Written by
November 11, 2024

Creating and Pitching Virtual Assistant Roles

The number one job type we see come through our website is for virtual assistants. These are folks that work remotely to manage multiple daily tasks that vary from place to place such as social media posts, scheduling meetings, or even doing bookkeeping. Because this job is so popular, we want to share some tips for companies looking to hire VAs on what to put in their job descriptions as well as some tips for job seekers hoping to become a VA.

For Companies

How to Write an Engaging Virtual Assistant Job Listing

An engaging job listing starts with a captivating headline that emphasizes the role and its remote nature. Provide a brief overview of your company, touching on its values to attract applicants who share similar ideals. Clearly outline the purpose and importance of the role within your organization, making it relatable and essential. Use straightforward language to ensure readability, employing bullet points to highlight key aspects. Specify the role’s primary tasks and responsibilities, making sure to cover day-to-day activities. Mention opportunities for growth or unique benefits that set your company apart. This approach will appeal to top talent looking for meaningful work.

Highlighting Essential Skills and Qualifications

To attract the best virtual assistant candidates, it’s crucial to detail the specific skills and qualifications needed for the role. Commonly, these include strong communication abilities, excellent time management, and proficiency with software tools like Microsoft Office or Google Workspace. For industry-specific positions, highlight relevant experience, such as familiarity with e-commerce platforms for online retail. Emphasize technical competencies along with soft skills, such as problem-solving and adaptability, to provide a comprehensive understanding of your expectations. Additionally, specify any advanced skills that might set candidates apart, like project management or social media expertise. This specificity helps ensure that you attract applicants who are well-suited to your company’s needs.

General Template for Listing VA Responsibilities

In general, you want to layout your information like this:

  • Job Intro: provide two to three sentences on what the job is about at your company.
  • Company Intro: from the job intro, flow into another sentence or two on what your company is and your values.
  • Job description: offer a more detailed job description with an overview of tasks; it is a good idea to provide bullet points here of what you need someone to do.
  • Skills: create a bullet point list of skills you want your ideal VA to have such as experience with project management software.
  • Final thoughts: include specific application instructions such as providing a portfolio.

For Job Seekers

Tips for Job Seekers Crafting a Standout VA Pitch

Research the company thoroughly and customize your pitch to reflect its unique values and requirements. Start by highlighting your most relevant experience and skills, using concrete examples of past successes. For instance, if the company values efficiency, mention how you streamlined processes or improved productivity in previous roles. Show that you understand the company’s specific challenges and offer actionable solutions based on your expertise. Keep your pitch concise, focusing on the most impactful aspects of your background. Demonstrate your ability to adapt and learn quickly, which is essential for virtual assistants in a dynamic work environment. Use clear, professional language and maintain a confident tone to convey your competence and enthusiasm for the role. Use bullet points to keep it readable and concise.

For your cover letter, personalization is key. Start with a tailored introduction that addresses the hiring manager by name and references the specific role you’re applying for. Highlight your most relevant skills and experiences that align with the job description. Use specific examples to demonstrate your capabilities, such as “I successfully coordinated schedules for a team of 15 remote employees, resulting in a 20% increase in productivity.” Address the key requirements mentioned in the job listing and elaborate on how you meet or exceed them. 

Additionally, ensure that your resume and cover letter are visually appealing. Use a clean, professional layout with consistent formatting. Proofread carefully to avoid any grammatical errors or typos, as attention to detail is crucial for a virtual assistant role.

Examples of Successful VA Pitches and Listings

A job listing might stand out with a headline like “Seeking a Proactive Virtual Assistant for Dynamic Tech Company.” Follow this with a brief introduction about the company’s mission and culture, such as, “We are a forward-thinking tech startup dedicated to innovation and customer satisfaction.” The listing should then outline key responsibilities, like managing emails, coordinating schedules, and providing customer support, using bullet points for clarity. 

