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Getting More Jobs

By Gayle Buske, President and CEO, Team Double-Click® and VirtualAssistingUSA;

When applying to any job posting - whether you're bidding or applying:

  • Tailor your response to the individual posting. It takes more time, but the more specific you are and the more you relate to their posting, the more likely you are to win a job.

  • Include a salutation. Even though we're in the information age, formality in applying for work is always appreciated.

  • Include a universal closing. Again, an important formality even in the virtual world.

  • Never include a dollar amount in the initial contact unless you absolutely have to. It's most important to begin a dialogue with the potential client before   ever tipping your hand with money. Let them first know what you can do for them and how well you can serve them. Then hit them with the dollars.

  • Never appear to be cutting and pasting. This is huge! If a potential client or employer thinks you're using the same cookie cutter approach (or the mass   mailing approach) with each job you seek, they will likely think that you're too lazy to formulate a real response to them. And, if you're too lazy to formulate a   real response, what does that say about the quality of your work later on?

  • If the client asks for an hourly rate, list an hourly rate. I can't tell you how many times I've won bids because I was the only one to follow instructions in the client's request for bids or proposals. A good example is a management training company we recently picked up. In his request for bids, the client requested an hourly rate. Out of eight bidders, mine was the only one who gave him what he asked for - an hourly rate. Everyone else gave a per-job price for the work. They may have been just as qualified as I may, but because they didn't follow that one simple instruction, they lost and I won.

  • Answer the client's questions. If a client asks general questions in their request for proposal or bid request, ANSWER THEM! Again, this goes to ambition   versus lazy and to ability to follow instructions. There's nothing more annoying to a potential client than to ask a bunch of questions and then you respond   without answering them. It's as if you've just ignored them and their needs for your own. This practice is sure to get your proposal tossed.

  • Ask questions. Clients tend to be very impressed if you, not only answer their questions, but also ask questions of your own.



    "What software programs do you use? How often do you need XYZ performed? What's your preferred style for PDQ?"


    Things like that show that you care about the client and his company, not just about yourself. It also shows that you're sincerely interested in making sure you are a match for the client before taking on the work. A show of caution is always good.


  • Gain the client's trust. Remember, we're working virtually. This means that you can't see facial expressions and body language, nor can the client. So gaining trust becomes even more crucial. To gain trust in the virtual work world, the only things the client can rely on are your actions. So, be sure to always be truthful. Just because they can't see your face, doesn't mean they won't eventually find out if you've tried to wrong them.





About the author:
Gayle Buske is the co-founder, president and CEO of Team Double-Click® and VirtualAssistingUSA. As the head of a virtual staffing agency with over 57,000 virtual professionals in its pool, Ms. Buske is uniquely qualified to aid small business owners in their growth and development through virtual outsourcing. Virtual Assistants across the globe look to Ms. Buske and her organizations for guidance, mentoring and motivation.

Team Double-Click®, the country's foremost staffing agency for trained Virtual Assistants - Matching Top Virtual Workers with Top Companies! Visit www.teamdoubleclick.com or phone 888.827.9129 for a variety of full-service virtual staffing options.

VirtualAssistingUSA provides Virtual Assistants a place to upload their profile, advertise their services and get access to affordable training, marketing and billing assistance for their business. VirtualAssistingUSA gives small business owners direct access to our database of tens of thousands of virtual assistants - without the ongoing agency fees and gives them access to talent that is not available through other venues. Visit www.virtualassistingusa.com for more information.

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