The modern marketplace for jobs is saturated. With more people earning degrees than ever before, it is becoming less of a valuable commodity for potential employers to consider. As a result, lots of people have started looking at other skills that they can market.
The internet has made it possible for curious people to learn about any subject they choose with an ease that would have been unthinkable not long ago. Major universities now offer online courses, and in some cases, they are free to enrol in. Learning new skills is a worthwhile pursuit in its own right; the ability to market those skills adds more tangible value to them.
With the right marketable skill, and the willingness to work to market it, anybody can set up their own business. Alternatively, there are now numerous online platforms that are designed to help freelance workers find clients. Whatever skill you have, there’s a good chance someone out there is willing to pay you for it.
Here are some of the most highly marketable skills that are out there just waiting for eager minds to learn them. All you need to develop these skills is some time, some willpower, and an internet connection.
Learn to Code
Coding is all around us in the modern world. Every electronic device you use that has even the simplest of software included must have been coded at some point. Wherever there is software, there are people being paid to make it. Learning to code can, therefore, open up many more job paths than you might realise.
For example, coding can be used to build and deploy web-based applications. This encompasses everything from the software that allows a website to operate an e-commerce store, to cloud-based business software used by enterprise customers.
If you learn to code, you will be able to choose whether to work as a freelancer or take a salaried position within an existing business. Both options have their ups and downs. If you want to take being your own boss to the next level, consider starting your own app development company.
Good introductory languages include:
- HTML for web design;
- Ruby, Python, Java, and Perl for web app development;
- C / C++ / C# for 3D application development;
- Swift for iOS development; and
- Java for Android development.
Learn IT Skills
IT networks within schools, hospitals, government buildings, and private corporations all require knowledgeable network engineers to maintain. IT skills are some of the most valuable around and there is no shortage of jobs available. In terms of making a return on your investment, IT skills are some of the most valuable.
If you’re looking for IT courses, you can find and compare some great options on findcourses.co.uk. They list a wide range of courses, as well as information on apprenticeship training. Take the time to look through as many of the courses they offer as you can and carefully research each one. Make sure that the course you settle on is the one best suited to your professional goals.
Web Design
Web design combines elements from both coding and IT and adds in its own unique requirements as a discipline. Web design is as much about instinct as it is about methodical coding. This is a great skill to learn if your personality is both creative and methodical.
Good web designers should never be short of work, but that doesn’t mean that getting yourself established is easy. It takes time to build up a list of clients and set yourself up with regular work, unless you can find a salaried position, of course.
The work available to web designers is also more varied in nature than it might appear from the outside. Different websites have different requirements and will rely on different combinations of features. As you gain experience in building individual elements of websites and linking them together in different ways, you will learn some other valuable coding lessons by coincidence.
Teach a Language Over Skype
No matter what language you speak natively, there is bound to be someone out there looking to learn it. Skype has emerged as one of the most popular ways of giving lessons in language. Now that smartphones and laptops have high-quality webcams built-in, video calling offers a level of interactivity not possible with voices alone.
There are plenty of online job board listings from people looking for someone to teach them a particular language. Obviously, if you are bilingual you have an even greater advantage.
And, of course, this is a skill you can easily sell in the offline world as well. In fact, you can probably make better money by giving lessons in person. Often, parents who speak English as a second language will hire a language tutor for their children, to teach them aspects of a language that the parents can’t.
Teach Other Skills Over Skype
Why limit yourself to languages? Why not guitar lessons? If you are able to play guitar and you have a webcam, you can easily arrange to teach students over Skype. Ideally, you want to ensure the students have a quality webcam that allows you a clear picture of what the student is doing.
Once you begin thinking about skills you possess that you could teach online, you will probably realise that you have quite a few. A good way of getting inspiration here is to check out YouTube and see what kind of tutorial videos people are searching for. Chances are that if people are searching for YouTube tutorials, they would be interested in someone who can guide them through tasks in real life. For example, a laptop in the kitchen could allow you to guide someone through cooking a meal. There really is no end to the possibilities.
YouTube
If you have a confident personality and something to say, or you just lead a particularly interesting life, vlogging could be very lucrative for you. YouTube will automatically pay creators who amass a certain number of views and followers. If you think you have what it takes to be a compelling YouTube personality, then you might as well give it a go.
Of course, some people are incredibly lucky in terms of where they live, especially when it comes to vlogging. Most of us have some hobby or passion that sets us apart from others, why not make it the subject of your video blog?
Technical Writing
If you have any kind of specialist knowledge, look online for ways of monetizing it. Anybody can write an article relevant to their particular knowledge and market it on a website such as Content Gather. Or, you can scour online job listings for anyone requesting someone with your knowledge. Medical and legal knowledge is particularly valuable in this regard.
If that doesn’t appeal to you, look for online publications relevant to your field of knowledge and write articles for them. This can earn you some good money and will also get your name out there. If enough people come to read your articles, you can parlay that into more work.
The internet has made it easier than ever before to learn and sell marketable skills. If you dream of being your own boss, either running your own business or working as a freelancer, the internet is a treasure trove of potential options. Seize control of your life today and invest in an online course.
