Day: November 30, 2023

A resume cover letter may be one of the most important letters you have to write. But what is it and how should you write one?

The job market is extremely competitive. With outsourcing and VA hiring becoming more common, the number of potential candidates has grown. How can a cover letter benefit you and catch the attention of hiring staff?

In this post, we are going to cover 

• What is a Cover Letter?
• Purpose and Importance of a Resume Cover Letter
• When to Write a Cover Letter?
• Formatting Your Resume Cover Letter
• Tips for Writing a Compelling Virtual Assistant Cover Letter that Complements your Resume

What is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter, also known as an application letter, is correspondence sent as part of a job application. You usually send this to employers together with a resume. Unlike a letter of interest, a cover letter is for an advertised job opening.

Purpose and Importance of a Resume Cover Letter

In a different post, we talked about virtual assistant resumes and how they help you market your skills and experiences. So what about cover letters? Why would you write one?

There are a few benefits and reasons to write a cover letter alongside your resume. 

For one, it’s more personal than a resume. A resume is a lot more technical. Through a letter, you can introduce yourself in a more personal way. You can convey your interest in the job position in a way that displays personality and emotion. At the same time, you can still be professional. 

Second, a cover letter can help you convince those in charge of hiring that you are the best candidate. The goal of both resumes and cover letters is persuasion. However, the format of cover letter writing is more flexible and allows you to communicate more using persuasive writing. You can show how well you connect to and qualify for the role. A cover letter allows you to express why you want the position, convince them to follow up, and consider you for an interview. 

Third, you have a chance to expand on key skills or experiences listed on your resume. You can tell them what exactly you bring to the table. Anecdotes and stories with real quantifiable results are a great way to do this. 

Fourth, it shows your ability to communicate. A letter gives a better glimpse into your ability to convey information, ideas, and enthusiasm. It’s especially beneficial if English-speaking skills are a requirement. Not only can you supplement your resume, you also meet a requirement on the job brief. That can definitely improve your chances of getting an interview. 

Lastly, you can use your cover letter to help you explain certain red flags on your resume. For instance, employment gaps are something recruiters or hiring managers notice right away. This can be concerning because they don’t know what could have happened during that time. Instead of trying to hide it, you can explain the reason behind it. 

When Should You Write a Cover Letter?

While we do believe a virtual assistant cover letter is important, it’s not always necessary. Cover letters and resumes usually come in pairs. So, it’s a good idea to check if the job post mentions anything about a cover letter. Some mark it as a requirement, others say it’s optional, and some tell you not to send one. Job posts may not even mention it at all. 

So, what situations would you write or send a cover letter?

• If they request for one
• If there are gaps in employment history or other things you need to explain
• If the company you are applying to are mission-driven and goal-oriented

Tip: If it is optional or not mentioned, weigh the pros and cons of writing one. 

Before you start writing, consider:

• Would the cover letter be something that improved your chances of getting an interview? 
• Would your resume stand better by itself? 
• Is there even a way for you to send the cover letter? 

Formatting Your Resume Cover Letter

Header

Similar to your resume, your heading includes the essential information the hiring managers need to contact you. This includes your email address, phone number, and perhaps even a LinkedIn profile. You can also include your address.

Professional Greeting 

It can be tempting to go with the cookie-cutter option of “To Whom it May Concern”. I remember this being taught from middle school all the way up to my high school senior year. However, this isn’t actually the best way to address your cover letter. It could even slightly lower the chances they read your letter. A cover letter is meant to be a more personal application for a job. Aligning with that, you should also use a greeting that is more personal without being unprofessional.

The best way to do this is to address hiring managers by name if possible. If you cannot find their names, then a simple “Dear Hiring Managers” will do. 

Introduction Statement / Paragraph

Like bait on a hook, introductions are meant to reel you into the rest of the content. In a cover letter, the introductory statement is usually a 2-3 sentence paragraph that does a number of things. 

To grab attention in this context, there are a few things you can do:

• Introduce yourself 
• Describe yourself using soft skills (organized, creative, resourceful, etc. )
• Mention the job or position you are applying for
• Provide a brief history of your experience or qualifications
• Write in the appropriate tone used by the company 
• Display enthusiasm for the job and confidence in your abilities 

Body

Getting attention can sometimes be easier than keeping it. The body should be the most persuasive part of your virtual assistant cover letter. 

Here you can detail experiences, qualify your skills, and quantify your accomplishments. However, just because this makes up the bulk of the letter, doesn’t mean you need to or should be wordy.

Your letter should not be longer than a single page with readable font choice and size. A safe example is Times New Roman 12. Make sure, also, to include a margin and to separate your paragraphs. 

Conclusion

Your conclusion can be a summary of your letter. It can also be where you express your desire and excitement towards the possibility of working for that company.  

Call to Action

You can combine this into your conclusion or this can be a separate sentence after. Simply, this is where you subtly suggest a course of action that the interviewers can take. 

For instance, you can redirect their attention to your contact information should they need to reach you for a follow-up. You can also express interest in discussing things further through an interview. 

Professional Sign-Off

You can then end with any of the sign-offs below. Use your best judgment based on the tone of the letter. Then end the whole letter with your name once again at the end. 

• Sincerely (most recommended)
• Regards
• Best
• Respectfully
• Thank you
• Thank you for your consideration

Note: This is the general format that most cover letters will follow. However, always check and see if they mention any formatting rules. If they do, always prioritize those rules. 

Tips for Writing a Compelling Virtual Assistant Cover Letter that Complements your Resume

Write Them Together

Just like you should tailor your resume to the job description, you should also write your cover letter alongside these two. Remember, you’re submitting a cover letter with your resume, so they should support one another. The cover letter should not be a reiteration of resume information, but rather an expansion or explanation of the information.

Include Work Anecdotes/Describe a Work Experience in Greater Detail 

Through your resume, you can show the quantifiable results of your time with a company. A cover letter allows you to go into deeper detail. You can provide more context surrounding an experience that you believe will stand out to the hiring manager. This is a way to show how you problem-solve and come up with effective courses of action. You can also add more quantifiable data you may not have been able to in your resume. 

Describe Your Experiences in Job-related Organizations

If your resume mentions your membership to a well-respected organization, you can include your related accomplishments in your cover letter. You can also mention any contests or events you have been a part of. Make sure, though, that these achievements are relevant and will be valuable information to the hiring manager. 

Use the Same Keywords and Language

Use the language, tone and keywords used in the job description and resume. This shows those in charge of recruitment that you read and understood the post well. Not only that, but it also signals you will be a good fit for the team. It can indicate your ability to adapt to work culture. Using the same language also reveals your ability to maintain consistency. Anybody can use a template for resumes. However, if your cover letter is just as well-written as your resume, that’s a green flag. It also makes it much easier for hiring managers to go back and forth between your resume and cover letter.

What Is Outsource School?

Outsource School helps you to unlock the potential of virtual assistants and accelerate your business growth.

This is the exact system Outsource School’s founders, Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan, used to go from zero to 8 figures and 40+ virtual assistants with an exit in 2019.

Since being founded in 2020, Outsource School has helped 1,000+ business owners hire 2,000+ virtual assistants for their companies.

Schedule a free sales call to learn more

Free resources you might like: 

• Outsource School Case Study: How We Scaled to 45+ VAs and 8 Figures in Revenue
• Free VA Calculator | See How Many VAs You Can Afford
• Free Training on 5 Keys to Working With VAs
• Learn Outsourcing 101 | Guides, Downloads, and Checklists

Conclusion

A resume cover letter takes the facts in your resume and attaches it to a personality. Show employers how impressive you are but also show them that you are more than numbers or figures. A cover letter is also a great way to let employers know how eager you are for the job position. It’s a great way to convince them how well a partnership could work out between you and the company. 

On the other side, are you a business owner trying to make better hires? 

Check out 9 Common Hiring Mistakes Costing Time and Money

Wondering how you can build a stellar virtual assistant resume that catches attention among the sea of others?

This time we’re exploring the ins and outs of resume creation. We’ll explain why they’re important. We’ll also go over the key components involved in creating one, and good examples you can follow. 

Why is Having a Well-Written Virtual Assistant Resume Important?

That’s like asking why you should make a marketable advertisement.

Your resume is how you market your skill in a professional market. There are a ton of people out there looking for jobs. A resume spells the difference. It distinguishes those who are considered eligible for an interview and those who are ignored. This isn’t solely about how many years of experience you have. It’s not even about how many certifications you qualified for. It’s about how you present yourself. 

A well-written resume:

• Shows your capabilities and value you bring to the table.
• Clearly communicates your skills and experiences.
• Grabs attention either through word choice, layout, or design.
• Saves interviewers time by communicating all the necessary information concisely but meaningfully.

What Are The Different Types of Virtual Assistants?

Virtual assistants are simply remote workers covering many skills and industries. This means that the categories of virtual assistants are virtually endless. However, no matter the industry, we categorize VAs into three different types based on skill level, experience, and roles. 

The three main types of virtual assistant are: 

• Follower – entry level, basic menial tasks, less initiative but more flexible.
• Doer – intermediate level, specialized expertise, higher proficiency, more initiative and has own processes and workflows.
• Expert  – advanced level, are typically guides, advisors, strategists and developers. They have tons of work experience and are industry experts, they are those that can manage doers and followers.

What Are The Key Components of a Virtual Assistant Resume?

There are about 6 crucial elements in a resume. Below is the typical order you would write them in.

Header and Contact Information

The main header, which is the biggest text on your resume, contains an applicant’s first and last name. Underneath you will find contact details such as email, work address, and phone number. 

Summary Statement or Objective

This shows up near the top of the resume and acts as a kind of introduction. It is a few sentences that sums up your experience in that field or industry, skills, goals, and even achievements. 

Work Experience

This section contains a list of clients or companies you’ve worked with. It also lists the duration of work. You usually write the most recent experiences first. The subheading usually contains the name of the role next to the company name. Underneath, you can find a bulleted list of responsibilities fulfilled and highlighted experiences in that position.

Education

This section contains the applicant’s formal education experience, usually the highest level attained. It can be high school, college, master’s, doctorate, etc. 

This includes: 

• Name of the course taken (if college educated).
• Number of years in the course.
• Name of college or university.
• Address of school.
• Date of graduation.

Skills Section

This important part of a virtual assistant resume contains the hard and soft skills relevant to the position. You would usually list hard skills first if there is a heavy requirement placed on technical expertise. Soft skills reveal how you manage yourself, the work, and relationships with other people. 

Some resumes include an indicator of proficiency in that skill via a scale or stars. This helps quantify your abilities, which can attract more attention from hiring managers. 

Certifications and Memberships

You can think of this part as an extension of the education section. Here you list other forms of continuing education (if any) such as courses and licenses. Next to the license or certificate name, you can list the name of the organization and the date you obtained it. 

You can also list if you are a member of a professional group or association relevant to the job or industry. 

How Do I Customize My Virtual Assistant Resume to The Job Description?

Not every employer comes to you. A lot of the time you are the one that needs to write an application for a job post. There are many job description templates that are helpful to get you started, but it’s important that you personalize those information fields. 

Importance of Customizing Your Resume for Each Application

There are a few reasons why you should tailor your resume to each company. 

• Management might require specific skills, certifications, education requirements, location requirements, and number of years of experience.
• The department may have a preferred format. 
• HR may include something outside the template, like a pre-interview question.

Tips for Aligning Your Skills and Experience with the Job Description

• Highlight unique experiences you know will benefit your employer and give you an edge over other resumes.
• Write your skills and experiences parallel to how the job post lays it out. Think of it as a question and answer. It makes it much easier for them. 
• Use the same keywords, language, and phrasing they use. Add in some industry language to flex your knowledge. 
• Use language that quantifies your skills and experience. Show how you impacted certain key metrics during your stay. For example, you can use percentages to indicate how you helped increase monthly sales. 
• Quantify experience into years and hours. Some companies may have education requirements for a certain number of years. In the event that you don’t meet the brief, you can quantify the hours and months spent on other certifications. This helps justify your place in the roster of candidates. 

Virtual Assistant Resume Examples

Template 1

Analysis

Notice how Thomas, applying as a personal / administrative virtual assistant, writes his summary statement:

He qualifies that position in two ways. First, he states the number of years (2) he has worked in this role professionally. Second, he states which industries he has experience in: business, sales, marketing, and finance. He also brings attention to two skills, one soft and one hard skill: attention to detail and technological proficiency. 

From those few sentences alone, a hiring manager would already have a good idea about him. 

When it comes to work experience, what can we learn about Thomas from his descriptions?

First company: 

• Appears particularly experienced in calendar management and scheduling.
• Is capable of organizing multiple business trips for large groups of people.
• Garnered trust to speak with important clients.
• Has research and bookkeeping skills.

Second company: 

• Managed emails for someone in a high-ranking position.
• Has experience in customer service and data entry.

You can see that his experiences tell us more about his roles and responsibilities. Notice also how we can get an idea of his capabilities. See how this aligns with the skills he chose to list down. 

How does the example align with the key components?

While they swapped the education and experience section, we see that Thomas checks all the boxes for a good resume.

Template 2

Analysis

This resume template includes a sidebar. One of the reasons this type of resume is effective relates to the importance of information and the direction people read. Notice the sidebar includes contact info, education, and skills. 

A hiring manager can go through hundreds of resumes in a day. This style of resume can catch their attention and give them the key information they need. The other side contains the summary and then the expanded work experience. 

There are four things main things I want to focus on:

• Notice how the summary catches attention. Sierra almost makes a claim that she then backs up with her work experience. 
• Look at how they use industry language that relates to the Amazon Virtual Assistant position.
• She qualifies her experiences and skills with numbers and percentages. 
• Her listed skills are purely technical/software-related. Notice how she makes inference to her other skills by weaving it into the work experiences section. 

How does the example align with the key components?

Of the two virtual assistant resume examples we’ve listed, this one meets more than just the basics. It combines resume layout, quantifiers, and industry language to grab attention.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I include references on my resume?

Including references right there on your resume can be tempting. It’s understandable that you would want to further convince future employers with verifiable endorsement. However, most companies prefer you don’t do this until they specifically request it. 

How can I demonstrate problem-solving abilities on my resume?

You can cite specific examples that inherently require you to be resourceful, show your ability to take initiative, and results of your decision making. 

Ex: “Contributed to the creation of a company FAQ page after noticing an influx of similar customer inquiries. This led to a 30% increase in customer satisfaction.”

How do I address gaps in my work history on my resume?

Gaps in work history can sometimes raise the eyebrows of those in charge of hiring. 

Here are some tips if you have gaps in your work history:

• Be honest but brief about why you took the break using professional terminology such as planned career break, sabbatical, job search, etc.
• Highlight lessons learned and skills acquired during that gap time.
• Explain if the gap was voluntary or involuntary like if you were volunteering, moving, or had health complications.
• Omit months when talking about work history.

What Is Outsource School?

Outsource School helps you to unlock the potential of virtual assistants and accelerate your business growth.

This is the exact system Outsource School’s founders, Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan, used to go from zero to 8 figures and 40+ virtual assistants with an exit in 2019.

Since being founded in 2020, Outsource School has helped 1,000+ business owners hire 2,000+ virtual assistants for their companies.

Schedule a free sales call to learn more

Free resources you might like: 

• Outsource School Case Study: How We Scaled to 45+ VAs and 8 Figures in Revenue
• Free VA Calculator | See How Many VAs You Can Afford
• Free Training on 5 Keys to Working With VAs
• Learn Outsourcing 101 | Guides, Downloads, and Checklists

Conclusion

Now you know how to craft a winning virtual assistant resume to get ahead of the herd. You’re one step closer to landing that job interview and further expanding your qualifications and experience.

