Written for FVA by Charis Faith Areola (General Virtual Assistant, Social Media Manager, FVA Batch 6)
I got my UpWork profile suspended right when I launched my career as a freelance Virtual Assistant. And it devastated me. After all, UpWork is the top platform when it comes to getting freelance jobs. Since most of the jobs are on Upwork, I was worried about where to find work.
But this story has a happy ending, or rather, a happy continuation because my virtual assistant career is far from over. Let me tell you how I continued to thrive as a freelance Virtual Assistant even after getting my UpWork profile suspended.
My UpWork Beginnings
I opened my UpWork account back when I was still in college. As UpWork wasn’t as strict back then, I got my account approved quickly. Then, I was able to access the platform. Because I was still a student and didn’t have much professional experience, I didn’t have much luck getting jobs. When I started working as an office-based ESL teacher, I figured I had a little more experience. Then, I applied for more jobs on UpWork to earn more. Still, I wasn’t fortunate then. I got scammed not once but twice. Also, I got a single contract for a trial run for a job I didn’t get hired for.
Bad Timing: UpWork Profile Suspended
Before 2016 ended, I decided to enroll in the Virtual Assistance Course and stopped applying to other online jobs until I got more training to be a virtual assistant. Part of the lessons involved utilizing my UpWork account. Soon after I submitted the first week’s assignments, I got an email informing me that my UpWork profile was suspended indefinitely.
I’ve been applying too much and getting hired too little. And that’s what got my UpWork profile suspended. I tried appealing my case, stating that I enrolled in a course to improve my freelancing qualifications, but they didn’t reactivate my profile.
Surviving The Suspension
Luckily, Coach Grace understood the circumstances. I found a way to complete all of my assignments despite the suspension. But what about getting hired?
Even though UpWork is the most popular platform for freelancers, it’s not the only one. Other platforms such as Hubstaff, OnlineJobs, and LinkedIn provided me with better prospects for employment. Even better, I didn’t apply for the job I got from OnlineJobs. My employers saw my profile (not even my professional résumé, just my profile on the site). Then decided that I was right for the position and asked for my availability. No more interviews and submission of sample work! It was then that I realized just how effective the lessons taught in the FVA course were. Most importantly, the profile optimization.
Getting your UpWork Profile suspended may feel like the end of the world if you’re just starting as a freelancer, but let me tell you that it’s not. With the right attitude and resources, you will thrive just as well as a freelancer, even without an active UpWork profile.
Thankfully, I was well equipped after the Filipino Virtual Assistance Virtual Assistant course. Keep tabs on their Facebook page to know when there are special offers and seize the opportunity to be a part of a family that will help you and your career soar.
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To get more of what Charis does, click here.
