Aside from having a certificate, it is also important that graduates have skills. These skills can support them in the event when there is no job available. In fact, many graduates have found this skill helpful even years after several disappointment in job search. Hence, it is important that university students are able to acquire skill for the future.
In this article, you will be reading about quick skills that you can learn as a university student. You’ll read about why they are useful and how you can make money from them. Let’s get started!
How to Choose the Right Skill for You
As a student, you don’t just jump on any skill just for the sake of it. Yes, this is because it is not every trending skill that you should go for. To find the best skill that you can do, ask yourself the following questions;
- What am I naturally good at?
- Do I enjoy creative work (like design or writing) or technical work (like coding or data)?
- Do I want a skill I can monetize quickly or one that builds long-term value?
- How much time can I spend learning daily?
The answer to these questions would help understand if you really want to learn a skill or not.Â
Quick Skills You Can Learn in Weeks
Here are some of the best skills you can learn as a student in an higher institution;
1. Graphic Design
Graphic design involves creating visual content such as posters, social media posts, logos, flyers, etc. This skill is relevant because almost every business now needs designs for social media and even marketing. So, this makes graphic designing skills in high demand.
Requirements to Learn Graphic DesigningÂ
- Smartphone or laptop
- Canva or Adobe Photoshop
Where to Learn Graphic DesigningÂ
- YouTube.
- In-person tutorial center.
- Courses from Coursera or Udemy
2. Digital Marketing
Digital marketing involves promoting products or services online through social media, email, or search engines. This skill is very important because businesses in Nigeria and abroad need digital marketers to help them reach more customers.
Requirements to Learn Digital Marketing Skill
- Smartphone or LaptopÂ
- Social media accountÂ
What You Will Learn
- Social media management
- Facebook and Instagram ads
- Email marketing
- SEO (Search Engine Optimization))
3. Freelance Writing
Freelance writing involves writing content for blogs or social media accounts. It is a good skill because companies always need writers who can write articles, sales copy, and even product descriptions for their brands.
Where to Learn Freelance WritingÂ
- YouTube Tutorials
- MediumÂ
- Use a personal blog
4. Video Editing
Video editing involves creating and editing videos for YouTube or other social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and even Instagram. With the video content creation industry growing fast, many brands will need video editors.Â
Requirements to Learn Video EditingÂ
- Smartphone or LaptopÂ
- Video editing tools (CapCut, Adobe Pro, Inshot etc).
Where to Learn Video EditingÂ
- YouTube TutorialsÂ
- In-person tutorialsÂ
- Practicing on your own via video editing tools.
5. Web Design
Web design skill involves creating website using tools like WordPress. It is very valuable because every business wants an online presence and a website allows for that.
What You’ll Learn
- How to design a basic website
- How to use drag-and-drop tools (no coding needed)
Where to Learn Web Design Skills
- YouTube tutorials.
- In person tutorials
- Via detailed courses on platforms like Coursera, Alison, etc
6. Social Media Management
Social media management involves managing social media accounts for businesses and individuals. This skill is lucrative because every business wants to grow online but may not have time to post consistently.
7. CopywritingÂ
This skill has to do with writing words that persuade people to buy. It can be used in adverts, websites, and product descriptions. It is a useful skill because copywriters can make a business acquire millions in revenue.
Where to Learn Copywriting Skill
- Via Online Courses
- YouTube tutorialsÂ
8. Phone Photography
Phone photography skill involves knowing how to take professional photos using your phone. This skill is good because businesses and influencers pay for good photos.
9. TailoringÂ
Tailoring involves designing and sewing clothes for individuals. It is a skill that is ever growing in Nigeria. There are many people in search for skilled fashion designers and you can fill in that need.
Where to Learn TailoringÂ
Attend local tailoring workshops in your area.
The skills mentioned above are lucrative skills that can help students take care of themselves while in school and out of it.
How to Stay Motivated While Learning
The tips below will help you to stay motivated while learning a new skill;
1. Create a Daily Schedule
In the process of learning a new skill, try to create a daily schedule for yourself to actually learn. You can do this by planning your day and setting aside at least 1–2 hours for studying. You need to treat it like a school schedule and when the time comes to learn, you sit down and turn off distractions.
2. Watch Tutorials and Take Notes
To benefit maximally from it, you jedd to watch video tutorials. When you do this, don’t just watch and relax. Write down important points in your notebook. This helps you remember what you learned.Â
3. Practice Every Day
In the tutorial center when you’ll be learning, don’t just watch others do it, try it yourself. When you practice , you are able to discover new things by yourself which will help you to become better in your skill.Â
4. Join Online Groups
Along with learning directly, you can learn indirectly. This can be done when you look for students like you on Facebook, WhatsApp, or Telegram. You can ask questions, share ideas, and learn from others. It will help you improve your skill faster.
5. Reward Yourself
 Another great way to enjoy reading is to reward yourself. This can be done after you have finished reading a topic or lesson, give yourself a small reward. It could be buying and eating your favorite snack, or watching a funny video. This would help keep you motivated to continue.
6. Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
You need to understand that everyone learns at a different speed. You see, some people learn fast while others will take more time to understand. However, what matters most is that you don’t give up. Regardless of how long it takes, keep going at your own pace.
Mistakes to Avoid When Learning a Skill
These mistakes are the common mistakes many students make in learning a skill:
1. Learning Too Many Skills at Once
Many students want to learn everything at the same time. Today they are learning graphic design and tomorrow they are learning video editing or baking, and fashion. You see, this can make you very tired and confused. When you try to learn many things at once, you may end up not understanding any of them well.
So, it is better to start with one skill first. In fact, focus all your time and energy on learning that one. You can watch videos, practice daily, and try to be good at it. When you have mastered it, then you can move on to another skill.Â
2. Not Practicing Enough
Some students only watch videos or read lessons but never practice what they learn. This is a big mistake. The truth is that watching alone will not make you good at a skill, you must practice it every day.
For instance, if you are learning graphic design, try creating designs regularly, even if they don’t look perfect at first. The more you practice, the more you understand and improve. If you don’t know, practice makes you confident and helps you remember what you’ve learned.
3. Expecting to Earn Money Immediately
Many students start learning a skill and expect to start making money after just a few days or weeks. When that doesn’t happen, they feel disappointed and stop learning.Â
In the beginning, you may not earn anything, and that’s okay. Use that time to learn well and build your experience. When you become good at what you do, people will start to trust you and pay you for your work.Â
4. Using Untrusted Websites to Learn
Some students rush to register on any website they see online because it looks nice. This can be dangerous. Some unverified websites can steal your personal information or even worse, waste your time.
So, before joining a website, make sure it is real and trusted. You can ask your teacher, a friend, or someone who knows about online learning. You can also check the website’s reviews or ratings. Always learn from trusted platforms like Coursera, Udemy, YouTube, or Skillshare.Â
5. Quitting Too Soon
The hard truth about learning a new skill is that it is not always easy. Sometimes it will feel difficult, confusing, or even boring. You may make mistakes and feel like giving up. But quitting too soon means you will never reach your goal.
Every professional in the field you see today once felt the same way. They made mistakes, failed many times, but they didn’t stop. So, be encouraged to keep going, even when it’s tough. Take small breaks when you’re tired and then come back stronger. With time, you’ll be glad you made the choice to not give up.
 Conclusion
University life is not only about getting a certificate. It is also a time to build useful skills for the future. Another way to look at it is that learning a skill while in school helps you earn money and prepare for life after graduation. No matter your course of study, having a skill gives you an advantage in today’s world. Start small and keep practicing until you get better. Every successful person started somewhere. This might just be your start.
