5 Things that are quite different since I got a Senior position.
Hello fellow kids! When I was your age I was…. okay, just joking. I got a senior position recently as a Product Analyst, and after one year of work in this position, I wanted to share some of my thoughts.
Just before the main clues — I got my senior position after the recruitment process to the new company. In fact, I took part in a process for mid-Data Analyst, but in the end, I got an offer for a Senior position. Being a Senior after promotion in the same workplace might be quite different and the transition process smoother, so my thoughts might not be the same. And of course, many things depend on a team structure, company culture, etc. (starting to think why I am even writing this article)
Impact
I think that is the change that You might feel. Suddenly, from taking part in senior stakeholders meetings occasionally, you do it regularly. Also, your role in these meetings is different. You are not only a “bank of information”, but recommendations and suggestions for a direction (product, projects, strategy, team) are also required.
Your projects are completely different. You don’t get usually tasks like reporting, finding data, and simple ad-hoc requests. You usually get strategically important projects, that have to drive the product toward its success.
Mentoring
It becomes an essential part of Your performance review. But honestly, it is the most satisfying part of this work. You have more junior members in the team and You have from time to time helped them, suggest something new, and push their development. I had great luck working with two great data analysts, and seeing their huge development over the year was something that made me proud.
It also gives You additional room for improvement. You need sometimes to fix small issues and make a code review, but also to help in a whole task context and planning. On the one hand, You are learning and grounding some planning and leadership skills, but on the other hand — woah! Tasks, requests, or issues might be challenging.
More space for You
I was mentioning in the “Impact” part about getting more important and strategic for your organization topics. These two things are more or less connected. But what comes with it — now You have the space to choose your own approach, your own way. What I mean here is — You will be a master of Your approach without that much guidance than You had before. You will be a person from some people who will require guidance.
Once, my colleague said — “Being an Analyst starts with getting a Senior role” — and he was right, now Your job looks more like an analyst, connecting this free space and impact together. Honestly, it is hard to explain, but You really feel it.
Big picture thinking
It is always needed and required, but because of Your exposition in front of stakeholders, having more free space in Your job, and being asked for various recommendations — You naturally get this “Big picture thinking” more and it influences whole parts of Your work.
Big-picture thinking is not only required but luckily — starts being a part of Your work that You naturally inherit.
For example, we had recently an issue with user acquisitions on one of the channels, but thanks to also taking part in a marketing meeting, I remembered that they told us about some changes in their strategy. After a short huddle with my colleague from the marketing department, I was able to quickly find the reason.
Soft skills > Hard skills
The last difference that I spot the most. Suddenly You realize that hard skills are only a tool and Your soft skills are driving You towards Your small successes. You can solve a lot of topics or just make them easier with planning, connecting the dots, and talking with stakeholders. You don’t need sometimes fancy neural network, just when You need a simple logistic regression with clear answers. People just don’t care If You answered the question by writing a Python pipeline for 2 weeks or if You just made a pivot table in Excel — They just need an answer, an approach. You also need mainly this.
Product Analytics is mainly about understanding the customer and his way to success, creativity, and defining and solving problems. But in this stage also communication comes to the table more than ever before. I will definitely write more about it in the future!
Summing Up!
It appeared to be quite a serious and not full article, because… I feel that everybody might have a different feeling. What were Your spotted differences when You moved to a Senior position? Please share it in the comments! Meanwhile, see You in the next Article!
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