Pricing · Job Search Support
Job Search Virtual Assistant Pricing (Full Breakdown + Options)
“How much does a Job Search Virtual Assistant cost?” This page gives you a clear, honest breakdown of market pricing — from low-cost freelancers and AI tools to specialist job search support — so you can see where a Job Search Virtual Assistant sits and what kind of budget to expect.
This is an educational pricing guide designed to help you compare your options and decide what level of support makes sense for you.
What Is a Job Search Virtual Assistant (and How Is It Billed)?
A Job Search Virtual Assistant (JSVA) is a specialist who helps you with the execution side of your job search: job discovery, applications, tracking, outreach, and interview support. Instead of doing everything yourself, you delegate the admin and systems so you can focus on the conversations that matter.
Typical billing models you’ll see in the market:
- Hourly: pay only for the hours used, often with a minimum monthly commitment.
- Monthly package: a set number of hours and services for a flat monthly fee.
- Project-based: e.g. “3-month job search campaign” with a fixed scope and price.
This guide compares these models to other ways candidates pay for job search help — general VAs, career coaches, reverse recruiters, and AI tools — so you can understand the trade-offs.
At a Glance: What People Pay for Job Search Help
Before we zoom in on Job Search Virtual Assistants, here’s a high-level view of common options and typical price ranges you’ll see in the market. Exact numbers vary by country, seniority, and scope — these are realistic ballparks, not rigid quotes.
| Option | Typical Pricing | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| DIY + free tools | £0 – £20/month | Very early-stage, light search, maximum time but minimal budget. |
| AI job tools & trackers | ~£10 – £60/month | Automated CV tweaks, job alerts, and basic tracking. |
| General Virtual Assistant (admin VA) | ~£5 – £15/hour offshore, £20 – £40+/hour UK/US | Generic admin tasks; light job search help if you train them. |
| Job Search Virtual Assistant (specialist) | Often £300 – £1,200+/month depending on level & scope | Mid–senior professionals who want structured help and execution. |
| Career Coach / Job Search Coach | Packages from ~£600 – £2,500+ per programme | Strategy, confidence, career clarity; usually not doing the admin. |
| Reverse Recruitment / Full Representation | Often £1,500 – £4,000+ over a campaign | Senior candidates wanting done-for-you search & proactive outreach. |
A Job Search Virtual Assistant typically sits in the middle: more hands-on than a coach or AI tool, and far less expensive than full reverse recruitment.
Pricing Breakdown by Option
Let’s look at each option in a bit more detail so you can decide where a Job Search Virtual Assistant makes sense for your situation.
1. DIY + Free Tools & AI Helpers
Typical cost: £0 – £60/month
This is the default for most people: you manage everything yourself using job boards, LinkedIn, spreadsheets, maybe a free CV scanner or AI writing tool.
- Pros: cheapest option, full control, flexible.
- Cons: takes the most time, easy to lose momentum, no external accountability.
- Hidden cost: if you’re worth £50–£150/hour, spending 10–15 hours/week on admin is very expensive in opportunity cost.
2. General Virtual Assistant (Admin VA)
Typical cost: ~£5 – £15/hour offshore, £20 – £40+/hour UK/US, usually with monthly minimums
A general VA can help with basic admin — calendars, simple applications, updating trackers — but rarely specialises in job search. You’ll need to train them and provide close guidance.
- Pros: flexible, helpful for admin-heavy tasks.
- Cons: limited understanding of hiring, may miss nuance in roles and positioning.
- Good fit: if your main bottleneck is generic admin, not job search strategy.
3. Job Search Virtual Assistant (Specialist)
Typical cost: often £300 – £1,200+ per month, depending on seniority, market, and hours
A Job Search Virtual Assistant is a specialist: they understand application processes, hiring workflows, ATS, recruiter expectations, and how to keep a job search moving.
- Daily or weekly job discovery and filtering.
- Support with applications, tracking, and follow-up.
- Help optimising your CV, LinkedIn, and messaging.
- Structured interview prep and research.
You’re paying for a blend of admin execution and
4. Career Coach / Job Search Coach
Typical cost: £600 – £2,500+ for a programme or block of sessions
A career coach focuses on clarity, confidence, and positioning. They’ll help you decide what you want, refine your story, and sometimes improve your CV or interview skills — but they usually don’t run the day-to-day search for you.
- Pros: great if you’re unsure what you want or need mindset support.
- Cons: you still have to execute the job search yourself.
5. Reverse Recruitment / Full Representation
Typical cost: £1,500 – £4,000+ over a tailored campaign
Reverse recruitment is the most intensive option: a recruiter represents you proactively to the market, mapping companies, approaching hiring managers, and sometimes negotiating offers on your behalf.
It’s closer to what agents do for athletes or performers — full representation — and naturally carries a higher price tag.
Where a Job Search Virtual Assistant Delivers the Best ROI
The real question isn’t just “What does it cost?” but “What do I get back for what I spend?”. A Job Search Virtual Assistant tends to offer the best return when:
- You’re already clear on the type of roles you want.
- Your time is worth enough that 10–20 hours/month of admin is genuinely costly.
- You want a system and support, not just one-off CV edits.
- You’d like more applications, outreach, and follow-ups happening without you driving every detail.
In those situations, the cost of a JSVA is often outweighed by:
- Faster time-to-offer.
- Access to a wider, better-targeted set of roles.
- Less stress and cognitive load during the search.
Where Our Job Search Virtual Assistant Service Sits on This Spectrum
At The Hidden Market, we sit between a general VA and full reverse recruitment: more strategic and specialist than a basic VA, more affordable and flexible than full representation.
Our focus is on mid–senior professionals, particularly in marketing, product, data/AI, design and commercial roles. We combine:
- Structured job discovery and tracking systems.
- Hands-on support with applications and outreach.
- Input from recruiters who actually understand hiring.
- Flexible engagement so you can scale support up or down.
Exact pricing depends on your level, market, and how much execution you want us to take on, which is why we don’t publish a single one-size-fits-all number here.
Instead, we recommend a short consultation where we can understand your goals and suggest a sensible budget range.
Is a Job Search Virtual Assistant Right for Me Right Now?
A simple way to think about it:
It’s probably not the right time if:
- You’re casually browsing and not actively looking for a move.
- You’re still very unsure what direction you want your career to go.
- Your main constraint is budget, not time or focus.
It’s probably a strong fit if:
- You know broadly what you’re aiming for.
- You’re busy in your current role or business and struggle to find the time.
- You’re applying for mid–senior roles where each move has a big salary and career impact.
- You want someone in your corner helping you execute, not just giving you a checklist.
Want a Clear Sense of What Support Would Cost for You?
This page has given you the market view of job search support pricing. If you’d like to understand where you would sit on that spectrum — and what kind of support would make sense for your situation — the next step is a short, no-pressure conversation.
Learn more about our Job Search Virtual Assistant service →
London-based, supporting candidates globally.