Skill is one of the fastest and also a vital way to earn a living.
Most people work remotely or hybrid by using the skill they have learnt at some point in their life. Skills can either be innate or learnt, but it is important to know that no skill is unteachable and every skill can be learnt.
What is skill acquisition?
Skill acquisition is the process of learning a skill in order to improve in or be conversant with a particular field of study.
The process of skill acquisition is usually very long and tedious. It takes weeks or even months and sometimes years of practice, reading books, listening to lectures, reading of blog posts, watching videos and so on.
The main purpose of learning a skill is to be an expert in the field and earn a living.
There are different levels of skill acquisition. They are:
- Beginners level
- Intermediate level
- Advance level
- Professional level
- Expert level
Each of these levels is of equal importance in the process of learning. Every expert was at some point a beginner. Therefore, every learner must learn the most important part of learning, which is consistency.
Types of skills
There are different types of skills, but they can be classified into two:
- Soft skills
- Hard skills
Soft skills are the skills acquired to improve daily activities used in a working environment. For example, time management, communication, problem-solving, adaptability, interpersonal, leadership, creativity, emotional intelligence, etc.
Hard skills or digital skills are skills that are often taught or learnt, either in schools or in work experiences. Hard skills are quantifiable skills that can only be gained through a process.
For example, computer software knowledge, graphic design, data analysis, project management, marketing, copywriting, computer programming, video editing, etc.
Other types of hard skills acquired by physical training or online are fashion designing, hair styling, barbing, etc. These types of hard skills have been available for years, dating back to the 1600 century and are still relevant to date.
Ways by which skills are acquired
Online or offline skills can be acquired in several ways. Online skills are acquired through different apps and websites. They make skills easy to learn from beginner level to expert level. Offline training can be done in schools or in different locations.
Useful platforms for skills acquisition
Skills can be self-taught, especially with the help of websites or apps where experts in the field have online courses that are easily accessible.
There are two classifications of sites and apps where learning can be done: paid sites and free sites.
Some examples of paid sites or apps are:
- Udemy
- Coursera
- LinkedIn Learning
- Skillshare
- Codeacademy
- Alison
- edX
- Khan Academy
- Udacity
- Canvas Network
Some examples of free sites or apps are:
- YouTube
- Hubspot Academy
- Coursera
- Google learn
- LinkedIn Learning
- Simplilearn
The Influence of skill acquisition
The career world has evolved digitally and it has been identified by the younger generation. Most people no longer want to work onsite or work for a particular number of hours during the day.
There is a drastic diversion of attention to the remote and hybrid world where the skills in which they have acquired is been used solely for that purpose.
Therefore, skills are learnt by so many others with the intent of being free from the traditional way of working and the freedom of working at a convenient time and, of course, to earn more money.
In conclusion, it is necessary for everyone to learn a skill that is of interest to them, whether to work independently, freelance, or use the traditional method. It is necessary to learn a skill that can help in the area of specialisation in the career world.
