Beginners Guide to Analytic Software
It is difficult.
Let me begin with a piece of advice borrowed from a previous post.
If you ask someone to define analytics, they will probably answer quickly with a definition that differs from your own. This is because analytics has become a popular buzzword with a definition connected only loosely to the real world.
Analytics is a fast growing market and a lucrative one as well, with these two key ingredients a complicated and competitive market has been created. Work as if everyone is applying for your dream job. To stand out, understand what is required of the role you seek, and begin the trek to gain experience.
Discover the tools that you will need. Remember, when learning new skills, widespread application is crucial. I became a power user of Stella Modeling while obtaining my Master’s degree. This is a differential calculus modeling software that no one uses anymore. What good is energy spent if that energy isn’t used efficiently?
SQL is pronounced Sequel and is a language used to query datasets within the Microsoft SQL server.
Hadoop is for large datasets; it allows tasks to be run concurrently and has massive storage capability.
Dashboards at this level are created in two programs, Qlik and Tableu.
Dashboards are used to create interactive graphs for exploratory analysis and general investigation.
Tableau looks and behaves much like Qliksense.
R is a free stats program. Learn it.
This is by no means a comprehensive list, but as someone who applied cold for many jobs, and has read hundreds of job descriptions, I would use this as a baseline.
This post is technically oriented, but I would like to stress the importance of business analytics beyond that perspective.
Have you ever wanted a superpower? Just read. Read and read and read. I took an introductory business analytics class that focused more on the operational side of things, which allowed me to understand workflow better and common methods to eliminate waste.
Technical skills are an absolute necessity in the 21st century. Find the software that applies to the job you desire, and do everything possible that you can to learn it. Be creative. It’s difficult to see the forest for the trees at times, but if you have an inkling that a process can be improved, write it out, and analyze it! You will impress your team, and working in a waste free environment is motivating, at least for me! And again, read! Read everything you can.
Things that have worked for me/Resources that I have found useful
To recap, I went from community college, to undergraduate studies, to graduate studies to obtain a position in medical school. Once in school, I fell out of love with medicine and withdrew with the intention to begin to work as an analyst. It was a difficult decision, but the correct one for me. I had no formal training in analytics other than one undergraduate statistics class and one graduate advanced modeling techniques course.
Without question, the best place I have found useful in filling technical gaps has been YouTube. If you look up Qlikview, SQL, or higher skill Excel functions, you will find that YouTube has hundreds of videos on whatever it is that you’re looking for. “Follow along with R” on YouTube was the first class that I completed and it advanced my understanding of R greatly.
In addition to YouTube, there are more formal and structured education opportunities on Udemy, Coursera, and Lynda. Udemy offers a wide variety of classes that cover many types of high yield programs for a reasonable price. Udemy also offers a certificate at the completion of the courses, which is a great addition to your LinkedIn page that validates your “time-in” to your network.
To put these learning techniques to use, consider the consulting market. Your company pays a great deal in consulting fees. If your company outsources a task on a project you’re working on, think of this as an opportunity to make yourself more valuable. Start learning the skill that they’re outsourcing, so you can help keep the work internal. Taking an online class eventually will allow you to offer more to the overall workflow of your company, while also expanding your personal/professional horizons. If you see an area that needs improvement, formulate a plan and be vocal about specifics. Following through and investing effort in areas that need it while managing my workload has allowed me to have fun, great conversations, and exciting opportunities.
