SQL skills are essential for anyone working with relational databases. They involve a combination of theoretical understanding and practical application. A fundamental skill is writing queries to extract specific information from tables. This involves understanding SQL syntax, including SELECT, FROM, WHERE, and ORDER BY clauses. Beyond basic queries, proficiency in data manipulation is crucial. This includes using INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements to modify data within tables. Data management skills are also important, encompassing tasks like creating and altering tables, defining relationships between tables, and ensuring data integrity. Finally, understanding database optimization techniques is vital for efficient data retrieval and manipulation, especially in large datasets. This often involves indexing and query design.