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Intern or Freelance Platform

Chuma-Ezealigo Chikodili Mary JaneAdministrative Virtual AssistanceLevel 1
Good day, everyone, I have been learning Administrative Virtual Assistance for some time now and have been building my skills through training and practice. As I prepare to take the next step in my career, I would really appreciate your advice. Would you recommend that I first gain hands-on experience by working as an intern, or should I begin applying for jobs on freelance platforms while continuing to learn? I would be grateful for any guidance you can share based on your experience. Thank you for your time.

Responses

Members can add encouragement, lessons and practical reflections.

Gift Imasuen

Learning Experience Specialist & VA Mentor

L3

Good day Mary Jane, This is a very good question, and I would say it is a two-way thing. If you have been learning, practising, and doing hands-on tasks, then the next question to ask yourself is: “If I see this task from a client, can I do it?” If your honest answer is yes, then I would advise you to start applying for those jobs. You don’t have to wait until you feel 100% ready before you begin. Confidence also grows when you start putting yourself out there. So if you see jobs that match about 80% of what you can do, go ahead and apply. Internships are also good if you find the right one, especially if it gives you real work experience. But don’t limit yourself to only waiting for internships. Sometimes, even in internships, nobody will sit you down and teach you everything. You may still be expected to apply what you have already learned from your training and practice. So my advice is: keep learning, keep practising, but also start applying. You may be surprised that when you begin applying for jobs and reading client requirements, you will realise that you actually know more than you thought. The important thing is to apply for roles you can genuinely handle, be honest about your ability, and be willing to improve as you work.

8/7/2026, 11:12:59 AM

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