Globally, the working world has changed and continues to change. Persons have had to become more creative in trying to find ways of making an income. In doing so, there is the need to gain additional skills to help propel you and help you to make money.
A skill is something you do. Hard skills are those that are learned through practice, repetition, and education. These are things like being able to type or foreign language skills. On the other hand, soft skill relates to how you work. These include people skills and communication skills.
We have looked at ways to make money online, but in this article, we will look at five skills that do not require four years of formal training to learn them but can still help to earn an income.
1. Become a coder
Not just any coder, one who is sought after and can get the job done.
We see how technology dominates many industries today resulting in a demand for persons who can code. Coding is a skill that can be done from anywhere in the world and the learning timeline is usually 6 months. However, to develop your craft will take additional time.
There are different languages in programming. Examples of these are: Java, Python, HTML, C++. Depending on your area of interest, do your research on the language required which will help you narrow down the coding language to learn.
Coding opens the door for other opportunities. Starter companies are seeking persons to serve in multiple capacities. Even if the job does not require coding it does looks good on your resume as it shows that you are a problem solver and critical thinker.
Worried about the cost of courses? Here are a few we have found below that are under $20.
- Learn to Code
- Python Programming Made Easy
- Core Java Course
- Beginning C++ Programming
- Learn HTML5 Programming From Scratch
2. Languages connect the world
So why not get paid for it?
Let’s look at Netflix. It produces and shows movies from different countries across the world in different languages. They needed someone to translate it in order to do voice overs or provide subtitles.
This is your time to turn your dream of knowing another language into a paid skill. Sure you can employ an auto translator but they still have their limitations and often miss the grammatical subtlety when translating word for word.
Here are some opportunities of being a bilingual or mulitlingual:
- Opens up interesting cultural and social opportunities
- You are marketable whether through seeking a job or creating one
- You can travel an it becomes more enjoyable
There is a lot of text that requires human interpretation. This can lead to opportunities of being a speech translator. It can be full time or freelance job and the rarer your home languages the more in demand you could find yourself.
If you prefer skills that can translate to a home based side hustle then being bilingual is very handy. Become a teacher and teach your language online from various well established platforms where people book for virtual lessons with first language teachers.
You can also offer your services to translate peoples blogs, newsletters or websites. This can be done from home on your own time.
3. Copy Writers
Copy writing is the ability through words to increase brand awareness and ultimately persuade a person(s) to make a decision. Essentially the words used will either encourage a consumer to purchase or run to the hills screaming “Ridiculousness”.
As a copy writer you will be responsible for producing engaging, clear text for different advertising channels such as websites, print ads and catalogs. They can also include materials that are spoken, such as scripts used for videos or commercials.
Copy writing will take between 2 to 3 months to learn however continuous practice will polish this skill.
Free online webinars usually last for an hour or two, while some workshops are scheduled for a few days. Courses will take up most of your time. If you take an hour a day to educate yourself about certain topics, for example, SEO and digital marketing, it will take you around 6 months to learn them.
4. Data Science is hot business
Data fuels a business. With data, a company can make decisions that will increase business potential through analysis and the harnessing of the data. Many platforms like Youtube, is reliant on numbers to determine driving factors.
On average, it takes approximately 6 to 7 months for an individual to become moderately proficient in the field of data science. However, by having a well-structured and thorough plan, and personal commitment you can considerably expedite this learning process and timeline.
So if you enjoy numbers, why not look into developing some statistics and data analysis skills? Even if you don’t want to be employed directly in the field of data science it has enormous potential to give you the edge in any work if you can read and understand the data your industry provides.
5. Look to the clouds for data
What do clouds have to do with skills? Well cloud computing is a thing and an in-demand skill. Companies are investing in cloud computing which is essentially virtual storage space, shared software and shared platforms. Maintaining these services is paramount because when they are not working the company will be at a standstill due to inaccessibility of data. This means plenty of long-term employment and business opportunities.
No matter what field you wish to get into a skill is needed. It is best for you to know and master these skills to make the best of the opportunities available. If there aren’t any, simply create them with these skills. You can also make decent money by listing your services on Fiverr and Upwork.
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