I like to keep watch on various things posted online, as many of us do and it never ceases to amaze me to see someone seeking a ‘virtual assistant’ and then putting the price on what they want to pay. It frequently doesn’t match up – the rate the client wants to pay versus the work they want done. Do they think that VAs are monkeys? Because it seems all they want to pay is peanuts a lot of the time.
I recently saw a job post at DoMyStuff.com where someone was advertising for a VA to assist with projects which requested the following:
web research, authoring documents and presentations, sorting email, etc. There is a mix of personal and business tasks.
Requirements: excellent English skills, good computer and internet skills, fast turnaround, quick response times
Rates: at most $10 / hour, lower rates will receive preference
When I looked at the responses they got it was from a 16 year old (still at school), another who said they were willing to accept that task and a third saying that’s what she does for a living. All of them were quoting $10 or less.
No wonder people get the wrong idea about this role and think that anyone could set up at home. And no wonder new VAs get discouraged or wonder how they can build up a successful business if they’re going to have to bid so low for a client.
The answer is you don’t – at least not through sites like these. That’s where the Virtual Assistant Networks come in – many list Request for Proposals or Job Leads to their members and the networks are easily found on the web. VA members get listings on their websites and when participating in the VA forums, they get to mix and mingle with those already doing it and making a success of their VA businesses. Why go it alone when you can learn from others? There’s something to be said about mixing in the right company so if you’re looking to become a VA, or are already and going it alone, it’s time to start seeking out the VA networks and forums and get involved! KMT
virtual assistant, VA business, work at home, business building, networking
Leah Maclean says
You make a very important point Kathie! I also see the same thing with web and blog design, as well as other types of technology advising and even many coaches that know. With these “job boards” being global there are many people who will find the exchange rate conversions between there local currencies and the USD$ or AUD$ very attractive. Unfortunately this then gives a false indication of the real cost of running a professional business.
It takes more to be a VA than knowing how to type and browse the web. Just like it takes more to design good webs and blogs than just having a copy of Frontpage.
Keep up the great education of VAs and the marketplace!
Jill Chongva says
Exactly Kathie!
I blogged about a similar one this morning, where a site claiming to be about helping work at home moms was advertising for an Executive Virtual Assistant and was offering $2 – $5 per hour to start.
So what is the message that this blog is giving work at home moms? That they are worth less than the minimum wage?
If you want something for nothing, you will get what you pay for.
Jill 😉
Kylie Short says
I have to say I was disappointed to read that job post on ‘do my stuff’.I don’t know who they expect to get for that rate.
There is so many web sites and blogs that claim to have all the secrets for WAHM’s. It’s a job post like this that gives the wrong impression about the worth of Virtual Assistants and WAHM’s in general. I’m both and yet I won’t be putting my hand up for this job. Why? Because I value my skills and experience more highly than that.
I will be interesting to see the posts I predict about how using under qualified VAs or undervaluing your VA can be detrimental to your business. It’s through experiences that we learn and so too will this job poster.
Continuing to make virtual personal…
Kylie Short
Tilda Virtual Services
Donna-Marie Coggins says
Well said Kathie. I recently met a lady who has a lot of voice recordings of a series of books she has written that she is now wanting to publish. However so far, she has been getting the work done through a job bidding board and for her first two books she paid just $5 AUD/hour and the person who has done this work has English as a second language. She’s really happy with the price, although she then “just goes over it to correct their spelling mistakes & typos.”
It doesn’t make sense? Why not just pay a fair and realistic price to someone who will do the job professionally and will spell correctly and use correct grammar?
As VAs, Mums and professionals , I believe we need to support each other, educate others and not under-value our services.
Jayant says
Kathie,
Thanks for starting the topic. You are very right and exactly this is the problem. I have personaly seen that the buyers want to pay lower than minimum wages and if you bid for $10 per hour, they won’t just respond.
Many times, after the work is done, the buyers won’t make a payment. I have seen this at reputed marketpalce like Elance.
Regards,
Jayant
http://www.cwind.net
Amanda Silverman says
It has come to my attention recently that the rates are dropping everywhere for Virtual Assistance. In 2005 I began bidding jobs easily at the rate of $25/hr and now it seems everyone is wanting to pay an assistant $8/hr. I wish we could see a standard out there somewhere or appropriate ettiquete for employers to follow. I’ve got some great business ideas for publishing a community for the business owners in search of a VA to guide them to greater relationships that last longer at a higher quality. Putting them into play is going to cost serious time and money investments. As an end result I hope to help everyone in my field earn a more respectable income.
Elance is even starting to go way down in payouts. They now force you to place an hourly rate of at least $10 per hour, but providers quote less than that in their text.
Cheers to growth!
Amanda Silverman
http://virtualofficeleader.com
[email protected]
Kathie Thomas says
Hi Amanda, if you belong to any of the VA forums you will see very soon a message from the VA Standards Committee about this very thing.
With all due respect Elance isn’t a VA forum or VA network – they’re about any type of work and it attracts people from all over the world – professionals and non-professionals. If people are going to shop by price only then they will be choosing non-professionals in many cases.
There is no way you should be dropping your rates at all – stick to your guns. Your expertise and ability to get the job done should speak for itself. And no-one should be telling you to drop your rates – that isn’t their prerogative.