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Technology has drastically changed how the world operates. Depending on how you utilize it, it can certainly make your life slightly easier. Affording one opportunity to easily acquire knowledge that would have otherwise been reserved for a select few, stands as one of the benefits of the internet. We all know that navigating university and early career development can prove to be quite challenging, especially when you lack knowledge and awareness.

Knowing how to use the internet to empower you with critical information is a crucial skill – all you need is functioning internet and the will to learn. So, let’s talk about understanding and utilizing the internet to maximize its benefits.

Understanding the internet:

Because of social media, we arguably all have a grasp of the internet. According to an article on Talkwalker, with roughly 36 million people using the internet, there is an estimated 62% internet penetration in South Africa. There are many ways to use the internet and most of us utilize it through the hours we spend scrolling aimlessly on social media. Don’t get me wrong, these hours can be quite beneficial sometimes. Because of the convenience of social media, many people have started using it as a tool to disseminate vital knowledge and in turn, grow the South African knowledge economy. Doing this requires acknowledging that while the internet can be used for leisure and a few laughs, it should also be used for development and empowerment. You just need to know how to operate the latter function.

Utilizing the internet:

Student Advancement Platforms:

The first tool that you need to maximize is the information available on platforms dedicated to making the lives of students and young adults easier. These include GradesMatch, Foonda, Syafunda, and Career Wise. Since you are reading this article, I might be safe in assuming that you are familiar with the wealth of support that Career Wise offers students and young adults. So, I will jump straight to Foonda and Syafunda.

Foonda is an app committed to increasing access to higher education by supporting students with scholarship information. All you need to do is create an account on the website and create a brief user survey that will match you to scholarship and bursary opportunities that match your profile.

Syafunda is a content distribution and data collection platform. Its services include making e-books and digital content accessible, providing mentorship material to teachers and students as well as sharing information on free wireless network and connectivity.

YouTube:

There is nothing you cannot learn on YouTube. From acquiring a new skill like knitting or coding, – right to using Excel and making PowerPoint presentations. The power of YouTube is immeasurable, it just requires you to be intentional of what you choose to consume from the platform.

Students may consider utilising channels that cover educational content. This may range from content designed to help with university studies, right to career advice videos. Crash courses on different industries or videos on how to DIY your own complex projects could also prove useful. Anyone who truly believes that YouTube is saturated by beauty content only has not learnt the power of that search button.

Social Media Curation:

Just like most things in life, social media is complex in that there is a good and bad side. Some of the good can be attributed to the industry professionals who continue to use it as a tool to disseminate essential knowledge and information to the masses. Many a time someone has tweeted something interesting that we assume we should all already know about, and people have responded with “I wish they taught us this at school”. A quick keyword search on Twitter can lead you to very interesting threads containing information that could advance your professional development.

It is important to curate your social media so that the algorithm continues to favor you with topics you find most relevant. Curating your social media experience means following people who are most relevant to the industry you want to grow skills in. If you are starting university soon, a quick keyword search on Twitter will point you to relevant people and information that could help shed knowledge where you lack. Whether you are a young lawyer, academic, brand manager, economist, etc. there are many accounts on Twitter dedicated to enlightening you with information that could help you navigate the industry better.

We already spend so much time on social media, why not consume it as a tool to learn and grow?

Tip: Always remember to fact-check information that you glean from internet sources.

In a modern world where alternative ways of gaining knowledge and skills have become highly accessible – traditional higher education sometimes proves to be archaic. There are cases where universities and colleges are failing to keep up with contemporary ways of acquiring knowledge. Let’s face it; the formalistic idea that success is only attainable by knowing what you want to do for the rest of your life at 18-years, applying for a degree or diploma, and then easily entering the job market through that qualification is quite outdated. Not only does higher education not guarantee success or in some cases even a job, but it is also extremely expensive and can prove to be unattainable for most people.

Financial constraints continue to be a barrier to attaining education. Getting into university or college can be arduous – not only does one need to complete long and sometimes costly application forms, but requirements for matric certificates and other formal documents also exclude the majority of people. Luckily, we are living in self-sufficient times where people have found ways to bypass the financially limiting nature of higher education. One way of doing this is by picking up skills that are forward-facing through Google certifications.

Google Certifications

Google offers various online courses for people to expand their knowledge in high-growth fields. The Training Certificates come with many benefits such as learning at your own pace, gaining skills that are in demand and standing out to potential employers. Additionally, the Certificates require no prior experience. After completing the flexible online training, one gains a Google Professional Certification which could prove to be a very empowering resource.

Below is a list of five free Google Certifications available to anyone who would like to pick up skills. These courses could help with starting and maintaining a business as well as foster development in a desired career. The programmes do not require relevant experience in the industry, are 100% remote learning, and will need under 10 hours of study a week. The full Certificate programmes include quizzes, projects, and assignments.

IT SUPPORT

The IT Certificate enables one to learn the fundamentals of troubleshooting, networking, operating systems, system administration and security.

Jobs that are in demand in IT that you could qualify for after completing the course include database administrator, help desk technician, IT support specialist, systems analyst, network engineer, and IT assistant. According to Business Tech, IT skills are amongst the most sought-after skills in South Africa. This is not surprising considering that most of the world, especially due to the pandemic, relies on technology to run efficiently.

DATA ANALYTICS

Through this programme, you will learn how to develop coveted data analytics skills using spreadsheets and programming languages such as SQL, data management tools such as Tableau Software and statistical computing and graphics software environments such as R.

