The best digital skills to learn include coding, data analytics, SEO and web design. You don’t need a degree or experience to get started! Get FREE digital skills training with the London Digital Jobs and Skills Hub.
We now live in a digital-first world. This means that many areas of our life and work are conducted on computers and online. In fact, many jobs are now 100% online, and this has become even more common since the Covid-19 pandemic.
All of this means that digital skills are no longer a nice-to-have. They are now essential for almost all jobs and career paths. And if you are good with computers and take the time to develop your skills, numerous exciting and well-paid careers in technology can open up to you.
The term “digital skills” covers a lot of ground and you cannot be an expert in everything. Learning the basic digital skills and then branching out into one or two specialist areas that really interest you will set you up well for a tech career.
Here are a few of the best digital skills to learn in 2023 and beyond.
Basic Digital Skills
A set of basic digital skills are now essential for almost all jobs. If you don’t yet have these skills, we recommend prioritising them as soon as you can. Once you have learned them, they lay the foundation for all other digital skills you might learn later.
The main basic digital skills include:
- Turning on devices, such as computers, tablets and smartphones, and understanding your way around their basic controls
- Finding, opening, and using applications on your device
- Connecting to the internet and using a browser to navigate to websites
- Using search engines and finding information online
- Behaving responsibly online
- Selecting a secure password and keeping it safe
- Setting up an email account and sending and receiving emails
- Communicating with others via tools such as messaging apps and video calls
- Using a word processor and spreadsheet tool to create, edit, and send documents
Coding
Coding, sometimes called programming, is the process of writing the code that makes computer programmes work. Coders use a set of systems called programming languages (JavaScript, HTML, Python, and SQL are some you may have heard of) to communicate with computers and build the apps and programmes we all use every day.
Coding is at the heart of so many areas of technology, from building websites to designing computer games. Learning one or more programming languages looks great on your CV and will open up so many different possible tech careers for you.
How to get free coding training:
Try the Google Cloud engineering training bootcamp from Generation.
Website Design
When you want to find out more about a business or organisation, what is the first thing you do? You visit their website! Websites are vital for companies and organisations of all kinds and, as more and more businesses move their operations online, there is a huge market for skilled website designers. Some web designers work for companies such as design agencies, while others offer their services on a freelance basis.
Website designers need to be skilled programmers in one or more languages. They also need to have a good understanding of content management systems, user experience (UX), server management, graphic design principles, and more.
Experienced website designers may choose to specialise in a particular area, such as business-to-business (b2b) websites, ecommerce (online shopping) websites, or websites for a specific industry. They might also choose to focus on one aspect of web design, such as UX design, user interface (UI) design, or visual design.
How to get website design training:
Try the WYK digital training bootcamp from the Prince’s Trust.
Social Media
Social media is big business and is used by organisations across almost all sectors to communicate with their customers, reach new audiences, and promote their products. A career in social media and digital marketing can be exciting, lucrative, and creative.
Understanding how to use the main social media channels (including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok) is essential if you want to work in online marketing. You should also aim to learn about marketing principles, how businesses use these tools in their advertising, and how to set up and manage paid social media ads.
How to get free social media training:
Try the TikTok Academy with Catch22.
SEO
When consumers want to find something online, they often start by using a search engine. Search engine optimisation, or SEO, is all about how websites appear on the results pages of search engines such as Google.
SEO is a highly sought-after skill and many organisations now have their own in-house SEO specialists, making it a great choice for a tech career. Other options include working for an SEO agency or starting your own freelance business.
SEO is more complex than it first appears and, thanks to search engines continually updating their algorithms and systems, it is a dynamic and ever-changing field.
How to get free SEO and Google Analytics training:
Try digital marketing apprenticeships with Multiverse.
Data Analytics
Companies, particularly those that operate primarily online, generate huge quantities of data related to their operations, products or services, transactions, and customers. When companies can harness this data, it can be incredibly powerful in helping them to make smarter business decisions, reach their target audiences more effectively, and offer better customer service.
Data analytics refers to the process of exploring and understanding data to find patterns, trends, correlations, and other insights that can be used to a business or organisation’s advantage. Organisations in all sectors now employ data analysts to help them sift through all the noise and use their data well.
How to get free data analytics training:
Try the data analytics apprenticeship from QA.
Where to Learn Digital Skills
See all FREE Digital Skills Courses and TrainingThere are many different ways to learn digital skills. You can enrol in formal courses at school, college or university, take short courses in person or online, or teach yourself using available resources such as books, websites, and video instructions. You can also ask a more experienced person to teach you.
If you live in London, check out the London Digital Jobs and Skills Hub. This fantastic resource is designed to help young Londoners to learn the digital skills they need to launch and thrive in a tech career. You’ll find workshops, online courses, bootcamps, job and apprenticeship opportunities, one to one mentoring, and much more.
Unemployed or in low-paid work? We’ve got you covered.
The London Digital Jobs and Skills Hub is here to help you get FREE training into digital and tech jobs.
Are you ready for new skills, secure money and a rewarding future?
It doesn’t matter how much experience you’ve got.
It doesn’t matter what your background and interests are.
You can earn a great salary and enjoy the work you do with a career in tech and digital in London.
You just need to be…
- Curious to see what tech careers can do for you
- Interested in finding out more
- Ready to take a look at what’s on offer.
About the London Digital Jobs and Skills Hub
Part of the Mayor’s Academies Programme, the London Digital Jobs and Skills Hub is on a mission to support Londoners to gain the skills that they need to enter into life-changing tech careers. The Hub brings together thousands of training opportunities across London, with digital resources, events and employer opportunities, supporting unemployed, low paid and young Londoners to become the diverse tech talent of the future.
