May I encourage all new and prospective VAs out there, to carefully read web pages before filling out forms and pressing submit.
Just recently I got told by a prospective VA that I was rude and she wouldn’t want to work for my company anyway. Why did she say this to me (via email)? Because I told her that she’d filled out the wrong form and as a result we could not help her. She was looking for VA work and had filled out a form for clients seeking support from Virtual Assistants.
The page is clearly titled ‘Client Support’ and explains what information needs to be entered into the form and that the client can expect to hear from 3 or 4 Virtual Assistant team members fairly soon with their quotes and turnaround time.
How can anyone perceive this to mean they fill out the form to get work as a Virtual Assistant? Especially since there is a tab in the menu that says ‘Join our VAs’. I tried to tell her as nicely as I could that if she couldn’t read the information there and determine it was the wrong form then I would have serious concerns about her ability to take on work from clients and do what is required. She took exception to that and was obviously quite angry in her response to me.
I know and understand how it feels when you’re desperately seeking work online and the time involved in going from site to site and making contact with lots of different people. But the reality is if you cannot fill out the right form, or read the information in front of you which clearly indicates you’re on the wrong page, then I have to knock you back. She could have contacted me via the contact form instead asking for advice about becoming a team member. She would have gotten a very different response.
So for those out there seeking work – it is there, but please take the time to read carefully before filling out forms, and if unsure, either pick up the phone or send a simple enquiry via the right form. If you can’t follow instructions or determine the correct application for use then I really can’t use you on our team.
Alejandra says
Kathie,
I totally understand you. I sometimes get emails from VA who want to work for me but the message is full of typos and spelling mistakes. How can I trust this person to one of my clients?
Regards.
Maggie says
Hello,
I just finished reading your article and I found it very interesting.
Do you have an email I could contact you at?
Thanks
Kathie Thomas says
Well, making a contact gets my attention 🙂 or using the Contact form as well. Email sent.
Alicia Jay says
Hi Kathie,
Your situation reminds me of a 10 question test I remember taking in grade school. It consisted of a list of silly things to do: jump up and down with one foot, alternate writing with a pen and pencil, etc. I looked around the room and saw my fellow classmates doing the funniest things. I decided to stop for a minute and read everything. Right there at the top of the page, it indicated that you should read all directions and all questions before proceeding. The very last item on the test read: “Do not answer questions 1-9.” Need I say more?