 

Are you worried about what it will cost to outsource work in 2024? Let us ease your minds. Yes, virtual assistants do expect raises and freelancers do update their rates from time to time. However, at the industry level, there is no hard and fast rule about rates. This means that you are not necessarily facing an increased outsourcing cost. 

That’s great news! But wait, there’s more… You, as the business owner, can actually manage your costs and therefore control spending. In this post, we’ll show you just how to do that!

Factors That Affect Outsourcing Costs in 2024

Before we dive into how your cost to outsource work is manageable, let’s establish some basics. These factors exist for every person looking to hire from overseas. 

1. Location and Geographic Considerations

Where you are hiring from and where you are sourcing hires from matters. Below are the two major areas to think over when looking at the cost to outsource.

First, you need to know about the cost of living in the country you want to hire from. This is the biggest factor that affects rate ranges when outsourcing. If you are looking within the Americas, Europe, and other first-world nations, you will pay much higher rates. Hiring from less developed nations will allow you to pay less while not low-balling prospects. This gets you off on the right foot with candidates. This is especially true for those who aren’t hurting for work because they have the best qualifications. And, frankly, these are the ones you want.

Second, consider your partner options. Hiring through a BPO or an agency will cost more upfront than hiring direct. However, if you have little experience, having a partner can make it worthwhile. Hiring direct leaves you completely unprotected. So, if you’re not savvy with interviewing freelancers and VAs, collaborate with a team that is. This way, you can avoid getting duped because they know how to spot the red flags. Your partner will have contact in the area you’re hiring from. This means that they will have systems in place to screen candidates to ensure quality and performance. 

If you want to check out more information on geographic considerations, we have the following resources:

• Outsourcing strategies – an overview of offshoring vs. nearshoring vs. onshoring
• Offshoring vs outsourcing – more details on these options

2. Type of Services Outsourced

All things being equal in the above areas, the actual work you need done will affect costs. Different types of skills are priced differently, mainly based on scarcity and cost to acquire. 

First, certain innate skills, soft skills, and character traits can be hard to find. And since you can’t teach them, they will come at a higher cost. For instance, artistic talent, high-level communication, and friendliness. This is why you would pay a higher rate for a talented t-shirt designer.

Moreover, they’d be well worth the cost with a good reporting routing and an easy-going personality. This is in contrast to someone who uses software and templates to create infographics. If you constantly have to follow up with them, that’s not good. Let’s not even talk about how little you want to hire someone who comes to work in a bad mood half the time. You would not pay well for that kind of performance. 

Second, some hard skills and knowledge-based skills are in high demand. Although teachable, some of these skills can be expensive and difficult to acquire, and then, master. This raises the rate that you can expect to pay for someone who has this skill. Note that the expense and difficulty can also make this skill rare, which supports the high price tag. 

3. Skill Level and Expertise

Take a close look at the skill levels and years of experience that you need and want. These two factors can mean a significant bump in qualified candidates’ rates. Most hiring parties ignore this, and it’s a huge turn-off to the most qualified candidates. If you don’t require that much background or know-how for the job, you can hire entry-level. Consider, however, how much virtual assistant training will cost you. They still do, after all, need to get up to speed on everything.

4. Cultures and Time Zones 

Most of the time, a person’s time zone would be cause for concern. This can raise the cost to outsource if you want specific work hours. However, in today’s outsourcing world, most freelancers and virtual assistants are willing to adjust. The best of the best may not want to work crazy hours like nurses and emergency personnel. But they generally will agree to work when necessary. Odd hours can be concerning over the long term, even when VAs agree initially. Be sure you check in with hires regularly. This way, you can make sure they’re getting enough quality rest and not hurting their health.

When we talk about culture, it can be a sort of hidden cost under certain conditions. If you are insensitive to hires with different holidays than you, for instance, it can cause tension. For example, people in India and the Philippines have certain annual observances that are non-negotiable. Other people have certain days when they will refuse to work because of their faith. 

You must know these cultural nuances before you hire so you can make an informed decision. We encourage you not to push people in these areas if they tell you that it’s not flexible. Work around their special days, or consider other candidates. If you are working with inexperienced people, they will not even know what to inform you about. They simply will not know what is normal for them is not normal for you. Make sure that you familiarize yourself with these matters and start the conversation.

Common Pay Structures in Outsourcing

You have the freedom to choose from any of these pay models when you outsource. This is the foundation for how you will control your outsourcing cost.

Difference Between Project-Based vs. Dedicated In-House VA

The cost to outsource can change based on the term and stability of the job. Whether you go for project-based or long-term structures, you can still save. The key is choosing the system that’s best for the type of work you need done.

For repetitive work, the obvious choice is to a dedicated person who can stay on for the long haul. This reduces your training costs and gives both you and the hire the benefits of stability. Then you can work out a scheme for when that hire can expect a raise, and what the conditions are. For instance, you can present a set of metrics to meet. Then, schedule check-ins and evaluations so they know where they are on the scale. This sets a clear expectation and goals to work towards. 

