Skills Build

IBM

SkillsBuild is a digital platform designed to give users the skills and career exploration tools they need for in-demand technology-related jobs.

What This Includes

Skills addressed: Problem Solving, Communication, Presenting, Public Speaking, Interpersonal skills, Teamwork, Collaboration, Entrepreneurship, Mindfulness, Flexibility, Resourcefulness, as well as other skills not listed here

Content and badging

Career assessment generates personalized course and badging recommendations based on interest and need
Courses, credentials and IBM-branded digital badges in areas such as cybersecurity, data analysis, and customer service
Courses and badges offered in job roles, technology, ways of working, and workforce readiness
Courses offered in English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish

Access and partnerships

Individuals who self-register for free and do not belong to a registered partner organization must complete 30 hours of basic modules in order to unlock all training paths and badges. After completing 30 hours, they can create profiles and complete courses as they choose.
Eligible educational institutions, nonprofits, and nongovernmental organizations can partner for free with SkillsBuild in order to enroll participants and monitor progress.

Key Takeaways

SkillsBuild is designed for organizations to enroll participants for individualized self-study and is not designed for group or classroom instruction.
Coaches and advisors can work with individual participants to discuss learning plans, review career assessment, and monitor progress.
The reading level of the materials varies, but are typically at 5.0 grade level and above, so some participants might need additional support and scaffolding.
IBM digital badges can be added to resumes, social media, and LinkedIn profiles to boost job prospects and network.

Background

Founded and backed by IBM, SkillsBuild also offers certification opportunities in partnership with Red Hat (Red Hat Certified System Administrator) and Fortinet (Network Security Expert). Participating partners include corporations, universities, and governments all over the world, among them India’s Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Japan’s Social Business Network, Israel’s Jewish Brains in HighTech, Canada’s Access Employment, and The Netherland’s IMC Weekend School. In the United States, partners include Military Spouse Jobs and Vet Jobs (CASY), Partner4Work, The United Way, the USO, and the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE).