Regarding your question, you need to sign up for an account first. Look here- https://login.skype.com/account/signup-form
Once you signup and have loaded the app. Go to contacts, do your friends or family have Skype? If you press the + sign in the top right corner, you can search the directory. Also make sure your notifications are on. Settings - Skype
The IPad Forum is a community of members from all walks of life and from all over the world coming together to share our experiences and to help each other learn about this wonderful piece of technology the Ipad. There is a wealth of information already here in the many threads we have so doing some searches will answer most of the questions you have. If then you cannot find the answer you are seeking then by all means post your question. There are many friendly and informed members here only too willing to help you.