No one will hire you without samples. But how do you get samples without being hired? Here's how to break the chicken-and-egg cycle.
Start with Spec Work
Write 3-5 blog posts on topics you know well. Publish them on Medium, LinkedIn, or a simple personal site. These ARE your portfolio pieces — doesn't matter that nobody commissioned them.
Guest Post
Find niche blogs that accept guest contributions. Write high-quality pieces for free in exchange for a byline and portfolio link. Focus on quality over quantity.
Rewrite Bad Content
Find a terribly written article online. Rewrite it properly. In your portfolio, present it as 'Content Improvement: Before & After.' This shows editing skill.
Portfolio Presentation
3-5 pieces is enough. Quality over quantity. Include different formats: a long-form article, a short blog post, an email sequence. Add context: what was the goal, who was the audience, what were the results (if any).
Use our grammar checker and paraphraser to polish your portfolio pieces before publishing.