Top Tips to Boost Your Chances of Getting Hired

Posted October 18, 2016

If you want to be in the VA industry, having great skills and experience won’t suffice. You are essentially competing against hundreds and even thousands of candidates in the market that are vying for the same job opportunities online. In short, you are bound to work your way through a stiff competition which is why focusing on your marketing is vital. This will set you apart from the rest of the other virtual assistants. It’s more than just creating awareness and ensuring an online presence. It’s being able to get a client’s attention that will translate to getting hired.

Here are some helpful tips that can boost your chances of getting hired:

Craft a powerful resume.

Make sure your resume stands out. Most job seekers think that a fancy template will get them hired. In reality, most human resource officers filter through hundreds of application forms and resumes with the goal of finding substance rather than frivolity. Make yours powerful by putting in your key skills and experiences. Make the template simple and the font easy to read. Just make sure you do not misrepresent yourself. Honesty is expected. Besides, you will be caught eventually if you cannot deliver the skills you claim to have, so practice sincerity always.
Make a cover letter

. Most candidates fail to see the importance of a cover letter. This is your chance to say your piece before they see your resume, so make it count. You can grab the attention of a client right away by stating your interest in the job and how you can contribute to their business. You may back this up with the skills you have developed in your previous experiences. Make it short but sweet. Let your personality and wit shine through, but always remain professional.
Upgrade your skills.

If at some point you feel that your online job application is not getting much attention, then you may be lacking in certain marketable skills. Learn something new by improving yourself career wise. Engage in webinars and online courses that will help you master new skills. This could be content writing, graphic design, SEO, web development or any new skill you think will help you land the job. Never stay complacent with what you know. Most human resource officers will tell you upfront that a mediocre VA is dispensable, but a VA that has an impeccable list of skills is hard to replace.
Develop excellent communication skills.

Polish your English skills by making sure that your grammar and pronunciation are on point. Since online jobs are different from an office set-up in the sense that you do not see your client face to face, written correspondence is pivotal. Make sure you clearly state your thoughts and see to it that your tone is polite, tactful and professional.
Don’t hesitate to make a follow-up.

There are times when the HR department will be very busy. All you need to do is make a follow up regarding your application. Most human resource officers appreciate this because it shows your eagerness. Just don’t be too aggressive and try not to get on their nerves. The right choice of words and timing are crucial.
Find friends in the VA network.

Referrals are a great way to get noticed. Take advantage of your network and ask your VA friends to refer you. Once you get an email from the HR department, follow through and do great in your job application process so the friend who referred you will end up being proud of you. The worst thing you can do is to give human resource officers a headache by being flaky or unprofessional. Your actions will reflect on your friend who actually helped you out of goodwill so be considerate.

Finding a job online is a challenging but fun process once you get the hang of it. Do not let rejections discourage you. As much as possible, upgrade your skills and learn from the mistakes you did in your previous job applications so you know how to ace the next one. Lastly, trust in the process. What is yours will be yours as long as you put your heart and mind into it. Good luck!