What if I told you that you’re just a few months away from attaining a new skill that can help you land a job, increase your academic performance, or both? Well, with the right combination of strategy and dedication, you are.
Here are 5 skills that can be learned in a just a few short months and that will greatly bolster your repertoire both inside of the classroom and out.
Photo Editing
With the shift to online mediums for much of content, most jobs now welcome multimedia skills. Sharpen yours by downloading the free older version of Photoshop (don’t worry, almost all skills still apply today), or a free trial of the current software. Play around with it until you’re ready to learn in conjunction with one of many online tutorials.
Microsoft Office
Most schools offer courses on Microsoft Office or, at least, Microsoft Excel. Learning the ins and outs of the widely used software can make you highly desirable for entry-level positions, and will serve as a big help for almost every job, on top of helping you format class papers and spreadsheets. One online alternative to in-person courses is Chandoo.
Public Speaking
Aside from free auditable lectures like this one from UW, joining a club like poetry reading can polish public speaking skills, as well as watching speech videos and using techniques you see in daily conversations. Whatever your means, bettering your ability to communicate concisely to groups of people helps in every aspect from the classroom to the office.
Statistics
In an increasingly numeric world, a working knowledge of statistics is truly invaluable. You’ll find you’re able to read news articles with a keener eye, have the vocabulary to discuss any analytical situation at work, and are able to analyze any risk in life more clearly. Check out online courses like those with the Khan Academy, or free lectures like this UC Berkeley set on iTunes.
Programming
A technical skill with one of the highest demands today, programming is also one of the hardest to learn on your own. However, because of its high demand, many free online guides and tutorials make it possible. Check out this beginner’s guide and get on your way to a valuable resume-booster.
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