When you have work that is one-off or periodic, we recommend that you hire on a per-project basis. It makes no sense to hire someone long-term if they will have nothing much to do most of the time. You may want to lock in that person because they’re good. You can, of course, give them other things to do while waiting for the next project. However, note that if they are not happy with the other work, their performance will drop. They are also not likely to stay on with you anyway of they don’t like the job.

Sometimes, you’ll have in-between work. There’s no issue with hiring a part-time VA. You may not get the same availability because they’re part time. But you can still encourage a high level of loyalty based on how you treat them. Respect and appreciation go a very long way. 

Hidden Costs to Consider When Outsourcing

Most of the time, you are not going to need to think about hidden costs. Freelancers and VAs pay for their own basic equipment, internet connections, power consumption, workspace rent, and the like. This is one thing that makes the cost to outsource so low! All you need to pay for in most cases is their rate. Maybe you purchase special software tools that you require them to use. That is, if they did not specify that it’s included with the rate. 

So, what are the hidden charges you need to look out for?

This usually refers to the cost that you face for being careless. 

One way to get into trouble here is not having clear agreements with hires or with hiring partners like BPOs and agencies. You have to specify everything and get written consent as much as possible. This will save you from future battles – some of them legal.

Another hidden cost comes to bite you unexpectedly. This one is what you get for low-balling candidates. You may think you got away with paying a lower rate than a prospect asked for. Unless you make up for it, and quick, you will most likely find yourself holding the short end of the stick. No one likes to be stiffed, and no matter how much a candidate agrees and smiles, they aren’t dumb. If you mistreat them by being cheap, they will usually find a way to get back at you. Here are a few common ways you’ll pay for it:

• Underperforming whenever they can get away with it
• Stealing (clients, goods, subscriptions, etc.)
• Dropping you as soon as a better offer comes along
• Reporting you and your business to inner circles so no one decent in the online community will want to work with you

What Is Outsource School?

Outsource School helps you to unlock the potential of virtual assistants and accelerate your business growth.

This is the exact system Outsource School’s founders, Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan, used to go from zero to 8 figures and 40+ virtual assistants with an exit in 2019.

Since being founded in 2020, Outsource School has helped 1,000+ business owners hire 2,000+ virtual assistants for their companies.

Schedule a free sales call to learn more

Free resources you might like: 

• Outsource School Case Study: How We Scaled to 45+ VAs and 8 Figures in Revenue
• Free VA Calculator | See How Many VAs You Can Afford
• Free Training on 5 Keys to Working With VAs
• Learn Outsourcing 101 | Guides, Downloads, and Checklists

Conclusion

When you count the cost to outsource, you are planning for success. We all know that failing to plan is planning to fail, and cost analysis is vital. We are confident, however, that choosing the right combination of factors will spell success for your outsourcing journey. The right location, skills and experience, and payment structure can keep costs down and productivity high.

 

Are you looking for the best entrepreneur podcasts out there? 

About half of the U.S. has listened to a podcast, citing entertainment and learning as the major reasons. 

So, we’ve collected 25 podcasts that fit this category. 

1. Goal Digger Podcast

This workshop-like listening experience is one of the top marketing podcasts. It has millions of downloads and over 700 episodes. Jenna Hutcher, the host, is a self-made millionaire. She draws on her experience as a best-selling author, digital marketer, mother, and much more. Along with her guests, they dive into topics surrounding business, marketing, and life. The goal is to help others live their dream lives. 

2. The Side Hustle Show

This is an award-winning, top-rated entrepreneurship podcast. It helps people start and improve their business. Nick Loper is a former 9-5 worker turned successful entrepreneur, author, and coach. He helps those who are looking for financial security and freedom. On the podcast, he interviews business owners who have made money in creatively different ways. It’s all about real strategies, actionable steps, and applications that 100,000+ listeners tune in for. 

3. Working Hard, Hardly Working

This popular business podcast blends business tips with life advice. It’s great for anyone on the spectrum of “working hard to hardly working”. Host Grace Beverely is an entrepreneur and lifestyle and fitness influencer with millions of followers. She interviews guests from all walks of life and success. Their discussions cover a wide range of topics. These include entrepreneurial lessons and experiences, mental and physical health, and social issues. 

4. The Diary of a CEO

The UK’s top podcast features influential people from all over the world. They tell their stories in a very honest and open dialogue style. The host is entrepreneur, investor, best-selling author, and former Dragon’s Den star Steven Bartlett. He speaks candidly with celebrities of all types. Their near 300 episode count features athletes, musicians, CEOs, doctors, PhDs, authors, and many other experts and influencers. 

5. The Tim Ferriss Show

This is the first business / interview podcast to reach 100 million downloads. It remains one of the best entrepreneur podcasts, with now over 900 million downloads. Tim Ferriss is a best-selling author, guest speaker, and technology investor / advisor. This “Oprah of Audio” interviews other world renowned people from various walks of life. Targeted areas include business, sports, history, self-improvement, and more. These 2-3 hour episodes are packed with information, raw discussions, and actionable steps to apply in your own life.

6. The How of Business

This podcast teaches entrepreneurs “how to start, run, and grow a small business.” Host Henry Lopez takes his 35 years of business experience and uses it to teach other aspiring business owners. From the title, you can expect to learn how to do it all, too. His industry knowledge is diverse. These include restaurants, software systems, real estate, sales and marketing, and small business coaching and consulting.

