What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a VA: Tips for Beginners with no Experience

When I first thought about becoming a Virtual Assistant, I was excited—but also overwhelmed.

I had seen VA positions on job boards, and I didn’t meet the requirements despite having the skills.

I didn’t have a fancy degree. I didn’t have 3–5 years of VA experience. And I wasn’t sure if I had what it took to work for myself.

But here’s the truth: you probably already have the skills to become a successful VA—you just don’t realize it yet.

Whether you’ve worked in fast food, retail, an office, or even at home raising a family—you’ve been managing systems, people, and tasks like a pro.

Let’s break down the real facts and real-life skills you already have—and what I wish someone had told me before I got started.

🎓 You Don’t Need a Degree (Seriously)

Let’s be clear: there is no college degree required to become a VA.

You don’t need to go back to school or invest thousands into formal training. While certifications can help if you want to specialize later (like in tech or bookkeeping), most clients are looking for someone who is:

• Organized

• Reliable

• Friendly and proactive

• Able to follow instructions and solve small problems

If you’ve worked any job that required multitasking, handling people, or staying organized—you’ve already been training for this.

You DO Have Experience—Even If You’ve Never Been a “VA”

This is the part no one tells you.

Many job listings say “2–5 years of VA experience required,” which can be discouraging, but that’s usually based on tasks, not titles.

If you’ve worked in any of the following jobs, your responsibilities likely mirror those of a VA:

🍔 Fast Food Worker

Skills you used:

• Fast-paced multitasking

• Handling customer orders and complaints

• Managing time efficiently

• Operating point-of-sale systems

• Keeping detailed logs (deliveries, temps, schedules)

As a VA, this translates to:

• Responding to client emails professionally

• Managing calendars, schedules, and online orders

• Providing customer service via chat, email, or help desks

• Entering data and keeping spreadsheets accurate

• Working under pressure with attention to detail

🏢 Office Assistant or Receptionist

Skills you used:

• Answering phones, booking appointments

• Filing paperwork, typing memos

• Greeting and checking in clients

• Using Word, Excel, or email systems

• Supporting management or departments

As a VA, this translates to:

• Managing inboxes and calendars for business owners

• Drafting client emails, forms, or reports

• Handling client onboarding and customer inquiries

• Data entry and admin support

• Virtual receptionist or CRM tasks

🚗 Car Dealership Employee

Skills you used:

• Managing customer files and appointments

• Updating records in internal systems

• Explaining services and communicating follow-ups

• Answering phones or emails

• Organizing inventory or service logs

As a VA, this translates to:

• CRM updates and lead tracking

• Appointment setting and follow-up emails

• Service coordination and file management

• Virtual admin support for mobile service providers

🛍️ Merchandiser or Retail Associate

Skills you used:

• Inventory tracking

• Planning displays (visual organization)

• Reporting sales or stock changes

• Communicating with store leads or vendors

• Creating systems to restock or rotate products

As a VA, this translates to:

• Tracking inventory and orders for e-commerce businesses

• Planning and scheduling social content (visual coordination)

• Data entry and reporting

• Communicating with vendors or clients via email

Want to know about all the jobs I've held over the years that have prepared me for this career change?

1st job: Cashier at The Home Depot

2nd job: Cashier at Kroger

3rd Job: Merchandiser for Nabisco

4th Job: Call Center Agent for a car dealership's Service Business Development Center (BDC)- two months later, I was promoted to Team Lead

5th Job: Service BDC Manager

6th Job: Customer Experience Consultant

7th Job: My transfer to WFH, Virtual Call Center Associate

8th Job: Violations Reviewer ( Remote)

Somewhere throughout the years, I have also been a Social Media Manager for a hair stylist, a travel agent, an apartment locator, and started a self-care business.

My resume is quite vast when looking at the titles I held. But they all helped me gain the skills I have today that make me a great Virtual Assistant. Take some time to go over the positions you held over the years and take account of the tasks you performed. Evaluate the skills needed to perform those tasks and weed out the ones you enjoyed and the ones you disliked. Start building your business from there.

🔑 The Real Qualifications Clients Want

Most small business owners aren’t looking for someone with a long resume—they’re looking for someone they can trust.

Clients want someone who:

• Responds to emails and messages on time

• Is organized and meets deadlines

• Has a positive, solutions-first mindset

• Can figure things out (even if they’ve never done it before)

• Communicates clearly and professionally

Sound like you? Then you’re ready.

What I Wish I Knew Before Starting:

1. You don’t have to be perfect.

You don’t need a website, logo, or full portfolio to get started. What you need is a clear offer and the courage to pitch yourself.

2. Start with what you know.

Offer services based on the tasks you’ve already done in past jobs. Data entry, calendar management, customer support—these are all in-demand services.

3. You only need ONE client to start.

Forget trying to land 10 clients overnight. Your first client helps build your confidence, your systems, and your reputation. I wanted 3 at first. But after not finding just one, I moved to hoping one person would work with me and then refer me to more potential clients.

4. You can charge more than you think.

So many new VAs undercharge out of fear. But if you're saving someone time and helping them stay in business, your time has serious value. Many new VAs start at $20–$30/hour, and experienced VAs (like me!) charge $50/hour or more. Look at your skills and the tasks you performed. Did you excel in certain tasks and fall short in others? Take that into account. Take what you know and what you're good at and make it work for you and your business!

5. You don’t need to do everything.

You don’t need to offer every service under the sun. Focus on 2–3 things you’re good at and grow from there. You might want to start off helping everyone, and that is ok. You can eliminate services that you don't like and add others. It's your business, so you can make it work the way you want it to.

Ready to Get Started?

That’s exactly why I created the VA Freedom Formula Guide—so you don’t have to waste time figuring it all out the hard way like I did.

Inside the guide, you’ll learn:

• How to identify your VA-ready skills

• How to create your first service package

• Where to find clients (with real platform suggestions)

• What to say when reaching out

• How to land your first client without being salesy

You’re More Qualified Than You Think

If no one else has told you this, you don’t need permission to start. You don’t need a certificate, a degree, or a perfect resume. You just need belief in your skills and a plan to move forward.

📘 Grab the VA Freedom Formula Guide. It’s your roadmap to starting a business that gives you freedom, flexibility, and real income.

You’ve been doing “VA work” your whole life. Now it’s time to get paid for it.