A Virtual Assistant Résumé? United We Stand

Having been in the corporate world for many years, I clung to my resume because I felt it would be extremely useful as I worked to get 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?

“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.”

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 because I first would like to discuss why it is that virtual assistants, like any business owner, should never need or be asked to 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 Amanda Brienza of 25th Hour Assistants, “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. Kimberly of JKVirtualOffice 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 Janine of Your Virtual Wizard 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 standard resume.

In reality, most potential clients are used to hiring employees and naturally ask for a resume. Kate Kerans of Kerans Virtual Assistance explained that she routinely provides new clients with a professional summary as well as a welcome packet. Kate stated that “the professional summary portrays who I am and is an overview of what my business is about. Any relevant achievements, specialties, products, and experiences can be included in the professional summary, and it can be personalized based on what interactions I have had with a potential client.” This is a wonderful idea, Kate, and can absolutely satisfy a client’s request or desire to be supplied with a resume.

Why this whole topic on resumes was so important to me is because I believe every client deserves the right to feel confident with 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 profile?

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!