Waking up everyday thinking what to do? Feeling bored during the long lockdown? Finding ways to pass these endless days?
Well here is my 10 skills to learn during lockdown that will cure YOUR boredom!!!
And make you some money down the road!
1) Coding
One of the skills to learn during lockdown, for all those who thought coding was for geeks and tech geniuses, nothing could be further from the truth. Coding knowledge is good for you and essential in a digital economy.
According to CNA, 19 secondary schools now teach programming at the GCE O-Level. 6 IP schools or junior colleges offer computing as an A-Level subject. Applications to IT-related degrees are rising in local universities.
Coding can help you be a better problem-solver. This is because coding helps you break down a program and solve it logically.
Coding is also a huge bonus on your CV as it opens many doors and opportunities. With the numerous free online courses available, coding is now mainstream
Places To Apply:
Beginner who have no coding knowledge might find it difficult to start. However, they are many places offering coding course for beginners such as Skills future.
They provide a course for beginners conducted by Nanyang Polytechnic for just 7 hours which cost just $260 and $78 after subsidy depending on your subsidy.
For those who are busy and prefer to learn on their own pace. My Favourite place is Udemy, they also provide a course for beginner too!!
The course cost $200 but Udemy provides regular promotion which cut these courses up to 90%!!!! They also have course that you can use your skillsfuture too!! Check it out!!
YouTube is another great place to learn coding one such channel that I recommend is freeCodeCamp.org
2) Digital Marketing
We all know the importance of digital marketing, especially during these times of crisis where literally 90% of Singaporeans are online!! This is the best skill to learn during lockdown!!
To become a successful digital marketer, you need to develop the skills required to work with all online marketing technologies.
In addition, you need to acquire the necessary knowledge so that you can combine them together to achieve the best possible results.
It’s hard work that requires a lot of patience and perseverance. However, the good news is that you don’t have to attend college or a classroom course to become an expert in Digital Marketing.
Places To Apply:
There are so many online courses that offer digital marketing, but I am going to recommend a few that I too did when I wanted to learn digital marketing.
We all know Google, but do you know that Google offers free courses!!!
One of the very first course that I took is Fundamentals of Digital Marketing, what do you learn from this course?
Basically, you learn the basic of digital marketing from the what, why and how to apply them to your own business or the company you work for!!
Another course that I did was from Udemy called The Complete Digital Marketing Course - 12 Courses in 1 which cost me only $20.99 on promo from the usual $209.99.
There are still many other platforms offering both paid as well as free courses on digital marketing so do your research and take a pick!!
3) Learning Another Language
Another skills to learn during lockdown! There is always a demand for people who can help bridge the communication gap between two or more cultures.
The opportunity and resources to learn a foreign language are much more easily available today than in the past.
There are quite a few foreign language courses online that make the process of learning to speak another language accessible to everyone and flexible enough to fit into your busy lifestyle.
Places To Apply:
There are many educational video to guide you along the way, on the best free way is to use YouTube but if you are having difficulty or require a more structured learning process you can try Inlingua.
They offer virtual classroom where students can learn from at home or on their own pace. Their course fee ranges from $350 to $400 but you can use skillsfuture credits on their approved courses.
4) Data Analytics
With such a boom in the use of analytics, it is definitely one of the skills to learn during lockdown, having the skills required to work with data isn't just valuable, it's all but a necessity.
The importance of these skills is only going to become more important in the future as more industries and businesses jump onto the bandwagon.
This is why we're now seeing such a focus on data analytics during higher education.
Places To Apply:
My personal favourite place to learn about data analytics was Google Analytics Academy and it is free!
Analytics Academy helps you learn about Google's measurement tools so that you can grow your business through intelligent data collection and analysis.
YouTube is another great place to learn data analytics one such channel that I recommend is freeCodeCamp.org
5) Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator
There are many reasons why you should learn Photoshop/illustrator.
Learning Photoshop/illustrator is essential if you work in a graphic design, web design, or user experience role.
Yet it is also equally important to learn Photoshop/illustrator for those working in hands-on marketing roles. Whether creating flyers, brochures, or email newsletters, there is a need to know Photoshop/illustrator.