7. BiggerPockets Money Podcast

Looking for ways to get out of debt, grow your money, and gain financial freedom? Co-hosts and finance experts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench interview entrepreneurs and breakdown listener money stories. Learn earning tactics, spending tips, and get a grip on your personal finances. 

8. Entrepreneurs on Fire

Consistently generating more than a million views and 7 figures monthly, EOP is a top rated, award-winning podcast. Podcast host and author, John Lee Dumas, has interviewed thousands of successful entrepreneurs. This winner has put out over 3000 episodes to date. He aims to both inspire and give real strategies to help those seeking financial freedom and fulfillment.

9. Ambitious Entrepreneur Show

This is an award-winning marketing and entrepreneurship podcast aimed at businesses that want to stand out. Annemarie Cross, “The Podcasting Queen”, is a pioneer in the space. She has over 13 years of podcasting experience. She and her guests coach business owners in podcast strategy, client relationships, branding, and other areas. 

10. Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders

This is produced by Stanford eCorner—a place where people can access Stanford ideas, research and insights for free. This series focuses on the entrepreneurial journey. Here, entrepreneurs and innovators share their successes and failures along the way. 

11. The $100 MBA Show

This Best of iTunes show is all about providing practical business tips. Get practical business insights and advice from Omar Zenhom, the founder of WebinarNinja. There are 2000+ 15-20min episodes for those who prefer a more straightforward approach to business advice content. 

12. How I Built This

This podcast explores how entrepreneurs built some of the world’s most influential and iconic brands. This is only one of the many successful podcasts hosted by Guy Raz. He is one of the most popular in the podcasting space. He consistently brings in over 19 million views across multiple shows. This show focuses on innovation, leadership, creativity, and deep conversations surrounding challenges and failures. 

13. The Rise to the Top

This podcast takes us backstage of the host’s 7 figure online business. David Siteman Garland is a founder of many successful businesses, including The Rise to the Top. This business helps people create online courses. He narrates “the good, bad, and ugly” behind the scenes and interviews other entrepreneurs as well. There hasn’t been a new episode in years, but there is still a lot of advice, tips, and stories packed in.  

14. Smart Passive Income

This podcast helps listeners create multiple passive income streams so they can do what they love. Mainly, people love to learn how not to experience business burnout. Pat Flynn is the founder of the Smart Passive Income blog, which provides online education for entrepreneurs. He shares real-life experiences as a 6-figure business owner and inventor. Learn about marketing strategies, niche markets, SEO, building authority, online course creation, and more.

15. The Startup Chat

This is another podcast on the shorter side with 20-minute conversations. Hosts Steli Efti and Hiten Shah are serial entrepreneurs. They are nest knows for being sales and marketing experts and founders of multi-million dollar startups. No guests or fluff, just unfiltered yet succinct advice from CEOs who know the value of time. 

16. The GaryVee Audio Experience

This podcast is a collection of audio snippets and full episodes from various places. You’ll find talks, shows, videos, and speeches, as well as original content. Gary Vaynerchuck is a serial entrepreneur, including CEO of VaynerMedia. He’s also a best-selling author and content creator. Interestingly, he was an angel investor in Facebook and Twitter. He shares advice from his experience as a multi-business owner, advisor, and trendspotter. With his sheer influence in the space, he had to make it on this best entrepreneur podcasts list. 

17. Youpreneur

Focusing on “the business of you”, this podcast aims to help people grow their personal brand, become profitable, and industry authorities. Helming this is Chris Ducker, an international keynote speaker, entrepreneur, advisor, and investor. He created the term “Youpreneur.” This is for entrepreneurs building sustainable businesses based on their expertise and personality. 

18. Planet Money

This is one of the many podcasts created by the National Public Radio (NPR) network. In 20-30 minutes, learn how anything can connect to the economy. Gain a better understanding of the economy and the world it operates in.

19. My First Million

This one is under the HubSpot Podcast Network co-hosted by business owners Sam Paar and Shaan Puri. Here, they brainstorm potential business ideas and opportunities you can try yourself. They also do business breakdowns and interview the brains behind built and failed businesses. Their hope is you reach that first million of whatever metric you choose.

20. The School of Greatness

After two life-changing injuries, one his dad’s and another his own, host Lewis Howles began his podcast. Once a former two-time All-American, he is now an entrepreneur and coach. He is also the best-selling author of a book of the same name. His goal is now to help others overcome challenges and achieve greatness. The show offers a collection of 1000+ interviews with prominent individuals. They discuss subjects like business and self-development.

21. Listen Money Matters

Matt Giovanisci and Andrew Fiebert partner together to bring you a down-to-earth personal finance podcast. If the other podcasts aren’t raw or real enough for you, try this one. Matt and Andrew bring humor, relatability, and energy to financial discussions. Whether you’re a novice or seasoned professional, you can benefit from their research and experience.

22. The Mind Your Business Podcast

James Wedmore guides listeners on how to make a lasting impression with the passion of bringing them from entrepreneur to CEO. To James, the 7 figure entrepreneur and business coach, his goal is to help people make real money doing what they really love. He believes that mindset and attitude are key and not simply hustling and grinding to the top. 

23. Mixergy

As the name suggests, Mixergy is a platform where visitors can learn and grow by listening to a mix of people. Andrew Warner, co-creator of a multi-million dollar earning internet business, founded Mixergy for ambitious people to learn from thousands of startup stories. Mixergy aims for you to get passionate about a vision and get help to turn it into reality. 