On the other hand, a successful VA pitch could start with, “As a dedicated virtual assistant with over five years of experience, I excel at optimizing workflows and boosting team efficiency.” The candidate should then provide specific examples tailored to the prospective employer’s needs. For instance, “In my previous role at XYZ Corp, I managed a team calendar, resulting in a 15% reduction in meeting overlaps.” Highlighting skills such as proficiency with project management tools or experience in social media management can also be beneficial.

For added impact, both the job listing and the VA pitch should incorporate the company’s values and specific challenges. By aligning the candidate’s strengths with the company’s needs, you create a compelling narrative that resonates with potential employers or applicants. This approach not only attracts top talent but also ensures a good match between the company and the virtual assistant.

Continue Reading

Written by
June 5, 2023

I Never Hear Back After Applying for a Job…What Now?

Finding the perfect job listing can be very exciting. You send in your application materials and anxiously await news about the next step…but then you don’t hear anything. What does that mean? And is there anything you can do to get a response? These are the number one questions we hear from jobseekers, and we are here to answer them for you:

Why has the company not responded to my application materials?

Unfortunately, some companies choose not to respond at all if an applicant is not who they are looking for. While we work with every business and encourage them to be communicative with all applicants, they may still choose not to reach out. We know that many jobseekers wonder why this happens, and so we asked the companies themselves that provided these responses:

  • Many applicants do not have all the qualifications the company is looking for, so they choose to pass. 
  • Some application materials do not fully explain why the candidate is qualified for the position, so they choose to pass.
  • Companies find their dream candidate, but do not have the time to let all applicants know that the position is filled — businesses have told us that oftentimes when they do this, many of the applicants ask why they were not chosen, which takes more time for the busy business owners to respond to and get into conversations with applicants.

I sent in an application and have never heard back…what do I do?

Unlike mega job sites that do not allow you to reach out to companies, we highly encourage you to reach out to the businesses to check on the status of your application (unless they have posted not to do so in their job listing). Sometimes this will prompt companies to update you. Others may still not respond, at which time we encourage you to apply to another listing. Additionally, be sure to ask questions if you make it to an interview — ask for specifics about when the company plans to get back to candidates and what you can do to follow up if you have not heard back.

What do I do if no company has ever gotten back to me on my applications?

If you have applied to multiple listings, but have never heard back, it might be time to take a closer look at what each company is asking for in a candidate. No business ever expects to find someone with every skill they are seeking, but they normally search for someone with at least 75% of the skills listed on the post. Are you applying to listings where you only meet one or two of the qualifications? Some positions can sound fun, interesting, and new, but unless a company mentions that skill level does not matter, it is better to apply to positions that match your skill set. Companies have told us that they tend to not respond to applicants that do not closely match their job listing qualifications.

If you are applying to places that closely match your skill set, then it might be time to take a closer look at your application materials. For your résumé, hiring managers need to be able to quickly glance at it and be able to easily understand it. Sometimes it can be tempting to list every position and every software you have ever used, but companies find that overwhelming and hard to decipher amongst all the candidates. Use bullet points, and tailor your résumé for each job you apply for so that only the most important information is highlighted. For cover letters, this is your chance to explain why your skills are a good match for the company. Pick your top two or three strengths and explain your experience in those and how they fit with what the company is searching for — make sure to use the same keywords in the cover letter that were used in the job description. 

Why are companies reaching out to me but not hiring me?

Some businesses do send out a notification once they have filled the position. It can be tempting to reach out to companies to ask for feedback, but most of them have told us they simply do not have time to provide it to every single applicant that applied. Instead of directly asking the company, you can always talk to our team — they are more than happy to provide feedback on your application materials to try and pinpoint why a company went a different direction.

If you have reviewed this information and still find yourself struggling, consider our Cultivate Course or our Job Seeker Services that can help. These resources will give you the additional edge you may need to get hired!

Do you have other questions that we did not address? Reach out and ask! We would also love to hear other job seeker’s tips and tricks that they have found most helpful when applying for remote positions.

 

 

Stay up to date on work from home opportunities!

* indicates required






 

Please wait a few seconds after clicking subscribe to complete the captcha.


