Meaning and Types of Skills: What You Should Know

If a baker wants to bake, he uses his knowledge, expertise, and techniques to make it attractive, delicious, and elegant.

All those potentials inputted into the cake to make it desirable and consumable are known as skills.

With the rate of unemployment in Nigeria today, it is advised that everyone should acquire at least one skill from the numerous types of skills we’ll be unveiling to you.

So in this article, we will take you on a journey through the meaning of skill, skill acquisition, and the different types of skills .

What is a Skill?

A skill is an ability to use one’s proficiency and knowledge effectively to execute tasks with ease.

Skill Acquisition

Skill acquisition is the process of learning and acquiring the knowledge needed to do something. It involves mastering your skill and applying it when the need arises.

You can acquire different types of skills through various methods depending on the nature of the skill you want to learn. 

You can take courses, enroll physically or learn online. 

For example, a roadside mechanic can not acquire his skill online or through buying courses, it would be a total waste of time, so the method of skill acquisition boils down to the nature of the skill you want to acquire. 

Read also: 10 Must-have employability skills for Nigerians – students and professionals.

Types of Skills

We have various types of skills, but for easy understanding, we have grouped them into four.

They are: 

• Analytical skills
• Problem-Solving skills
• Digital skills
• Technical skills

Analytical Skills

Analytical skills refer to an individual’s ability to analyze or identify problems, do research, and evaluate to find out relatable facts that can provide a source for solutions.

Analytical skills are skills required to solve a real-life problem, and it involves being able to analyze data from different sources and draw out information from it.

Examples of analytical skills;

a. Research

You have to learn more about a problem before developing an effective solution.

Research involves collecting information from sources like the competitor spreadsheet, raw data, the internet, or social media.

b. Communication 

Being able to share your findings or convey your message effectively to others is what makes your analysis relatable.

You need to possess good communication skills to your research, conclusion, and solution with others.

c. Creativity

Sometimes you’re required to think outside the box when solving problems.

You need to have a creative eye to discover things that others find hard to spot; that way, you can develop an effective solution to problems quickly.

d. Critical thinking

Critical thinking refers to the ability to make decision-based on your findings and research, all possible solutions are evaluated, and the best fit is chosen.

e. Data analysis

Data analysis is the ability to identify patterns and trends in a large volume of data. It involves the processing of raw data to extract necessary information.

Problem-Solving Skills

This ability enables one to identify and define a problem, prioritize it and decide on the best solution for it.

Out of the various types of skills we have, Problem-solving skill is one of the most important, and it involves the ability to be able to tackle a problem with the best solution as quickly as possible.

To solve a problem, you have to go through the following; 

• Identify the problem.

You must identify and know the magnitude of the problem you want to solve.

• Define the problem.
• Prioritize the different available solutions.
• Select the best solution.
• Implement the solution to tackle the problem.

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Digital Skills

This refers to the ability to create, find and evaluate information using digital devices.

It is the skill or knowledge needed by individuals to use ICT devices effectively.

Digital skills are very much in high demand all over the world, and here are a few selling digital skills in Nigeria.

a. Web development

This digital skill involves creating and maintaining websites and web applications.

A web developer creates websites that are user-friendly and easy to navigate.

b. Graphics design

This is a digital skill that involves using visuals to pass information. A graphic designer uses a mixture of colors and text to communicate with the audience.

c. Digital marketing

Digital marketing involves using a digital platform to advertise or promote a product, service, or brand using different techniques.

Examples of platforms used in digital marketing are social media, e-mail, PPC (pay-per-click), etc.

d. Copywriting

A copywriter is a person who writes concise and captivating text used for marketing a product or brand or creating an ad.

Copywriting is the act of using captivating words to persuade potential customers to take an action e.g. purchase a product.

e. Search engine optimization (SEO)

This involves using quality content to increase the traffic of a website or webpage in search engines, e.g., Google. 

It entails using certain keywords to increase the quality of the content on the website or webpage.

Other examples of digital skills are; 

• Project management
• Virtual assistance
• Data analysis, etc.

Read also: Top 10 sites to learn Digital skills in Nigeria.

 Technical Skills

This refers to the expertise or knowledge required to solve real-world problems or execute a specific task. They are also known as hard skills.

They are qualities gained by using different physical or digital tools. An example of technical skill is: 

Software development

Software developers must know how to create and edit code using complex software. A code converts human languages into computer instructions. 

Other examples include;

• Data science
• Machine learning
• Cybersecurity
• JavaScript, etc.

Now that you’ve known the various types of skills we have, it is essential to know how to present them to employers for better results. This is where your curriculum vitae(CV) comes in. 

Skills and Your CV

A well-tailored CV helps to highlight all your skills in a way that will resonate with your potential employers.

Preparing a good CV goes beyond just writing all your achievements or work experience. You need to have great writing talent for you to be able to write a good CV, or better still, give it to a professional who has great skills for CV writing to help you prepare a well-tailored one of a high standard.

Read also: Top 10 skills to put on a resume that will boost your hiring chances. 

Conclusion

As an individual, you should have a balance of all the types of skills. You need to keep adding new skills and keep improving on the ones you have, and in no time, you’ll become too good to be ignored.

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About Author

Victor Onileowomailto:[email protected]

My name is Onileowo victor, and I am a content writer, storyteller, and fiction writer.

I use simple but attention-catching words to carve out my content, thus making it consumable by my audience.

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