How to Get Your First VA/EA Client When You Have No Portfolio

I didn't think I could work online. A friend suggested I post my resume on Upwork so I did - not because I had an actual plan or felt confident. I didn't even know what a Virtual Assistant (or Executive Assistant) was at that time.

This is how my business started over 7 years ago.

In retrospect, Upwork was the right starting point for me. I didn't need a website, a brand, or any fancy credentials. I just highlighted my skills and experience as an online portfolio or resume on Upwork.

At the time, some of the things I put on my profile seemed rather mundane: organization skills, calendar management, etc. Still, I listed every possible skill I had and platform I was familiar with.

Once on Upwork, I started to take as many gigs as I could - anything from short-term, one-time projects, to bigger, longer-term contracts. I made sure to do my very best, professional work. From there, I realized that one good client and referral leads to another.

This matters more than any marketing strategy and is how I have obtained my current clients.

Do excellent work and make your clients happy and they will be grateful and gladly refer you to others in their field.

As I've grown in my business, I've realized that not everyone has the attention to detail that I have and that my skills are a natural complement to people who have large, amazing ideas and can run successful businesses, but lack the ability to keep track of the finer details. Neither skill set is better, but both are needed in order to grow a business. That is what everyone on Upwork is looking for - someone who can do the thing that they can't do (or don't have time to do).

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Looking back, I was playing it safe - small gigs, low rates, afraid of being found out. I was afraid of being an "imposter" and had been selling myself short by telling myself various versions of these lies:

• I don't know how to run a business.
• I can't be as successful as X.

As I've gained skills and confidence and watched my satisfied clients refer me to others, I came up with a new mantra for myself:

I'm learning as I go.

It turns out this has been true all along, but I didn't have enough confidence in myself to really believe and run with it. Everyone who has run a successful business - solopreneur or not - has had to learn things along the way. That's ok.

I know I'm not the only one who struggles with self-confidence or believing lies. Maybe you are also struggling because you are telling yourself things like: "You should wait until you feel ready" which really means "I'll be waiting forever for the right moment and it will never come."

Or, "Well, that person is business minded so of course they are successful" which really says "I can't learn to do that, so I won't step out of my comfort zone." The key is stepping out and trying something. If you don't try, you'll never know what you can do.

How YOU Can Get Started

If you are interested in working as a VA/EA, here are some things you should remember.

Every job you've ever had is relevant experience. If you think you have nothing to put on your portfolio, dig deep and consider volunteer positions, non-profit work, even things that you enjoy to do as a hobby. You won't be starting from zero - start valuing what you already have and make an effort to learn new things while you are growing.

Get good at presenting your best skills and qualities and offering these to people who lack these abilities. Find these people and give them what YOU can do.

Don't get stuck in waiting on the sidelines. Take one practical action this week:

• Write a list of all of the skills you have to offer
• Reach out to friends and former co-workers or business connections telling them what you offer
• Set up a LinkedIn profile - add a professional photo, update your information and make it look clean and professional

I write about the real side of building a VA/EA business — no fluff, just what has actually worked. Subscribe below to get new posts when they go up.