1What Is It?
Your Skills Are Services Other People Need
Open by looking back at the skills students have built, then reframe them as services
Let us pause and look at everything you can now do. You can organise files in Google Drive, write professional emails, use AI to research and draft, create content and visuals, plan a content calendar, and think through a simple marketing idea. A few months ago, many of you could not do most of these things.
Here is the important shift for today: every one of these skills is something other people need help with. Busy business owners need someone to manage their inbox. Brands need someone to reply to customers. Small businesses need someone to plan their posts. That is what digital work is: using digital skills to help people or businesses get things done.
Today we will explore 6 common digital work paths. By the end, you will choose one or two directions to focus on for the rest of this module.
Here is the important shift for today: every one of these skills is something other people need help with. Busy business owners need someone to manage their inbox. Brands need someone to reply to customers. Small businesses need someone to plan their posts. That is what digital work is: using digital skills to help people or businesses get things done.
Today we will explore 6 common digital work paths. By the end, you will choose one or two directions to focus on for the rest of this module.
2Why Do I Need It?
Focus Turns Skills Into Opportunities
Explain why choosing a direction matters more than learning everything
When people first discover digital skills, many try to do everything at once. Today it is social media, tomorrow web design, next week video editing. After six months they know a little about everything, but they cannot clearly say what they do.
The people who make progress usually choose a direction. When you can say "I help small businesses with customer service on WhatsApp and email," people understand you immediately. You know which skills to practise, which samples to create, and which opportunities to look for.
Choosing a direction does not lock you in forever. Many people start with one path and grow into another. But a clear starting point makes everything else easier.
The people who make progress usually choose a direction. When you can say "I help small businesses with customer service on WhatsApp and email," people understand you immediately. You know which skills to practise, which samples to create, and which opportunities to look for.
Choosing a direction does not lock you in forever. Many people start with one path and grow into another. But a clear starting point makes everything else easier.
An honest note
Digital skills open doors, but no course can promise a job, clients or a specific income. What this module gives you is clarity, practice and samples of your work, so you can take your next step with confidence.
3Show Me
6 Digital Work Paths
Walk through each path: what the work looks like, the skills, and who it suits
Let us go through the 6 paths one by one. For each one, notice what the daily work looks like, which skills from this course it uses, and what kind of person usually enjoys it. As I talk, think: "Does this sound like me?"
Virtual Assistance
Organising work for busy people
What you do
Manage emails and calendars, research, data entry, documents, bookings and admin tasks remotely.
Skills from this course
Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, AI for work and productivity.
Good fit if you are organised, reliable and enjoy keeping things in order.
Customer Service
Helping customers by chat, email and phone
What you do
Answer customer questions, solve complaints, track orders and keep customers happy.
Skills from this course
Professional communication, email, WhatsApp, AI for drafting replies.
Good fit if you are patient, calm and enjoy helping people solve problems.
Social Media Support
Running a brand's social pages
What you do
Plan content calendars, schedule posts, reply to comments and DMs, and track basic results.
Skills from this course
Content calendars, captions, Canva, basic marketing.
Good fit if you spend time on social media and notice what makes posts work.
Content Creation
Making posts, designs and videos
What you do
Create graphics, carousels, short videos, scripts and captions for brands or your own audience.
Skills from this course
Canva, AI images and video, scripts, hooks and captions.
Good fit if you are creative and enjoy making things people want to look at.
Digital Marketing Support
Helping businesses get noticed
What you do
Plan simple campaigns, write offers, manage WhatsApp marketing and help track enquiries.
Skills from this course
The customer journey, offers, WhatsApp marketing, content planning.
Good fit if you like strategy, persuasion and seeing results in numbers.
AI-Assisted Services
Using AI to help people work faster
What you do
Create AI prompts and workflows, draft documents, research, or produce AI visuals and videos for others.
Skills from this course
Prompting, AI research, AI content and visuals, responsible AI use.
Good fit if you love trying new tools and explaining tech in simple words.
4 ways people use digital skills to work
Remote job
Working for one company online, with set hours and a regular salary.
Freelancing
Working for different clients on projects or monthly arrangements.
Your own business
Using digital skills to promote and run something you own.
In your current role
Becoming more valuable at your job, church, school or community by bringing digital skills.
4Let's Do It
Find Your Best-Fit Paths
Have every student take the quiz now, live
Let us do this together. Answer these 8 quick questions honestly. There are no right or wrong answers. Choose what you genuinely enjoy, not what you think sounds impressive. At the end, you will see your top two paths.
This quiz is a starting point for reflection, not a final verdict. Your experience and interests matter more than any score.
5Now You Try
Compare Your Top Two Paths
Teach students to compare paths using 5 simple questions
Your quiz gives you a starting point. Now think deeper. Take your top two paths and compare them using these 5 questions. Write your answers in Part B of the workbook.
| Question | Path 1 | Path 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Do I enjoy this kind of work? | Your answer | Your answer |
| Which of my existing strengths does it use? | Your answer | Your answer |
| Do I already have the tools I need? | Your answer | Your answer |
| Can I create a sample of this work this week? | Your answer | Your answer |
| Do I see people or businesses around me who need it? | Your answer | Your answer |
Paths work well together
Many people combine a main path with a supporting one: customer service plus virtual assistance, social media support plus content creation, or digital marketing plus AI-assisted services. Your two directions do not have to compete.
6Your Task
Lesson 21 Assignment
This lesson's assignment
Take the quiz, compare your top two paths, research what the work involves in real life, and choose one or two skill directions to focus on.
- 1
Take the quiz: Complete the quiz in Step 4 and write your top two paths in Part A of the workbook.
