Overview And Benefits Of Skill Acquisition
What is A Skill
A Skill is an enablement or enhancement needed to carry out an action or specific task towards achieving a desired result or goal.
General Categories Of Skills
Skills can be categorized into various types based on their nature and application. Here are some broad categories of skills:
1. Hard Skills:
Definition: Tangible, teachable abilities that are specific to a particular job or field.
Examples: Programming languages, data analysis, graphic design, accounting, project management.
2. Soft Skills:
Definition: Interpersonal and emotional intelligence skills that are valuable in any work environment.
Examples: Communication, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, time management.
3. Transferable Skills:
Definition: Skills that can be applied across different roles and industries.
Examples: Leadership, communication, critical thinking, organizational skills.
4. Technical Skills:
Definition: Skills related to the use of tools, software, or specific techniques in a particular field.
Examples: Coding, database management, machinery operation, technical writing.
5. Professional Skills:
Definition: Skills that are specific to a particular profession or industry.
Examples: Legal research (lawyers), patient care (healthcare professionals), curriculum design (educators).
6. Leadership Skills:
Definition: Skills that involve guiding and motivating others to achieve common goals.
Examples: Decision-making, delegation, conflict resolution, strategic planning.
7. Communication Skills:
Definition: The ability to convey information clearly and effectively.
Examples: Verbal communication, written communication, active listening, presentation skills.
8. Analytical Skills:
Definition: The ability to gather, analyze, and interpret information to solve problems.
Examples: Data analysis, critical thinking, research, decision-making.
9. Creativity Skills:
Definition: The ability to think innovatively and generate unique ideas.
Examples: Creative writing, graphic design, problem-solving, artistic expression.
10. Adaptive Skills:
Definition: Skills that enable individuals to adapt to new situations and changes.
Examples: Flexibility, resilience, openness to learning, adaptability.
11. Interpersonal Skills:
Definition: Skills related to interacting and building relationships with others.
Examples: Teamwork, empathy, conflict resolution, networking.
12. Time Management Skills:
Definition: The ability to prioritize tasks, set goals, and use time efficiently.
Examples: Prioritization, goal-setting, multitasking, organization.
13. Customer Service Skills:
Definition: Skills focused on meeting the needs and expectations of customers or clients.
Examples: Communication, problem-solving, patience, empathy.
14. Negotiation Skills:
Definition: The ability to reach agreements or compromises in various situations.
Examples: Communication, persuasion, problem-solving, assertiveness.
15. Emotional Intelligence:
Definition: The ability to understand and manage one's own emotions and navigate relationships effectively.
Examples: Self-awareness, empathy, interpersonal skills, conflict resolution.
16. Sales and Marketing Skills:
Definition: The ability to persuade and sell.
Examples: Digital Marketing, influencing, affiliates i.e paripesa partners, sales person etc.
These categories provide a framework for understanding and developing a diverse set of skills that are valuable in different aspects of life, education, and the workplace. Many individuals possess a combination of these skills, contributing to their overall competency and success in various endeavors.
Skills Acquisition
Skill Acquisition is the ability to be trained on a particular subject, field or function and become good at it.
Skill Acquisition usually requires certain environmental stimuli and situations to assess the different level of skills desired.
Types Of Skills Acquisition
Skills Acquisition can often be divided into two main parts which include:- General Skills Acquisition and Domain-Specific Skills Acquisition.
General Skills would include time management, teamwork, leadership, self-motivation, communication etc.
Domain-Specific Skills would be used only for a particular job or field such as project management, accounting, IT, computing, web design etc.
The Benefits of Skills Acquisition
Lack of skills acquisition is one major cause of corruption, crime, unemployment and poverty. Some of the key importance and benefits of acquiring skills in various fields such as IT, Management or other relevant fields include:
1. Career Advancement,
2. Self Employment,
3. Diverse Job Opportunities,
4. Effective Function
5. Increased Income
6. Crime Reduction.
Career Advancement: A skilled employee is more likely to advance in his career in terms of job opportunities, promotions and job retention than those without relevant skills.
Self-Employment: A skill acquired individual will someday or soon be self-employed. For instance, the article you are reading right now is composed written as a result of the skill acquired by the writer, who then gets paid instantly without having to go through formal job applications. There are lots of self-employed individuals today who do not bother seeking jobs from one office to another. Furthermore a lots of successful businessmen and woman whose names are heard in many parts of the world are self-employed and self-made because they learnt a skill and start monetizing that skill almost instantaneously without having to beg for formal employment.
Diverse Job Opportunities: A skilled individual is open to many job opportunities in the marketplace, he can even choose to work part-time, full time, contract basis or freelance as preferred, most unskilled graduates usually do not get these much opportunities.
Effective Function: Individuals who are well equipped and well skilled in a field are known to perform excellently well in work places. They can practically and effectively lead other team members who only read or studied theories in the same field.
Increased Income: A skilled professional will likely be promoted quickly and will start earning more than the other team members with no relevant skill.
Crime Reduction: Skill acquisition reduces the crime rate in many nations and the world at large, people who acquire one skill or the other are usually engaged and self-sufficient and are constantly looking for ways to improve and stay updated, so much that they have limited or no time engaging in crimes.
How To Acquire Skills
These are sure steps to acquiring skills:
1. Identify the Field
2. Identify the Cost
3. Identify Scholarship Opportunities to reduce cost
4. Start a Course and a Earn a Certificate
5. Enroll or Apply for Internships
6. Build An Online Portfolio for Job Placement
For instance:
If you are an Accounting graduate and seeking to add a relevant skill, you would be looking at courses such as Quickbooks, Peachtree, Excel, Sage 50, E-Accounting etc. as well as the cost involved.
If you are a graduate of Business Administration or Business Management, you will be looking at skills such as Microsoft Excel, Business Intelligence, Business Analytics, SAP, Management Information System etc. as well as the costs involved.
If you are a graduate of Architecture Or Design, you will be looking at AUTOCAD, Computer Graphics, 2D/3D, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe illustration etc.
If you are a graduate of Computer Science, you will be looking at Computer Programming, Coding, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Web Design and Development etc as well as cost involved.
Even if you are not yet a graduate, there are skills you can take in I.T and still be able to secure a good job. All depends on the particular field of interest and cost involved as well as how you can afford it.
An Average I.T and Management Skill with Certificate online can cost as much as 20$ - 1,000$ depending on the institute.
Alternatively, you can look out for institutes or training centers online that offer scholarships on their courses, most offers from 50% - 90% scholarship. You can do this with google search using any of these terms such as: 2021 Scholarships, IT Scholarships, Scholarships for international students, IT Training Scholarship and IT Certificate Scholarship.
Lastly, upon taking your course and getting certified, it is time to gain industry experience via internship program also known as industrial training program. This is necessary to gain job ready skills and attain the necessary workplace experience to get you well prepared for the real job.