If you already have a job, adding Photoshop/illustrator to your list of skills can make you a more valuable employee.
It allows you to work on a variety of additional projects and may provide opportunities for advancement or the ability to work on a more diverse set of projects.
From website work to marketing projects and even product design, Photoshop/illustrator can play a vital role in many positions
Places To Apply:
There are many platforms to learn these skills such as YouTube tutorials or you can sign up with Udemy courses such as Photoshop and Illustrator Master Course. These usually cost $209.99 but Udemy always have promos that cut these courses to just $17.99.
If you already bought Photoshop and Illustrator, they provide tutorials and tips on their platform where you can learn as well.
6) Video Editing
You might be thinking “video editing is hard?” or how can I compete with the millions of people creating videos, but videos are the next big thing!!! And its not that hard!!
I should know, I used to be someone who took more than 2 days to edit an 8-minute video when I first started out but now, I am doing it less than a day!
Best part since we are all stuck at home during lockdown, why not start now!
How did I start? Well, instead of procrastinating. I just started and the process was amazing!!
Videos are impactful, ever heard of a saying a picture tells a thousand words, a video tells a thousand more!! Videos are here to stay; I mean just look at YouTube!!
Places To Apply:
Personally, I learned my skills from just Browsing through YouTube to learn how to edit videos.
If you want a more professional and structured approach, look at Udemy The Complete Video Production Bootcamp.
7) Project Management
Because of people working with companies working remotely companies outsourcing.
So many projects are ongoing that creates a new demand for project managers, people who can manage different projects and get stuff done.
Learning Project Management is not tough there are two methods Scrum and Agile.
What Is Agile?
Agile methodology is a practice that helps continuous iteration of development and testing in the SDLC process. Agile breaks the product into smaller builds.
In this methodology, development and testing activities are concurrent, unlike other software development methodologies. It also encourages teamwork and face-to-face communication. Business, stakeholders, and developers and clients must work together to develop a product.
What Is Scrum?
Scrum is an agile process that allows us to focus on delivering the business value in the shortest time. It rapidly and repeatedly inspects actual working software. It emphasizes accountability, teamwork, and iterative progress toward a well-defined goal.
The Scrum Framework usually deals with the fact that the requirements are likely to change or most of the time not known at the start of the project.
Places To Apply:
The Best place to learn project management skills especially during lockdown is on Udemy called Agile Project Management: Scrum Step by Step with Examples.
8) Copywriting
You might be thinking why learn copywriting? With hundreds of jobs to be lost over the course of lockdown. You might be faced having to apply for jobs, with hundred of application how do you make sure you stand out?
Copywriting can help!
You’ll learn salesmanship and persuasion (and copywriting is just salesmanship in print).
When you apply for a job, you’re selling yourself. Good copywriting skills help you write better resumes and cover letters. When you send work emails, copywriting may help you get what you want.
It is definitely one of the skills to learn during lockdown on my checklist!
Places To Apply:
There are a lot of copywriting courses available online now due to the lockdown. One of the sites Laimoon list all the available course as well as duration and price.
9) Web Design
Not to be confused with coding or web development, web design is about visual plus interaction.
Web designers creates how a website should look and then it’s up to the web developers to use HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP and other programming languages to bring to life the design.
Web design has become much easier to learn than before especially with hundreds of website builders such as WordPress and many more.
The best way for you to learn is to create a blog and now is the best time since we are all working from home during lockdown.
Places To Apply:
My favourite place and yours will be YouTube but a more structured and self-pace learning will be online platforms such as Udemy which offers The Complete WordPress Website Business Course which cost $159.99.
For those who want to start a business or WordPress for Beginners - Master WordPress Quickly which cost $204.99 for those looking to start a blog or to get a basic understanding.
10) Investing
Investing (NOT trading) is a skill and pretty much going to be useful regardless of how technology changes in the next 20years.
Results of traders have been patchy at best. Something like 80% or 90% of traders DON"T make money? (unverified of course...)
But investing is different. Many can grow wealth gradually and you do not need to be spectacular or know all the strategies in the world.
An investment return of 5-10%p.a will pretty much be enough to get you to your financial goals.
Where else to learn investing then our own YOUTUBE channel - TheAstuteParent. Cya there!
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