For sure — in many circumstances, bloggers, influencers, and/or small business owners have their own systems in place as to what they need done. As such, much of what is done is learned on the job, so to speak. For higher-paying rolls, there may be the expectation of experience, but general-purpose customer service/email management often requires very little training and potential employers are more looking for dedication, high-quality work, and dependability.

The great thing about VA work is that you definitely don’t need to start your own “company” to get started. Generally speaking, you’ll work on a 1099 (contract) basis and provide support/clerical services to many different types of companies. The most realistic way to get started is probably to immerse yourself in Facebook groups filled with content creators (often bloggers/vloggers/small businesses that create content). It’s not uncommon to see these types of people seek out/put out feelers for people interested in support-type tasks.

In the absence of a portfolio of work/your own website, this is probably the best (free) way to get started. If you have a little disposable income, consider taking a paid course (they’ll typically set you back $100-$400). You can do your due diligence on the courses but the huge advantage here is that they teach you specifically what services to offer, how to actually offer them, and shrewd ways to find paying clients (prior to having your own testimonials/profile on common freelance sites like Upwork and Fiverr).

As a college student, I have no interest in starting my own company and have time constraints (to a limited degree). What is the most realistic way of approaching a job as a VA? I’d like to be as prepared as possible.

Yes, but it’s a smart idea to have your own website eventually that prospective clients can look at when they want to learn more about your services!