Three mock tasks that prove you can manage an inbox, a calendar and a file system. Follow each one, screenshot your work, and you'll have portfolio-ready proof in a weekend.
If you don't have experience yet, this is one of the best ways to show clients you can manage an inbox. Build a messy inbox, organize it with labels, filters, and templates, then screenshot the transformation.
Create a separate Gmail account you'll use only for practice or mock work. Don't use your personal email. A separate account keeps your portfolio clean and professional.
Send emails to yourself or ask a friend to help. Aim for around 30–50 emails so the inbox looks busy and unorganized at first. Create different types:
Set up labels like Clients, Leads, Urgent, Follow-ups, Newsletters, Finance, and Spam. This shows you know how to prioritize emails, not just read them.
Create filters so Gmail automatically organizes emails. Examples:
Save email templates as drafts for:
Keep them polite, clear, and easy to edit. This shows clients you can respond quickly and consistently.
Now organize everything: archive old emails, mark important ones, flag follow-ups, and aim for zero or near-zero inbox. Take before-and-after screenshots.
Managing an executive's calendar is one of the most trusted EA skills. This mock shows you can protect their time, avoid conflicts, and keep everything organized.
Use your mock Gmail or personal Google account. Create a new calendar named like "Sample Client – Coaching Business" or "Mock Executive Calendar", so it stays separate from your personal calendar and looks cleaner in your portfolio.
Before adding meetings, define how the client works:
Add events that normally happen in real work:
Mix one-time and recurring events for realism.
Assign colors so the calendar is scannable at a glance:
Open each event and include:
Small details like these show clients you're careful and organized, which is exactly what EAs are hired for.
In real work, changes are constant. Practice:
Take before-and-after screenshots for each scenario.
This shows clients you can organize files and follow a system. It's a core admin skill that makes you useful from day one.
Use your mock Gmail. Create a main folder named like "Sample Client – Online Business" or "Mock Client – Admin Files". This becomes your "client folder".
Inside the main folder, create basic folders most clients use:
Numbering keeps everything organized and consistent.
Inside each main folder, add subfolders:
This shows clients you know how to structure, not just create folders.
Create or upload sample files: Google Docs (meeting notes, SOPs), Google Sheets (trackers, lists), sample PDFs, sample images. Use file names like:
All files should follow a consistent format:
It shows you're detail-oriented, and it makes files easy to find.
Pretend the drive is messy, then fix it:
Create a messy folder first, then show the organized version. That's what makes the before-and-after powerful.
Head back to the Path and carry on with the next task.
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