Need some help or have a simple question about the VA Space?

We’ve tried to build this section out to be able to answer the most commonly asked questions.

Hopefully, you can find everything you need here, but if not, email us (note: we don’t have a full-time team yet, so we aim to reply to questions within 48 business hours).

  • The VA Space is a platform for VAs, SMMs and OBMs and associates who are looking to grow their businesses. By connecting and finding trusted, skilled people who are ready to take their next steps, everyone can grow their business, their way.

  • If you’re a VA, an SMM or an OBM who needs an associate, you can list vacancies for ad-hoc, ongoing and cover work. As you create your listing, you can select particular skills, technical packages and/or industries that the successful applicant can evidence - so if you need a SMM who can use Adobe Creative Suite and knows the construction industry, or an OBM who knows about the entertainment industry and accounting, you can set those criteria. And you can scroll through associate’s portfolios without having to send a single message - whoop!

    If you’re looking for VA, SMM or OBM work, you create a profile, listing all your skills, your availability and examples of your work. So far, so normal. But the key difference is that you’re able to share - safely and confidentially - portfolio work, meaning that potential clients can see the scope of your work and experience, allowing you to really show your scope and range.

  • A VA is a Virtual Assistant, offering administrative services, including filing, inbox management, diary management, and everything else

    A SMM is a Social Media Manager

    An OBM is an Online Business Manager

Getting started with The VA Space

  • We’re deliberately keeping the costs super low and accessible:

    • To look for work and support?: £27 a year by direct debit

    • To post a job: £8 ad-hoc, or £27 a year by direct debit

    Note: membership isn’t required for posting a job.

  • We allow non-members to see the types of vacancies available, but applications require a paid membership and a completed profile.

  • Yes! You can have one month on us to build your account, and see what opportunities come up. Simply complete your profile: start your credit card free trial here!

Cancellations, refunds and changes

  • Direct debit customers pay once a year; you’ll receive a reminder 5 business days before your renewal.

    If you’re paying per listing, you’ll be paying as you go as a one-off fee, you will only have access to the jobs board not full membership access.

  • WORDING TBC ON THIS

  • Our Community Guidelines ask everyone to remember that The VA Space is a collective, collaborative space for VAs who are mostly blending home and work life. If you’re not in the running for a particular job, or you’re not talking with any potential clients, just take the steps above to mark yourself as unavailable for work.

    If you’re talking with potential clients about jobs and you’re in the running, message them directly so that they know your situation, and that they’ll need to take steps.

Updating my account

  • In the right-hand corner of the screen you will see a ‘member menu’, pink button. Click this and click ‘Your account’ Under ‘Billing’ You will see an option to ‘update credit card’

  • Head to the directory, and select ‘edit’ here you will be able to update your public location.

  • Head to the directory, and click ‘edit’ here you will be able to upload a new profile picture & amend any of your directory listing details.

Updating the community about you :)

  • Yes yes! New skills are brilliant and we love our members to share what’s new for them. You should be able to update your skills, training and experiences here.

  • Go to Directory/Edit Listing/Update your handle.

Looking for VA, SMM and OBM work

  • No! List what you see as your experiences and skills are - just because you’ve not been a VA before doesn’t mean you don’t have the skills. There’s no such thing as a small first step :)

  • ‘General admin’ is the biggest market in VA work, so: yes please! We’d love to have you!

  • We would never suggest anyone break confidentiality clauses; check each contract carefully. But anonymised work can be shared in the VA Space, allowing Hiring VAs to understand your background without you having to spend time tailoring your portfolio.

  • Hiring VAs will list any packages, industries or skills they need - for example, if someone lists Adobe Creative Suite, HTML coding or Sage, then, they need that experience.

    If it’s something less clear cut and you’re not sure, we suggest you ask the question to the Hiring VA! Women are less likely to apply for jobs that they are more than qualified for, and this problem is more pronounced for women of colour and Black women so - if in doubt, ask.

  • When you create your profile, you can select tags; when a job is posted that matches these tags, you’ll be alerted. Don’t want auto-alerts? No problem - just don’t select any tags!

  • When you create your account, you’ll be asked if you’re actively looking for work.

    Then mark your profile as 'available' or 'unavailable'. You can change this at any point in 'edit your profile' section of the directory.

  • If you’ve selected any tags on your profile, you should be alerted when a job is posted.

Looking for associates

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  • Absolutely not! Holiday, mat leave, ad-hoc or on-going work, the VA Space is here to connect associates and hiring VAs.

  • 100% - find those right people!

  • We’re still in our early days; we think we’ve done a good job of allowing filtering by industry, by packages you need associates to know, by responsibility. If there’s something you think we’re missing, or would help you to save time, please let us know!

  • We created the VA Space to help our members save time; you should be able to filter applicants via the skills and experiences that you need, allowing you to contact those whose

  • We suggest that you let every applicant know that their application was received, even if you’re not taking them forwards, and have draft emails that you can copy/alter.

Posting your job listing

    1. Complete the form with as much detail as possible, e.g.,

    - Cover period (including dates if you have them)

    - Handover/onboarding period (how many days, and if these are paid)

    - Preferences for communication

    - When will the decision be made and how applicants will be notified, e.g., via email or phone.

    2. Select tags to filter down your applicants

    3. Select time length you want the job to run for if you have one

    4. Hit “Publish my listing!”

Managing your job listing

  • Once your vacancy is live, you’ll be able to view applicants in real time, as well as receiving an email as each VA applies

    ou’ll be able to create a shortlist as candidates apply and, once you’ve hit the number of applicants you’re happy with, you’ll mark the job as ‘candidates selected’ to prevent more applicants from responding.

    Then you do your discovery thing, armed with their folio, hourly rate and profile, and, all being well, you’re ready to go!

    Please let us know if you hired from within the membership

    And, to help your associate to build her career, you can provide them with a review or recommend them to others in the community 🙏

  • Yes! You can list one position per post, using the categories to create filters, allowing you to find candidates who have the right fit of skills and industry experience.

    Multiple job posts can run at the same time, you can mark your job as ‘candidates selected’ when the time comes to prevent more applicants from responding. Your job will close after 3 months, you’ll receive an email reminder in advance.

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Communication preferences

  • Absolutely not. We’ll be sending a monthly email with industry insights and tips (and with listings for paid members), but you can opt-out at any time.

    If you want an email alert for all listings, you can select that option through your account settings here; again that can be turned off at any time.

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  • Absolutely; we all know the power of recommendations, and we’re here to help our members grow their businesses. You can do that by contacting the member directly and allowing them to share screenshots on their profiles.

  • Of course, build those relationships. All members agree to our Community Guidelines when joining the VA Space, so all communications need be in line with the guidelines. Anyone who is abusive, racist or aggressive will be asked to leave and will have their membership voided.

  • Abuse is never acceptable. Tell us (providing screenshots if possible), and we’ll take it from there.

Feedback!

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