- 2
Compare: Answer the 5 comparison questions for both paths in Part B.
- 3
Research: Use Prompt 1 to learn what a typical day looks like in each path, and look up 3 real job or freelance listings for each on LinkedIn Jobs or a job board.
- 4
Spot the gaps: Use Prompt 3 to compare your current skills with those listings and note what you still need to practise.
- 5
Decide: Write your chosen direction (or two) in Part C, with one sentence explaining why. Save it in a Google Doc called "My Digital Direction."
7What Did You Create?
A Clear Direction for Your Next Steps
Close by affirming the decision and pointing to Lesson 22
Today you did something many people never do: you stopped asking "what can I do online?" and started answering it. You explored 6 real paths, discovered which ones suit you, compared them honestly, and chose a direction.
Keep your "My Digital Direction" document. You will come back to it in the final lessons of this course when we build your skill profile and starter kit.
In the next lessons, we take a closer, hands-on look at two of the most common paths. Lesson 22 is an introduction to virtual assistance, where you will complete a small VA-style task yourself.
Keep your "My Digital Direction" document. You will come back to it in the final lessons of this course when we build your skill profile and starter kit.
In the next lessons, we take a closer, hands-on look at two of the most common paths. Lesson 22 is an introduction to virtual assistance, where you will complete a small VA-style task yourself.
- Quiz completed and top two paths written down
- 5 comparison questions answered for both paths
- 3 real listings reviewed for each path
- Skill gaps noted
- One or two directions chosen and saved in "My Digital Direction"
WWorkbook
Lesson 21 Student Workbook
Instructions
Be honest with yourself. Choose what you enjoy and can realistically practise, not what sounds most impressive.
🧭 Part A: My Quiz Results
Top path:
Second path:
Surprised me:
⚖️ Part B: Comparing My Top Two
Path 1: ___________________
Enjoy it?
Strengths used:
Tools I have:
Sample I can make:
Who needs it:
Path 2: ___________________
Enjoy it?
Strengths used:
Tools I have:
Sample I can make:
Who needs it:
✅ Part C: My Decision
Main direction:
Supporting skill:
Why I chose this (one sentence):
Three skills I need to practise next:
1.
2.
3.
TTask
Choose Your Digital Direction
Time: about 45 to 60 minutes
Output: a "My Digital Direction" Google Doc with your quiz results, comparison, research notes, skill gaps and chosen direction.
Part 1: Discover (15 minutes)
- 1
Take the quiz in the Trainer Script tab. Write your top two paths in the workbook.
- 2
Create a Google Doc called "My Digital Direction" in your Work folder and paste your results at the top.
Part 2: Research (30 minutes)
- 1
Run Prompt 1 for each of your two paths to understand what a typical day involves.
- 2
Search LinkedIn Jobs (or another job board) for each path, for example "customer service representative remote" or "social media assistant." Open 3 listings for each and copy the main requirements into your doc.
- 3
Run Prompt 3 with those requirements and your current skills to find your gaps.
Stay safe while researching
Legitimate employers do not ask you to pay for training, registration or equipment before hiring you. Be careful with listings that promise very high pay for very little work, or that ask for your BVN, bank details or passwords.
Part 3: Decide (15 minutes)
- 1
Complete the comparison in Part B of the workbook, and use Prompt 2 if you are stuck between two paths.
- 2
Write your main direction, supporting skill, reason, and 3 skills to practise at the bottom of your doc.
🧭
Lesson 21 Complete!
You have chosen your digital direction. In Lesson 22, you will try virtual assistance for yourself.
AIPrompts
Lesson 21 Prompt Library
Add to your Prompt Library Google Doc
Open your "My AI Prompt Library" document, add the heading "Lesson 21: Digital Work Paths," and paste all five prompts below.
Career Exploration Prompts
Prompt 1: What does this path really involve?
"Explain what a [virtual assistant / customer service representative / social media assistant / content creator / digital marketing assistant / AI-assisted services provider] does, in simple language for a beginner in Nigeria. Describe a typical working day, the 5 most common tasks, the tools they use, the soft skills that matter most, and the biggest challenges of the work. Be realistic, not overly positive."
Ask for realism. You want to know the hard parts too, not just the exciting parts.
Prompt 2: Help me choose between two paths
"I am deciding between [path 1] and [path 2]. Here is some information about me: things I enjoy [list], my strengths [list], tools and devices I have [list], hours I can commit each week [number], and my goal [for example: remote job, freelancing, supporting my own business]. Ask me 5 questions to understand me better, one at a time. Then recommend which path to start with, which could be my supporting skill, and why."
Answer the AI's questions honestly. The final decision is still yours.
Prompt 3: Find my skill gaps
"Here are the requirements from 3 job or freelance listings for [path]: [paste requirements]. Here are my current skills and experience: [list]. Compare them and give me: (1) skills I already have, (2) skills I partly have, (3) skills I am missing. For each missing skill, suggest one free way to practise it in the next 2 weeks."
Focus on 2 or 3 gaps at a time. You do not need to fix everything at once.
Prompt 4: Explain my direction in one sentence
"Help me write one clear sentence that explains what I do. My main direction is [path], my supporting skill is [skill], the people I want to help are [audience], and the tools I use are [tools]. Give me 5 versions, from simple to more professional, each under 25 words."
You will build on this sentence later when you create your personal skill profile.
Prompt 5: Spot opportunities around me
"I live in [city] and I am focusing on [path]. List 10 types of people, businesses or organisations near me (including churches, schools, small shops and professionals) who might need help with [path]. For each, describe one specific problem they likely have that my skills could solve."
Opportunities are often closer than you think: your church, your friend's shop, your former school.