the training options available here.  

Commonly used accounting software:

Social Media Assistance

In order for any business to succeed, there will be some level of social media marketing involved.

Whether the company you work for uses Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or LinkedIn, as a VA you could be fitted with the task of handling some of the social media management.

There is an overlap especially where your role requires managing areas of customer service. Some tasks you might find yourself doing include; posting content, fielding comments on social media posts, tracking engagement, answering questions in social media messenger apps, and more.

Commonly used Social Media Management Software:


Chances are you’ve worked in some of the software programs we have mentioned. The more experience you have in these platforms, the better. If you are lacking training, be sure to check out the Training & Resources section of HireMyMom for some FREE and some paid training options. 

Some benefits that you can draw attention to during your interview include; less transitioning and training, faster onboarding, and an overall cost efficiency for your future employer. They also make a great asset to your resume.

At HireMyMom, we have experienced a fluctuation in employers seeking out virtual assistants. The opportunities range from part time to full time which is perfect depending on your availability. Are you a VA currently seeking employment? Start here.

(We also have plenty of resources to help you spruce up your resume, cover letter and more. Check out our tips here.)

 

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May 12, 2020

Small Businesses Making Lemonade with COVID Lemons

Beauty is produced from struggling. Take a pearl for example. Without an irritant making its way into an oyster, it would have no reason to coat layer after layer of nacre on the irritant which after many years produces a beautiful pearl.

The same is true for the butterfly. Through the process of struggling to emerge from its cocoon, the butterfly gains power it needs to strengthen its wings to be able to fly.

We are all in a struggle right now whether it be health, finances, isolation, or some other struggle, we are joined together through it. 

But like any struggle, you can choose to find a way to make lemonade out of the lemons you’ve been handed.

Here are a few small businesses from our HireMyMom Community doing just that:

Big Sky Internet Design is a small family-owned website design company building websites for the Agriculture Industry since 1998.  Due to Covid-19 they discovered that many 4H, FFA, and other youth county organizations were not going to be able to hold their annual sale/auction due to the lockdown. Tom Bruch, owner of Big Sky Internet, decided that they could do something about that. They created easy and affordable websites for youth organizations to be able to have auctions online.  Now these students who have spent countless hours and sometimes large amounts of money, have a way to reach a market interested in buying their livestock. 

Dudley Court Press is a hybrid publishing house for authors. A couple of their remote team members homeschool their children. As “stay at home” orders became the norm, the rest of the Dudley’s team found themselves homeschooling as well. 

“The stress was palpable,” Gail Woodard, Dudley Court Press CEO shares. “We decided to devote half our weekly team meeting to sharing experiences and advice. The impact on the new homeschooling moms was so positive that we decided to offer a free, weekly Zoom-based Homeschoolers’ Support Group through April. Our first session was a great success with new homeschooling parents relieved to have ‘experts’ to chat with.”  

Ben Walker, of Transcription Outsourcing LLC is in a CEO peer group of small business owners. These business owners have been helping each other in their respective areas of expertise at no charge through webinars and online meetings.  He shares, “I’ve been helping one fellow business owner here with brainstorming how he can pivot his event staffing company and all his skills and knowledge into a new business. All of this has been done with absolutely no expectation of anything in return.” It’s just one small business owner doing what he or she can to help another business survive and thrive through this season.

Marsha Means, MA is a part of a team of coaches who are offering new Covid-19 support groups that are free to those who have lost their income ($10 for with an income). Marsha shares, “If you’ve lost someone to covid, or if you are anxious and overwhelmed, I invite you to join me and others to share, process, and to support each other as we face the loss, the fear, and global trauma all humanity is experiencing.”

Barkha’s Custom Sourcing specializes in sustainable and ethical sourcing of fabric. Currently, they are organizing a large donation of stock fabric to the Sewing Masks for Area Hospitals – Atlanta project. They’re a non-profit that is building networks in and around Atlanta — and all across the U.S. — to make sure our healthcare workers have the PPE they need to fight the battle against COVID-19. 