24. Tony Robbins Podcast

Almost a man in need of no introduction, this features the top world-famous business and life strategist. He shares advice that impacts millions. He is a multi-national best-selling author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. That’s on top of being a personal coach for U.S. Presidents and popular celebrities. Learn from a man with 45+ years of experience speaking about success, business, and personal development.

25. Masters of Scale

The final entry in our best entrepreneur podcasts list is one packed with recognizable brands. Here, they tell their “rags to riches” stories. The show has two formats. One, hosted by Reid Hoffman of LinkedIn, focuses more on the business journey. The other is faster paced and focuses on the wisdom of these entrepreneurs in specific situations. Bob Safian, former editor in chief at the Fast Company, hosts the second format.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of having my own podcast?

Podcasts are a great way to build your brand voice, connect with your audience, share your knowledge, and create accessible content. 

How does being on podcasts help my business?

Here are three reasons:

• You can communicate your expertise and knowledge in your industry to a wider audience. 
• Dialoguing with prominent creators in the space helps generate traffic to your site. 
• You can build connections and possible networks with other entrepreneurs.

What Is Outsource School?

Outsource School helps you to unlock the potential of virtual assistants and accelerate your business growth.

This is the exact system Outsource School’s founders, Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan, used to go from zero to 8 figures and 40+ virtual assistants with an exit in 2019.

Since being founded in 2020, Outsource School has helped 1,000+ business owners hire 2,000+ virtual assistants for their companies.

Schedule a free sales call to learn more

Free resources you might like: 

• Outsource School Case Study: How We Scaled to 45+ VAs and 8 Figures in Revenue
• Free VA Calculator | See How Many VAs You Can Afford
• Free Training on 5 Keys to Working With VAs
• Learn Outsourcing 101 | Guides, Downloads, and Checklists

Conclusion

Maybe you’ve run your business for many years. Or, you could be just starting out, or not even have any ideas yet. Whatever the case, you can learn a lot from others in the same space. You can find out how to dive deeper into your passion, learn the work-life balance, or discover hustle opportunities. If you have a few minutes to spare or can dedicate hours, this list of the best entrepreneur podcasts has something for everyone. 

Are you looking for a virtual assistant training program? Whether you’re here to get an assistant enrolled or are a freelancer looking to upskill, these are for you! We’ve handpicked them from a multitude of online courses that are available today. We think they’re excellent. And we know that the right one for your needs is going to be a game-changer for your business!

1. The SavvySystem

The SavvySystem is the virtual assistant training program from The Virtual Savvy, a blog run by a freelancer. She was a mom who wanted to work from home – like many out there today! Her program teaches others how to take the steps that led her to success. Of course, that’s without making all of the same mistakes in the process. Abbey Ashley’s signature, step-by-step blueprint helps people launch and grow their own at-home businesses. The formula promises to produce profitable businesses, from scratch. She also offers a lot of free information on the blog itself.

2. Udemy

The Udemy platform currently offers 210,000+ online video courses. They add new ones every month, and many of them focus around technical skills. These include web development, data science, Amazon AWS, and design. They also have some material around personal development and the arts, though. Udemy is a trusted name is online education. They’re well-known as the place to go to upskill your teams.

3. Coursera

The Coursera website is home to over 7,000 courses from over 300 leading universities and companies. You can get started for as low as $1 and dive into offerings from Yale, Duke, Stanford, Google, Microsoft, IBM, and more. They also boast of being able to get course-takers launched into new careers in as few as 6 months. 

You can earn qualifications in a variety of areas that are perfect for online work. These include project management, business, sales, digital marketing, data science and analytics, UX design, bookkeeping, front-end development, and so many more. This platform has so much to offer, from free short courses to degree programs.

4. Fully Booked VA

This set of resources claims to “fast-track your virtual assistant business.” They’re free, and they aim to help people start a VA business. The starter pack includes lists of services to offer, which can come in handy. What we love best is the skills inventory process. This helps VAs pinpoint the valuable skills and abilities that they have and might not know about. The rest can serve as inspiration – after all, we can always learn new skills! That’s what virtual assistant training programs are all about, after all. The self-assessment workbook is an amazing supplement to this. It can guide VAs and clients to match virtual assistants with the right tasks based on what they’re already good at. 

5. 90 Day VA

This hub boasts that with them, you can “learn the most in-demand skills to work from anywhere.” Moreover, you’ll be “on flex time without being chained to a desk or your phone all day.” That’s quite a claim! Of course, this is what being a freelancer is all about – we are just so impressed that they can teach people to get there within 90 days! 

We love that they make the key distinction between the usual remote jobs and what you need to do to really experience freedom. Hundreds of millions of businesses need help on a variety of tasks. And not all of them require you to be tied to your desk in a super quiet environment with zero interruptions… Might as well work at an office!

Real freedom comes with work you can do anywhere you can access the internet, taking breaks when you need to. This course helps you target work so you’re not scraping by on minimum wage while paying your own internet and power bills to boot! 

6. Skillshare

Skillshare is sort of like the flip side of Udemy. They are reliable, don’t get me wrong! It’s that they focus more on the creative side and lifestyle skills, but have some technical courses, too. What we love about Skillshare is how they are consciously building a global community of creatives. Once you are in, you can connect with groups within the over 600,000-strong enrolled students. 

