Dear youth, if you are unemployed, yet still cherishing your secondary, high school or university certificates, then this is high time you reflected on acquiring a skill that can make you relevant today. A skill that can sharpen your personality and relevance in the face of an employer, or enable you to startup your own business.

It is no surprise today that hundreds of thousands of youths are graduated every year from our state and private universities, most of which have acquired certificates, testifying that they have completed general education. In the face of all these, looking at yourself in the mirror, practically, what can you do with that certificate? Your answer is as good as mine.

The point I am making here is, our education system has derailed or misguided us to the extent that we become “irrelevant” before our own very eyes – you need a refined or informed mind to accept this fact.

But that is not the end of the road for you. There is still hope. Learning relevant skills that matches the employer’s needs is indispensable in our world of today. Sad enough, our education system does not offer us such, there by leaving us in the dark.

You see, let us examine the time we “waste” on social media daily. If on average, you spend 2 hours on social media each day, it will imply that in one week, you spend 14 hours, unjustified. That is close to 60 hours wasted each month, unjustified. Yea, unjustified. Yet you cry each day about unemployment.

The point is this: you are not unemployed; you have simply disqualified yourself from being relevant. And it is entirely your fault. Yes. Learn a skill, practice and master master it well. Then be rest assured you are already on your way to the top.

Learning a new skill is an excellent way to break into any industry, make yourself more attractive to employers or earn more money and responsibility in your current job or career.

But because of your present work, family engagements, the thought of spending years in a classroom, achieving these can be strenuous and overwhelming, and discourage you from learning a new and relevant skill.

Fortunately enough, you don’t have to worry about all these obstacles. In the 21st century, you do not need to sit in a formal/physcial classroom to learn these skills. It’s possible to learn many in-demand skills in less than a year — some in just a few weeks or months.

When you learn a new and in-demand skill, your paycheck increases for adding new skills to your resume, and the more skills you can bring to the table for an employer, the better your advantage over other candidates, and the higher your value in your industry and the more negotiating power you’ll have when discussing your wage or salary.

Today, I will be elucidating on 10 very enriching digital skills you can learn, and increase your potential employment chances.

1. Microsoft Office Suite Certification

Obtaining a Microsoft Office Suite certification indicates proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. It also requires a mastery of OneDrive. This is perfect if you’re seeking jobs that involve preparing documents and spreadsheets, such as administrative jobs, secretariat jobs, and research jobs. There are online programs that you can learn at your own pace. Afritech Academy is a perfect platform you can acquire these skills. Get it at Afritech Academy through the link:
https://afritechacademy.com

2. Website Design and Development

Every business today wants to be online because that is where its users are. 51% of the world’s population has access to the internet. The COVID-19 pandemic has only added to the increased importance of a website. It’s not only a goodwill representation of the company, but also a medium for conducting the business. As a web designer, you you need to stay up-to-date with the various web design industry best and updated practices, and have the expertise to create a functional yet attractive website for businesses. It is one of the most in-demand digital marketing skills to have in today’s excessively digital world. Your job as a web designer would include the creation and maintenance of websites. Afritech Academy offers a web design training program, with a 24/7 live support and practical exercises at ONLY 59,000 FCFA. Incredible! Grab this program through the link:
https://afritechacademy.com/web-development

3. Graphic Design

Graphic design training lets you express your creativity and convey messages visually. It let’s you get paid by others for being creative. Put your skills to good use as a freelancer or work for a web design company, internet marketing company, publisher or interior design company, NGOs, etc. Winners Tech Institute offers an intensive Graphic Design with Mobile Phone program at only 8,700 FCFA. You learn at your pace, with practical exercises as you move on. Get the course through this link:
https://afritechacademy.com/graphic-design

4. Online Marketing

Companies with websites and social media handles often need people knowledgeable in online marketing to increase traffic to their sites. Learning online marketing skills can help you grab a digital marketing job. Online marketing skills are also beneficial when launching your own business. Afritech Academy has an online Marketing Master program for 39,000 FRS only! This program covers basic online marketing strategy, social media, blogging, analytics, email, automation and more. This program is accessed through the link:
https://afritechacademy.com/digital-marketing/

5. Social Media Marketing

Marketing on social media is an ever-changing field, so staying on top of it is important. Whether you want to learn the basics or more advanced skills, there’s no shortage of online courses for social media marketing. Winners Tech Institute offers an in depth course on Facebook Marketing that covers all what you need to know about everything that matters in Facebook Marketing. The program is sold at only 39,000 FCFA. You can get it though the link:
https://afritechacademy.com/digital-marketing-program/

6. Video Editing and Production

Learning video editing and production can open the door to opportunities with marketing and promotional companies, or help you land entry-level work in television and video editing companies. Training costs and program lengths vary. At Winners Tech Institute, there is a course on video editing at 39,000FCFA, accessible through: https://afritechacademy.com/video-editing program/

7. Google Analytics Certification

Google Analytics is a smart option if you’re on the hunt for entry-level positions in digital marketing or advertising, or if you’re in the industry and need to improve your data gathering and analysis skills. It can be particularly helpful if you’re switching from a nondigital role, like print marketing, to a digital role, like website or social media marketing. You can get this program through the link:
https://afritechacademy.com/

8. Marketing Automation

Marketing automation lies on the technical and software part which is the heavy side of the digital marketing spectrum. A marketing automation specialist uses and optimizes software to automate marketing activities. It identifies potential customers and leads and automates the process of converting them into sales. This is done via e-mail marketing, SMS marketing, website notifications, push notifications, and pop-ups. Marketing automation essentially boosts the entire sales funnel as it creates a large user base and also creates awareness about your brand. The more people know about your brand, the more they trust it and eventually buy from it. The consumer will not buy the first time they come to the website, but marketing automation makes sure it keeps you relevant in the consumer’s head leading to sales eventually. This program is offered at Afritech Academy. Get it through the link:
https://afritechacademy.com/digital-marketing/

9. Content Marketing Specialist

Search Engine Optimization is not enough for driving traffic to websites today. Yesteryear tactics have now been replaced by a strong need for top-quality content. The customer today does not take any action unless they are impressed by the content a business has put out. Content marketers optimize the content the business puts out to be top quality and drive traffic to the various web pages of an organization or business. This is an unpaid form of promotion, unlike social media ads. Though they can still be paid for grater reach. A company has to stay relevant and edgy with its content on social media as the audience has become increasingly aware and wants to see quality content on social media or well-written blogs that promote content for the business. This is a very creative job and is also the driving force behind all content marketing plans and strategies made. This program is available at Afritech Academy through the link:
https://afritechacademy.com/digital-marketing/

10. Copywriting

This digital marketing skill seems so easy when you’re not doing it. After all, it’s just writing a few words for a brand, right? Wrong. Copywriting is so much more than that – it is the ability to fully capture a brand’s sentiment, the brand objective, and it’s public reputation in just a few sentences or sometimes even words. You become the voice of the brand, and you have to work closely with the designer to make sure the copy and design integrate seamlessly. Copywriters are in heavy demand because they’re responsible for creating copies that best help people to resonate with the brands and remember them. Do you wish to get better at copywriting? Get this program at Afritech Academy now through the link:
https://afritechacademy.com/digital-marketing/

I would end this exhaustive post with this interesting quote about skill. “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of skill left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.”