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The Next Generation of Data Analysts

Bryan Minami our consultant managing the role
Author: Bryan Minami
Posting date: 6/28/2018 1:48 PM

From coast to coast, a new breed of data analyst rises. No longer siloed and pigeon-holed into one specific area or another, today’s professional must be able to nuance actionable insights for better business predictions and performance. The evolving role of data analyst marries technical prowess and analytical skills with the soft skills of coaching and communication.

Every organization from AdTech to FinTech to the Food and Beverage Industries, and every industry in between, depends on data. In fact, by 2020, IBM estimates the number of open positions in the U.S. for data professionals will increase to 2.7 million. Yet, the surge and the shortfall in analytics talent remains as data analyst recruitment efforts rise to the challenge.

Broaden Your SkillSet

With high demand and short supply comes the opportunity to go beyond your comfort zone and expand your skillset. Add to that companies that may not have the budgets to cover their recruitment efforts and the data analyst skillset must expand to meet the demand. From technical to soft skills, below are a few things to keep in mind when crafting your resume or CV:


  • Don’t shed the basics of analytical mainstays such as Excel, SQL, and SAS; enhance them with languages such as R and Python. Want to boost your chances to the top of the pile? Don’t forget next generation tools and platforms like Tableau, Domo, Adobe Analytics, and/or Snowplow.
  • Be specific: Companies will be more interested in interviewing you if you can clearly outline why/what you have used different technology for.
  • Keep this punchy, concise, and outline your in-put with said technologies.
  • Outline projects you’ve worked on.
  • Become a storyteller – communicate key insights more effectively with the power of data, visualization, and narrative. The ability to tell a story with data can translate across business functions and departments for a unified predictive or prescriptive analysis for more impact.
  • Offer actionable Insights - put the power of actionable insights into decision makers’ hands with real life application explanations. 
  • Steward data responsibly. Data governance is now business critical and the new data analyst must be able to act with fiduciary responsibility to ensure data privacy. Data must be protected, standards must be followed, and trust must be maintained

I, Meet Robot

The blending of the physical and digital worlds through AI, Machine Learning, and IoT remain the frontrunners in technology through 2020. According to McKinsey’s Report Ten IT-enabled Business Trends for the Decade Ahead, the latest technologies shaping the current business world include automated knowledge work, the mobile platform, and the Cloud. Skillsets and experience within these three technologies are the next wave in the modern digital world and it’s the new breed of data analyst who can best rise to the challenge to fill the gaps.

Not only will these three technologies make an impact, but the impetus of social platforms and their data will be a powerful contribution to business outcomes. This melding of the physical and digital worlds allows businesses to understand and implement the collected data in scenarios in real-time driving them forward to better reward.

Your Turn

In this section, we ask our candidates and clients what we as recruiters can do to help you find the perfect fit. This is your chance to answer and ask questions as well as get creative in helping us improve our efforts in data analyst recruitment. Below are a few questions to get you started.

  • What kind of cross-training programs might businesses and schools employ for future Data Analysts?
  • What other backgrounds are we overlooking in our quest to for the next generation of data analyst as businesses seek to find and engage this most critical role within their data teams?
  • What can we, as recruiters do to engage qualified candidates ready for their next role in the world of data and analytics?

If you’re a data analyst ready to spread your wings, we may have a role for you, check out our current vacancies or contact us to learn more.

For the East Coast and Mid-West teams please call 212-796-6070, or email newyorkinfo@harnham.com.

For the West Coast team call 415-614-4999 or email sanfraninfo@harnham.com.

Related blog & news

With over 10 years experience working solely in the Data & Analytics sector our consultants are able to offer detailed insights into the industry.

Visit our Blogs & News portal or check out our recent posts below.

