How to Get Experience as a New Virtual Assistant

Lessons from a Digital Marketing Virtual Assistant Who Actually Does the Work:

Breaking into the world of virtual assistance can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re just starting out and don’t yet have a portfolio of experience to show potential clients.

The good news? There are many ways to gain valuable experience, build your skills, and create a solid foundation for your VA business—even if you’re starting from scratch.

Here are some actionable strategies to help you get started:

*This blog may contain affiliate links for programs, tools, and courses that I recommend. If you purchase these programs, I could receive a small commission. Thank you! I only recommend vetted programs and tools I use myself! Please check out my tool & resources guide here.

Hi, I’m Emily

I have been freelancing since 2009 when I started writing press releases for some of my local clients. I kinda fell into freelance retainer work after. It changed my life. As a military spouse who moves every 1-3 years, it was the first time my work moved (or PCSed) with me and I didn’t have to keep starting over.

This freelance work changed my life in other ways too:

• It allowed me to be home with my four kids and be the one to raise them
• I made extra money for fun things like travel, massages, kids’ extracurricular activities or car repairs.
• My brain stayed active, challenged, and up-to-date
• I was part of a team again.
• I got to help people (my clients!)
• I had my own thing outside of mom life or my husband’s military rank.

For the last decade, I’ve worked with clients in retainers, projects, and fractional services. My client load has always been full because I offer a rare combination of marketing skills. Are you wondering which skills to put on your resume to stand out to potential clients? Knowing this is key to staying in demand.

So now I teach my fellow over-educated, under-employed military spouses, and stay-at-home mom friends how to do the same work I still do inside the Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School. We focus on the marketing tactics of email, funnels, content, SEO, social, and affiliate marketing. It’s level-one marketing that opens the doors to other managerial positions and creative specialties.

Landing Your First Client + Experience

Landing your first client is the biggest hurdle in your virtual assistant journey. It’s the moment that shifts you from learning to doing, and it builds the confidence you need to keep going. The first client is always the hardest because you’re stepping into the unknown—figuring out pricing, navigating client expectations, and proving (to yourself and others) that you can deliver results.

But once you land that first opportunity, everything else becomes easier. It’s the biggest domino to push over. So go all in—leverage your network, offer value, and take imperfect action. That one “yes” can change everything.

“Something magical happens when that first client pays you—suddenly, it’s real. You’re not just hoping, learning, or trying. You’re doing. And that’s the moment everything changes.” 

6 Ways to Gain Experience (and confidence)

Why Experience Matters

Experience isn’t just about knowing how to do the work—it’s about having the confidence to say, “Yes, I can help you with that.” When you’ve done the work before, even in small ways, you eliminate hesitation and self-doubt. You’re able to walk into client conversations with proof—not just promises.

Clients want to hire someone who feels capable and assured, and that confidence only comes from real-world experience. Whether it’s through volunteering, subcontracting, or working on your own business, every task you complete builds your expertise and strengthens your ability to market yourself effectively.

Experience isn’t just a resume builder—it’s what allows you to step into your worth and charge accordingly.

1. Volunteer Your Services

When you’re new, volunteering your services can be a great way to gain hands-on experience while building your confidence. Look for opportunities to help businesses or organizations that align with your interests or expertise.

• Nonprofits: Many nonprofits are in desperate need of administrative or marketing help. Reach out to local or online organizations to offer your services in exchange for a testimonial or portfolio work.
• Friends and Family: Ask friends or family members who own businesses if they could use help with tasks like social media management, email organization, or data entry.
• Passion Projects: Volunteer for projects you care about—it’ll make the work more enjoyable and meaningful.

Volunteering is a win-win: You’ll gain real-world experience, and they’ll benefit from your help.

2. Subcontract with Experienced VAs

If building your own client base feels daunting at first, subcontracting with established VAs or agencies is an excellent way to get your foot in the door. Many experienced virtual assistants have more work than they can handle and are happy to delegate tasks to trustworthy subcontractors.

• Network in VA Communities: Join Facebook groups, LinkedIn communities, or other online spaces where VAs connect. Look for posts from VAs seeking subcontractors. We have members of our Digital Marketer’s Workgroup do this.
• Reach Out Directly: If you admire an established VA or agency, don’t be afraid to send them a message offering your services. Highlight your skills and your willingness to learn.
• Focus on Building Relationships: Subcontracting not only gives you experience but also exposes you to industry best practices and tools.

3. Work for Your Own Business

One of the most overlooked ways to gain experience is to treat your own VA business as your first client. By working on your own business, you can:

• Build Your Website: Set up a professional website that showcases your services, skills, and portfolio.
• Create Marketing Materials: Design social media posts, write blog content, or craft email campaigns to attract potential clients.
• Learn Tools and Systems: Use platforms like Canva, Trello, Asana, or Mailchimp to gain proficiency in tools you’ll likely use for clients.

Not only will you gain practical experience, but you’ll also create a strong foundation for attracting future clients.