Data analysts may work as junior data analysts, associate data analysts, marketing analysts, business performance analysts, junior data scientists, finance analysts, operations analysts, and healthcare analysts. In the wake of the demand for data skills, according to Business Intelligence, the South African government is committed to training one million young people in data science by 2030. Beat the queue and start your own training today!

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Discover what it takes to build a successful career in project management and learn about common project management approaches through this training. You will learn about estimating time and budgets, identifying and managing risks and running effective meetings and managing stakeholders. With no relevant experience required, this online programme provides you with skills needed for an entry-level job in project management.

UX DESIGN

This User Experience design course offers knowledge in developing personas and user stories, conducting usability studies, creating wireframes and prototypes and building professional portfolios.

With this Certification, one qualifies for coveted jobs such as project designer, interaction designer, visual designer and user experience designer. UX designers design projects and tools that make technology more user-friendly and accessible.

ANDROID DEVELOPMENT

A Certification in android development helps you fast-track your career in mobile app development. Almost everyone consumes media through their smartphones and mobile apps and android developers reach people through apps and connected devices. This online programme covers the essential steps of developing, testing, and debugging Android apps in Kotlin (a programming language). If you are considering a job as a developer, this programme is suitable for you.

Conclusion

The era of democratized knowledge is here – we are bidding farewell to the requirement that one must follow a traditional path of gaining knowledge in order to succeed. Take the opportunity to upskill yourself from the comfort of your couch today, all you need is a laptop and an appetite for learning!

The phrase “gig economy” points to a work environment that involves short-term employment. It is different from traditional employment in that projects aren’t permanent. The jobs differ in length, involvement, and scope. Freelance workers jump in the “gigging” pool for various reasons: unemployment, to supplement their income; achieve flexibility, and constant change.

In South Africa, the gig economy has taken hold in recent years as parts of unemployed and informal workers move into semi-formalized work through online platforms. In addition to generating new work opportunities, gig platforms provide a channel to understand the financial needs of the people who make up the gig economy.

Launching a side hustle, especially following the global social and economic turmoil rendered by Covid-19, has never been more important. The gig economy creates an alternative source of income for many people outside of their traditional jobs. And exploring the gig economy is also an opportunity to turn your skills into a long-term career.

When you have skills that add value to other people, you should be making money from sharing them. For example, the ability to plan and stage successful events is valuable to the people and businesses that have events on their calendars. Gig Culture is a start-up example in the events space bringing value to brands, businesses, and people. Thinking through the value of your talent(s) is the first step to working in the gig economy.

Let’s explore how you can lunch and promote your skills.

Learn what makes your work valuable

The ultimate goal is to make a comfortable living doing what makes you happy and productive. It could be proofreading and editing words; online gaming, writing and designing slide decks for corporate executives, cooking, or anything else you have a strong knack for.

You need to think about what makes you stand out from other people who do the same work. To develop a unique selling proposition, ask yourself:

How do I stand out?

How do I make myself irreplaceable?

How do I learn the skills and master the technique of my work?

How do I become an artist at my trade?

How do I become helpful to people and build an audience (customers)?

Once you start looking at and working on yourself this way, you’ll soon learn the monetary value that your presence/skills provide for other people.

Create a portfolio of your work and refine your online presence

In the process of identifying the ‘secret sauce’ of your talent, there is a need to build a personal brand. This is a story about you, the reasons you do your work, how you do it and what work have you have done before.

A portfolio and a strong online presence are your allies in helping you land clients.

To achieve this, you can create a blog/website; write a slide presentation detailing your work and level of experience and distribute it to potential customers. And as you make progress, you might even consider boosting your brand awareness and credibility with a logo, a video channel, branded document templates for your proposals, invoices, etc.

Find projects/clients

Thanks to the Internet, joining the gig economy is not as hard as it used to be. You can connect with prospective clients from different parts of the world from anywhere you might be.

Begin by spreading word to your close network: family, friends, and colleagues. Let them know that you are open for work, what type of projects you are looking for, and what you offer.

Share your story, vision and ideas on your blog or social media pages. And to get attention on social and build an audience, aim to educate and help. The more people who get value from your content, the more you can build an engaged audience that routinely returns to hear what you have to say. In the process, don’t hesitate to share your work and ideas – you’ll gather insights you never thought of and build relationships.

As you develop your client base and produce quality work, those clients will refer you to others in their own networks. Before you know it, you will be ready to switch to being a full-time freelancer.

Which jobs qualify for the gig economy?

The advantage about working independently is that it’s entirely your choice what type of work you want to do.

In the gig economy, there are a variety of professionals: market researchers, legal and business consultants, project managers, game concept designers, data analysts, IT support, etc. The point is that if there is a channel to communicate and deliver the work to the client, you are in business.

According to Upwork, an online network that connects freelancers to employers, common freelance jobs include: design and creative; web, mobile and software developer; administrative support specialist; writer; translator; accounting/finance/consulting professional; IT and networking professional; sales/marketing/customer service professional; lawyer/paralegal; engineer; architect; and data science/analytics specialist.

The gig economy challenges

Being a freelancer comes with a few concerns. This includes access to affordable healthcare, a healthy savings account, retirement funds, and being compensated fairly for work.

Upwork says that 89% of freelancers wish their education prepared them for the gig economy work. If they were to return to the classroom, 52% of them say they would replace their traditional college education entirely with training tailored to their current work.

On the same report, 81% of the freelancers have figured out that freelance business skills are essential to their work and would appreciate additional training. The top three areas they would benefit from additional training on are:

• Networking
• Financial planning
• New skills in their industry
• How to start and grow a freelance career

And because working independently involves managing relationships, pitching and marketing, 78% of the freelancers mentioned that soft skills are as equally important as the technical skills in order to succeed in their work.