I received an email from someone who could turn out to be a client. She has visited my website and seems interested in my services. However I just received an email from her asking for a resume and references. I am just starting out and don't have referrals to send her. So do I send her the contact info for employers?
Looking forward to hearing your tips and advice.

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Malaika Nallawangsa
Quick Works | Virtual Office Assistant

Do you have a LinkedIn profile? This is my online resume and I have a lot of recommendations on there from previous employers. If you have a profile, send this to her, if not then set one up and be ready for the next time someone asks you. In the meantime you could quickly put together a resume and say you will try and get references from previous employers explaining that you are just starting out.

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Jo Harrison | Virtual Assistant
Writer's Block Admin Services

NO, NO, NO! NO RESUME! You are a business owner now, not a potential employee! I agree with sending her your linked-in profile and you need to create a professional bio, as well, that you can send her.

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

I totally agree with Lily. No resume, you're not an employee looking for a contract anymore, you run your own business. I prepared a company profile for potential clients, stating my areas of expertise, experience, achievements, diplomas but that's all. It's hard at first to change the chip from employee to business owner but start as you mean to go on and approach your PC's with confidence and you'll find they won't ask for resumes anymore.

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Sabrina L. Williams
Your Property and Admin Needs Made Simple

Thanks for the advice, but what about her asking for references? Since she could potentially be my first client, I don't have anyone she could refer to other than employers.

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Malaika Nallawangsa
Quick Works | Virtual Office Assistant

Providing past employment references is fine for now, but I would suggest maybe doing some volunteer work and asking for references from them for future use.

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

I would have sent through a resume without second thought before reading this but you all raise a good point about not being a potential employee. I have a LinkedIn profile but have really never done much with it other than get it set up. I will be sure to get some more detail on there so that I am able to direct people there if they feel the need to see a resume.

Lily is absolutely right, never send a resume! Create a business bio with info about your business. It's so, so difficult to keep that line between employee and independent contractor clear, and sending a resume makes it even harder because potential clients simply see you as someone applying for a 'job'.

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~Tina Marie Hilton of Clerical Advantage
& founder of VA Survival School

After reading your post, my first thought was.....I would want to have an initial consultation with the prospect before sending anything. I believe that intial phone consultation is critical. You can seek further information about the prospect, their needs and their work style while they can gleem the same information about you. I think looking for a "fit" is important. Then, at the end of the conversation, if you both want to move forward, I would send professional references and/or client recommendations along with my Independent Contractor Agreement. I agree with others...no resume!

From my experience, it is harder to turn a prospect into a client if you don't have an initial phone consult.

Best wishes!

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Cathryn Jones
Assistants For Agents, LLC

When I am having a conversation with a potential client I always have an initial conversation to get a feel for who they are and whether or not I want to work with them. Initially if you are new to business it can be hard to even think about turning down work, but if I don't like the potential client then it's my decision not to work with them.

The won't receive a resume from me, but they can check out all of my profiles online to get an idea of who I am, who I"m connected with etc....

Remember you are the one in control and you decide what you want to give the potential client. There is nothing wrong with providing references, but only and only when it's pretty clear there is going to be work and they are simply confirming that you can actually do the project at hand.

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