4. Offer Discounted Rates for Beta Clients

Another way to gain experience is by offering discounted rates to a small number of beta clients. Be transparent that you’re new but eager to provide quality service.

• Set Clear Expectations: Let beta clients know this is a learning experience for you, but also commit to delivering professional results.
• Ask for Feedback: In exchange for discounted rates, ask for testimonials and permission to showcase your work in your portfolio.
• Focus on Your Niche: Use beta clients as an opportunity to specialize in the type of work you enjoy most.

5. Invest in Training and Courses

Invest in Skill-Building for Confidence

The best thing you can do as a new VA is invest in skill-building. Confidence doesn’t come from just hoping you’ll figure it out—it comes from knowing you can do the work. When you take the time to learn new tools, practice key tasks, and refine your expertise, you show up differently. You’re no longer second-guessing yourself in client calls or hesitating when opportunities arise. Instead, you step forward with certainty, ready to deliver results. The more you build your skills, the more confident—and in-demand—you become.

If you feel unprepared to dive into client work, invest in training programs that provide both education and practical experience. Many courses include real-world projects or internships to help you build your skills and portfolio.

• Look for Hands-On Programs: Seek courses that emphasize practice over theory.
• Join a Community: Many training programs also include access to supportive communities where you can network and find opportunities.

Remember, every skill you learn increases your value as a VA. Just don’t join a “start a VA business” course expecting to learn skills and services. That’s why I created my skill-based Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School so you know HOW to do the client work, like email marketing, funnel buildling, SEO, blogging, affiliate management, website updates and social media marketing. Our self-paced training program is open now, click here to enroll.

A quick walkthrough of what a Marketing Assistant learns on my Youtube channel. Check out other videos related to marketing services and growing your business while you’re there.

6. Create Mock Projects for Your Portfolio

If you’re struggling to find clients, create mock projects to showcase your skills. For example:

• Social Media Management: Build a content calendar and design posts for a fictional brand.
• Email Campaigns: Write a series of mock emails for a pretend launch.
• Data Entry or Organization: Create an example of how you’d organize client files or manage a calendar.

Mock projects demonstrate your abilities to potential clients and help you feel confident in your skills.

⚡️Related Podcast Alert: All About Services & Pricing Guides

Remember, every VA starts somewhere. Your first project might feel small, but each step forward builds your confidence, skills, and reputation. As you gain experience, you’ll be able to charge more, attract higher-quality clients, and specialize in work you love.

Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Web

Why you should focus on experience when new​

The competency and confidence loop is key to growing as a virtual assistant. 

As you gain hands-on experience, your skills improve, which boosts your confidence in your abilities. That confidence, in turn, helps you take on more challenging projects, further building your expertise. 

This loop is why gaining experience early on—whether through volunteering, subcontracting, or mock projects—is so essential. It creates a foundation of both skill and self-assurance, positioning you as a trusted professional clients want to hire. 

Without experience, it’s hard to feel confident, and without confidence, it’s harder to attract opportunities. 

Start small, build momentum, and watch the loop work in your favor.

Not a course. A collective for marketers already doing the work.

Our Digital Marketer’s Workgroup is a vetted peer community where marketing specialists get real business support and talk shop with people who actually get it. Applications are open now ⬇️

Start Small and Build Momentum

So go back and read the six ways to gain experience and know that you’re really giving yourself competency and confidence. 

Which one can you implement in the next 5 days?

Remember, every VA starts somewhere. Your first project might feel small, but each step forward builds your confidence, skills, and reputation. 

As you gain experience, you’ll be able to charge more, attract higher-quality clients, and specialize in work you love.

 

The Takeaway: Experience Starts with Action

Getting started as a virtual assistant is all about taking action. 

Whether you volunteer, subcontract, work on your own business, or invest in training, every step you take brings you closer to your goals. The key is to start small, stay consistent, and believe in your potential.

What’s the first step you’ll take to gain experience as a VA? Let us know in the comments below!

Next Steps for Virtual Assistants

Time to get serious about your services

Inside my Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School, I teach go-getters HOW to implement your client’s marketing strategies when it comes to daily, weekly, and monthly tasks… and launches! This sets you up to build a healthy foundation and understanding of online marketing.

UDMA School will give you confidence in performing the digital marketing mechanics and tasks, and help you set up your freelance business, and help you sign your first clients — all for less than the price of 1 college credit course. It’s one of the few VA courses that actually teach HOW to implement the work.

Remember

I wrote this blog because many new VAs ask if it’s ok if they volunteer. If it gains you competency (experience) and confidence, THEN YES. Do want you need to do.

Every project you take on—no matter how small—is a stepping stone to bigger opportunities. Keep going, because the more you do, the more confident and capable you become

Further Reading

Types of Virtual Assistants

How to Brand yourself as a Virtual Assistant

5 Must-Have Tools for your Freelance Digital VA Business

How to Raise your Rates as a Virtual Assistant

In-Demand Profitable Niches for Virtual Assistants