Barkha Malik, owner, shares, “While masks sewn by volunteers at Sewing Masks for Area Hospitals – Atlanta are not viable by themselves, hospital staff are using them over their N95 masks to extend their usefulness. These masks can be sanitized and reused.”  Anyone interested in sewing masks or getting involved to learn more about the Sewing Masks for Area Hospitals – Atlanta project by joining their Facebook group here.

In a world with a lot of bad news, it’s great to be reminded of the positives going on around us. Hats off to all you small business owners making your own version of lemonade!

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May 4, 2020

Is Remote Work the Way of the Future?

The year 2020 has turned out to be far different than anyone could have ever expected. Outside of essential services, the survival of many businesses now rely on their ability to run remotely. Remote work is now one of the best and only ways a business can survive through these trying times. 

But even before COVID-19, remote working was starting to flourish and become a worldwide phenomenon.

Let’s dive into how remote work has transformed from optional to essential. 

Growing Populations = Increased Commuting Time and Costs

With the populations of our major cities increasing at a rapid rate and the methods of transportation to and from work becoming increasingly strained, many businesses started looking at ways to diminish travel time, expenses and stress that derives from commuting to and from work each day. This is one of the reasons remote work options started to come into play.

The Benefits of having a Remote Workplace for Businesses

Many employers have been choosing to have remote workplace environments for many reasons including:

  • lower operating costs,
  • the advancement of tools and technology,
  • improved productivity and quality of work and;
  • access to a broader spectrum of qualified workers.

 

Leadership and Communication in the Remote Workplace

As stated above, there are many benefits for companies who choose to create remote work environments for their employees. The key to having success in these remote working situations relies heavily on two things; Communication and Leadership.

Remote work success starts at the top of a company’s organizational chart – the Leadership. It’s up to the leaders to set the bar for policies, and procedures in remote work. 

There should be a clear and well laid out structure of supervision to motivate work from home employees and aspire them to hit their productivity goals and provide them with flexibility at the same time so they can create the perfect work-life balance. 

Strong communication is key to the success of any company but due to the lack of physical accessibility in a remote work environment, having clear communication protocol is essential. 

Two considerations when laying out your policies and procedures for communication include; access to important information and the right tools and software to communicate with.

Remote Work as an Emerging and Essential Trend

Ten years ago, remote work was almost unheard of. This is because over the past decade there has been some key technological advances made and an influx of software options available for remote workers that has made running a remote work environment much easier and affordable to implement. 

In some cases, it would cost a company more to NOT work remotely and have to source out office space, equipment and other in house essentials.

One of the biggest challenges for employers on the fence between remote work and in office work environments is not having the ability to monitor and implement strategies for sustaining productivity amongst their employees.

Some case studies however, have emerged reporting favorable findings that remote workers are more productive than in-office workers. Take CoSo Cloud for example; their survey reported a 77% increase in productivity within their remote workers.

 

COVID-19 and Remote Work

Many years ago, remote work was not an option because of the lack of the right equipment and technology to do so. 

Fortunately, we are in a position to transition to remote work almost immediately which helps sustain a business when faced with a crisis like COVID-19.

Not only has this type of work become essential for our economy, but it’s also important to the health and safety of helping businesses survive.

Remote work can help businesses operate while governments have been closing non-essential service storefronts and emphasizing the practice of social distancing and self isolation. 

 

What the Future Holds for Remote Work …

There is an endless amount of software offerings that support almost every aspect of business from logistics to accounting to marketing to sales and customer service. 

Of course some exceptions to remote work abilities include businesses that rely on human to human physical contact such as health and wellness companies and manufacturing facilities.

For those companies in a position where remote work is a possibility, NOW is the time to do so. 

The key takeaway to this article is that time is of an essence and there is no time for debate. The future IS in remote work environments in order to sustain non-essential businesses that would be forced to shut down if not providing remote work environments. 


The Benefits to Doing so far Exceed the Setbacks. 

If your business is ready to take the next step to hiring remote workers, HireMyMom has become a go-to source for finding skilled, trained, and highly qualified employees to help businesses grow and sustain. Here are 7 Reasons Why Moms Make The Best Remote Workers For Small Businesses.

Review what companies are saying here or if you’re ready to start your search, you can get started here. 

 

 

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