You can get started for free and see if it works for you. If you have teams to train, Skillshare is already set up to handle groups. They even offer soft skills classes, which is rare! 

7. Virtual Excellence Academy

Enrollment for the business building program is closed for 2023, but you can join the 2024 waitlist! This virtual assistant training program aims at equipping next-level online service providers. If you or your team is ready to make a big impact on the business world, this course is for you. It works for all VAs, from beginners in the online space to freelancers who want to reach higher heights. The goal of the business building course is to give you the footing you need to establish long-term success. You choose your work to live the lifestyle you want. 

Teh Virtual; Excellence Academy has a support community, too, called The Inner Circle. This is where members can collaborate and learn together, creating connections for fin and business. 

8. LinkedIn Learning

Millions of people are currently taking advantage of LinkedIn Learning, formerly Linda.com. This platform is famous for business networking, so what better place to go to upskill? You can find a ton of in-demand skills here – they should know best what the latest and greatest are! They have accumulated over 20,000 online courses, too, from real-world professionals. The first month is free, so you can test it out, and you can cancel at any time.

9. HubSpot Academy

HubSpot began as a customer platform. From their original CRM, they grew into a marketplace for remote workers. They offered tools like time tracking software, and even built a platform for hiring remote VAs. Today, you can enroll in a free virtual assistant training program under the same umbrella. 

HubSpot Academy offers not only free but unlimited access to their courses. They cover hundreds of topics, and all you need to do is sign up. You can jump into short, practical courses or dig into deeper, more comprehensive certifications. The platform focuses on the most sought-after business skills, so you can’t go wrong here. Because of their connections in the business realm, they can point you to the hottest business topics. Like LinkedIn Learning, you get updated on the latest trends in sales, digital marketing, lead generation, customer support, and more.

As you complete certifications to earn badges, you can share these industry-recognized marks to your LinkedIn profile. When companies see them, they’ll know you’re for real because HubSpot awards globally-recognized certifications. 

10. Domestika

Domestika offers online courses for creative professionals. They are, after all, the largest online community for creatives. Although the word “creatives” usually triggers thoughts of arts and crafts, that’s not all they offer. Creatives like copywriters and marketers can benefit from a lot of content that goes into deep specifics.

For instance, you can learn about editorial design, design management, digital lettering, communication, film photography, concept art, creating comics, and so much more. Domestika also has a blog where you can learn a lot of stuff free of charge. If you sign up to be a Plus member, you can get some courses for free.

11. Fiverr Learn

As a gig marketplace, Fiverr is in a great position to know what skills are the most in-demand. This opportunity gave rise to Fiverr Learn, where you can take on-demand professional courses. The website boldly states that all these are “led by the world’s top experts.” How can you go wrong? It looks like any gig work you can do from a laptop with an internet connection, you can learn to do here.

These short courses are great for gaining knowledge and skills, even with a busy schedule. You can take a 2-hour course or sign up for 10 hours or more of learning. Because you’re learning from experts, you are sure to get proven and practical skills and processes that you can apply to your work right away.

12. Google Skillshop & Cloud Skills Boost

Google Cloud Skills Boost offers learning paths for skill-building. If you already have the skills, you can join for knowledge and skills validation. The Generative AI learning path is free of cost and includes 10 courses to teach you all the basics that you need. Everything is taught by Google Cloud experts, so you are getting it straight from the best. You can join other paths as well, which Google calls “guided journeys.” You will navigate learning activities to gain new skills for career growth. 

Paths include Duet AI in Google Workspace, Network Engineer, IT Heroes Summit, Data Analyst, Google Workspace Administrator, BI and Analytics with Looker, DevSecOps, Public Sector, and more. You can also get into profession-specific paths like Cloud Architect and Google Cloud Infrastructure for Apigee, Azure and AWS. The full catalog of Google Cloud authored content is only available after purchasing a subscription. 

What Is Outsource School?

Outsource School helps you to unlock the potential of virtual assistants and accelerate your business growth.

This is the exact system Outsource School’s founders, Nathan Hirsch and Connor Gillivan, used to go from zero to 8 figures and 40+ virtual assistants with an exit in 2019.

Since being founded in 2020, Outsource School has helped 1,000+ business owners hire 2,000+ virtual assistants for their companies.

Schedule a free sales call to learn more

Free resources you might like: 

• Outsource School Case Study: How We Scaled to 45+ VAs and 8 Figures in Revenue
• Free VA Calculator | See How Many VAs You Can Afford
• Free Training on 5 Keys to Working With VAs
• Learn Outsourcing 101 | Guides, Downloads, and Checklists

Conclusion

Getting certifications is not necessary. They are helpful, though, on both the freelancer and business owner sides. If you are going to learn a VA skill, you might as well be able to prove it. This makes it easier for potential clients to see what you can do. If you are a business owner and you want a hire to learn more, short courses are a great option. You can pay for the virtual assistant training programs yourself.

Alternatively, you can give incentives for them to earn certifications, like a raise when they complete a course and start applying what they’ve learned. If you request or require a skill upgrade, however, more of the burden should fall on you. If a VA suggests upskilling to help your business, you can evaluate and see if you should shoulder the costs.