Hiring a VA for your Resume Writing Business

Through the process of mentoring and guiding resume businesses, I have had many conversations over the years with resume writers who are ready to grow their business but don’t have time, or know they need more support but don’t know how.

So often, I see resume writers who:

• Have hit their income limit because they are booked to capacity every month and don’t have more time to add to their schedules

• Are losing motivation/love for their business because there are so many tasks or items that they find hard, boring, repetitive or not in their wheelhouse

• Want to expand their services beyond writing resumes, but don’t have time to figure it out because they can’t afford to take their foot off the pedal with marketing, admin, or other operational tasks

Look, I know the obvious answer is – hire some help. But it’s not that easy! It is an absolute mind bend trying to overcome fears like,

• What if this person comes into my business and judges my processes (or lack of)?

• What is this person comes into my business and does a terrible job?

• What if it’s not worth the money and I don’t see a return on the investment?

• What if they steal my clients?

I can say all the above with authority because I’ve been there. I have had several VA’s and other specialists come into my business over the years and provide the support that I (sometimes, didn’t know) I so desperately needed!

One thing I can also say confidently is: Outsourcing is the key to growth.

Outsourcing to have my website built created a much more professional, cohesive website that potential clients could land on (not to mention, much easier for Google to find me!).

Outsourcing to have my Dubsado set up has created flowing automations that not only save me time and energy, but build consistently excellent client experiences through our onboarding process.

Outsourcing to Resume Consultants to grow my team allowed me to stop turning away client and start saying “YES” to more bookings – building Clothier Careers revenue up to and beyond 6 figures.

And nowadays, I wouldn’t be without my VA support who keeps the wheels moving in my business, allowing me to pursue multiple passion projects, income streams, and hold space for more clients than ever before.

How?

Because I cannot do everything, and nor should I. I now – wherever possible – stick to what I’m good at and what I WANT to do in my business, and honestly, things feel easy most of the time! Without the support of my brilliant VA this would never be possible.

Enough about why you SHOULD outsource to VA’s – here are some tangible tips from me that you can consider when thinking about engaging external support.

What are some ways you can outsource in a resume writing business?

Start Small:

Starting small is often the most prudent approach when venturing into outsourcing. By outsourcing a small project or task initially, you reduce the commitment level, which can feel less risky. This approach also allows you to test the waters and gauge the effectiveness of working with a virtual assistant (VA) without diving in headfirst. Choose a task with a clear start and finish, ensuring there's no obligation to continue if it doesn't align with your expectations or requirements.

Assess Your Workload:

Before deciding what to outsource, it's crucial to assess your current workload and identify tasks that consume a significant portion of your time. Consider tracking the time you spend on various tasks related to resume writing and business operations. Once you have a clear understanding of where your time is allocated, compare it to the potential hours a VA could dedicate to those tasks. This analysis serves as a valuable tool for determining the return on investment (ROI) of outsourcing.

Seek Input from Peers:

Reach out to other resume writers or professionals in your industry to gather insights on what they are outsourcing. Their experiences and recommendations can provide valuable guidance as you navigate the outsourcing process. Additionally, networking with peers may uncover opportunities for collaboration or referrals to reputable VAs or service providers.

Identify Tasks for Outsourcing:

Identify tasks that you no longer want to handle or those that are outside your expertise or interest. These could include administrative tasks, such as email management, appointment scheduling, or invoicing, as well as marketing activities like social media management or content creation. By offloading these tasks to a VA, you free up valuable time to focus on core activities, such as client consultations, resume writing, and business development.

Define Clear Expectations:

When outsourcing tasks, communication is key to ensuring successful collaboration. Clearly define the scope of work, deadlines, and expectations for quality and communication channels. Provide thorough instructions and guidelines to empower your VA to perform tasks effectively. Regular check-ins and feedback sessions can help maintain alignment and address any issues or concerns promptly.

Invest in Training and Development:

Investing in your VA's training and development can enhance their skills and productivity, ultimately benefiting your business. Provide access to resources, tools, and training materials to support their professional growth. Encourage open communication and feedback to foster a positive working relationship and ensure mutual success.

Evaluate and Adjust:

Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of outsourcing arrangements and adjust as needed. Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to productivity, quality, and ROI to assess the impact of outsourcing on your business. Be open to refining processes, reallocating tasks, or exploring new outsourcing opportunities to optimise efficiency and achieve your business goals.

In conclusion, outsourcing can be a powerful strategy for scaling your resume writing business and overcoming common challenges related to time constraints, skill gaps, and operational burdens. By starting small, assessing your workload, seeking input from peers, identifying tasks for outsourcing, defining clear expectations, investing in training and development, and evaluating and adjusting as needed, you can leverage the benefits of outsourcing to drive growth and success.