Skills represent how well a character does at dramatic tasks other than combat. All characters are assumed to have a wide selection of average skills; the game only measures the skills in which a character has better than average ablility and so can use these skills to attempt task in dramatic situations.
Skills are measured in ranks, which represent how much training character has applied to a specific skill. Each rank training a character has applied to a specific skill. Each rank adds +1 to checks (rolls) you make to use a skill. See the class descriptions in Chapter Three (that will be in the guild forums soon to come) for the skills that are associated with each class. All skill descriptions can be found in Chapter Four (also to be included in guild forums).
Feats are special features that provide a character with new capabilities or improvements. All characters start with at least one feat, though certain classes and species provide additional feats. See Chapter Five for a list of available feats.