Continue Reading

Written by
May 15, 2023

3 Reasons Small Businesses Should Use a Paid Job Site

For small businesses, finding the right candidates to fill a position can be challenging. To begin the hiring process, your company first must decide what job sites to use to list your open position. Many companies gravitate towards free sites because they are simply that — free. We understand that small businesses especially are on a tight budget, but you usually get what you pay for with a free site; that includes a barrage of unqualified candidates, scams, and investing your company’s time and money to wade through all the white noise just to find the best candidate. To save your business time, money, and effort, it is better to stick with a paid job site. Let’s dive deeper into why paid job sites, like HireMyMom, may be the best fit for your company:

1) You Get What You Pay For

Let’s take a look at this with a pros and cons list. 

For the free sites:

  • pros: there is no financial cost
  • cons: too many applications, unqualified candidates that are not legitimate job seekers, your listing is lost in the millions of other posts

Paid sites:

  • pros: a more select pool of highly qualified candidates, a real human being to talk to if you run into issues or need guidance, less time spent wading through scam applications (and more time spent on legitimate job seekers)
  • cons: there is a cost

We understand that it can be a difficult decision to invest in a paid job site such as HireMyMom. The upfront price may appear to be a deterrent, but through countless customer stories and our own findings, it is more budget friendly in the long run to use a paid site: 

“The quality of the people who I have found have been consistently exceptional, and at very affordable prices.” — Paulette Ensign

“We have been strapped for time so we decided to try their Concierge Service, which was a huge help…this service has saved us a lot of time!” — Laurie Peterson

Consider this: how much money and time will your company use to pay someone (or multiple someones!) to post a job listing, wade through applicants, conduct interviews, and onboard a new hire? This can add up quickly and end up costing your business quite a bit of money. Instead of that, a paid job site cuts through all the noise which means you spend less time searching for the perfect hire and more time working towards your company’s goals with a new team member! Additionally, we often offer discounts for businesses, so make sure you are part of our email list to be the first to receive updates on those! When visiting our website there should be a popup where you can register for the list, OR just scroll down to the very bottom of our site for the sign up form!

2) The Convenience of a One-Stop Shop

If you’re a small business owner, time is of the essence. That’s why HireMyMom has a great solution for busy business owners who need help finding the right candidate: HireMyMom Business Concierge Services. With this service, an HR expert will create a job post, read through applications, conduct interviews, and even onboard new hires – all to save you precious time. What’s more, the HireMyMom business concierge service makes it easy for business owners to find the right candidate for their needs quickly. Their experienced HR team will be able to assess each applicant’s skills and qualifications, ensuring that the most qualified candidate is chosen. Furthermore, because the team is comprised of seasoned HR experts, they know exactly how to craft effective job postings and conduct successful interviews – giving you peace of mind knowing that your hiring process is in good hands. 

Finally, with HireMyMom’s one-stop shop approach to recruitment, small businesses are able to streamline their hiring process and get the help they need quickly with legitimate job seekers. Plus, they don’t have to worry about dealing with multiple recruitment platforms or taking the time to manage the entire process themselves – saving them both time and energy. 

3) Access to a More Qualified Pool of Candidates

When looking for the perfect candidate for a job, it pays to have access to the best and most qualified pool of applicants. By using a paid job site like HireMyMom, small businesses are able to tap into a network of qualified applicants who are also willing to invest in their own success. 

Not only do these job seekers care about the quality of the work they do, they are also invested in the position they are applying for. Paid job sites offer greater security and job stability than free job boards, so the legitimate job seekers you find are more likely to be professional and committed to the role they are applying for. 

Additionally, with a paid job site, businesses can create detailed job postings which will give them better insight into an applicant’s qualifications and abilities. This will enable businesses to find candidates with the right skills and experiences for the position, reducing their time spent vetting applications. 

Are you on the fence about signing up for HireMyMom? Contact us to ask any questions you might have and a real person will reach out with answers!

 

Stay up to date on work from home opportunities!

* indicates required






 

Please wait a few seconds after clicking subscribe to complete the captcha.


Continue Reading

Written by
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?

 

Want More Great Work from Home Tips?

* indicates required


User Type


Continue Reading