‘Acquire’ is a formal way of saying ‘get’. So it’s used in expressions like ‘to acquire a reputation’ or ‘to acquire experience’. When you acquire skills, it means you learn them or 'pick them up' informally. In business, it can also be used with the meaning of ‘buy’ – especially when you buy shares and ‘acquire control’ of a company.

She acquired useful information and skills during her work placement.

Click on the link for more examples and interactive exercises: http://www.academicenglishgenerator.com/get.htm

Click here to read an interesting news article:
http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10102992

Vocabulary from the news article: word of mouth / inconceivable / / eavesdrop / piggyback / the holy grail / a double-edged sword