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With the prominence of social media now, I think it’s becoming much easier to find women in your field to connect with and ask for advice and support, and I think this is true for both young girls potentially interested in data career paths and professionals already in the industry.   What steps would you recommend to young professionals entering the data professional path or those looking to change careers? Any job or networking trade secrets you wish you'd known before finding your current position?  Being part of a community and making connections with other women in the field has been very helpful both personally and professionally. Join a club: Girls Who CodeGirlstartSociety of Women EngineersCheck out conferences like Grace Hopper and Women Impact Tech. Just knowing that there are women out there with jobs that you’ve never heard of can be really beneficial to believing that you can do it yourself. 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Black Friday, once reserved for the Friday after Thanksgiving, has a new lease on life. It’s not just one day a year. Now, it can be any day of the year. Why? Customers the world over appreciate the deals and discounts as they get ready for the holidays, and the insights gleaned from previous years help businesses determine what will sell best in the current year.  Add in the rise of mobile marketing in which you can buy anything, anywhere, anytime, and more people working from home than ever before, and you have the recipe for Black Friday every day. Especially once the leaves begin to Fall and the holiday season comes knocking at our doors. Behind Advanced Analytics & Insights within the Data profession, there are a host of professions which together help to create the products and launch them. Who could imagine the science behind the sales? Five Important Roles Behind Advanced Analytics & Insights There’s a reason that Data professionals are no longer siloed and must work across and within departments. Data influences every decision within business today. So, having the right people on your team in the right roles can ensure your business thrives. Marketing Analyst Using a spoke-and-wheel analogy, the Marketing Analyst is the spoke. These are the professionals central to taking the information from their Campaign Analysts, Pricing Analysts, and Statistical Modelling experts to determine what will sell best and what price. In essence, their research and Data helps companies figure out ‘what the market will bear.’ Campaign Analyst Focused campaigns to a target market will find a Campaign Analyst understands consumer behaviors. Once the customer is understood – what they buy, when they buy, why and how they buy – can help analysts measure, review, and justify each campaign to justify ROI.Consumer Insights While the Campaign Analyst is focused on targeted campaigns to specific customers, the Consumer Insights Analyst helps businesses tailor their marketing strategies to meet the needs of those customers. All of them. Whether they’re part of a targeted marketing campaign or if they’re prospective clients ‘window shopping’ when they download a ‘free product or click on an email’. Understanding these consumers helps to convert from passing interest to the purchase of a product or service. Statistical Modelling Analyst Do you love puzzles? A jumble of pieces which need to be put together so everyone can see the full picture?  Statistical Modelling are the jigsaw puzzle solvers of the Marketing department. These professionals pull together data from multiple sources and analyze the information to help form a clear picture of their ideal consumer. Toss in a bit of psychology – why customers do what they do and predict what they might do next – and your executives will understand the best way to distribute funds to grow their business. Pricing Analyst It seems simple enough. Determine how much it cost to produce a product or service and mark it up to make a profit, right? Not exactly. These days, calculating not only what it cost to make a product, any overhead to consider, and how much you need to mark it to make a profit is a complex prospect. Factor in what your competition is doing…on a global scale. Consider the fickle buying power of consumers – some days money flows and some days it’s reigned in tight. How do you determine the best price at the right time to ensure maximum profit while keeping pulse on spending patterns? Pricing Analysts take complex data, study customer spending habits, and conduct analyses on what the math says and what the impact might be. So, back to Black Friday sales. Taking what we know of the roles which help businesses set the tone for their marketing strategies, Black Friday every day makes sense. We’re home more. The lines between work and family life are blurred, but computers and phones are at our fingertips, and everyone delivers what we need right to our door. Why not get a jump on your holiday shopping? And once that’s done, you can focus on what your plans are for the future. Are you looking for a career change or just want to see what the market looks like within the Data professionals industry? There is plenty of information to be collected and analyzed. What role might you fill? If you’re looking for a role in Data & Analytics or are interested in Advanced Analytics & Insights, Harnham may have a role for you. Check out our current vacancies or contact one of our expert consultants to learn more.   For our West Coast Team, contact us at (415) 614 - 4999 or send an email to sanfraninfo@harnham.com.   For our Mid-West and East Coast teams contact us at (212) 796-6070 or send an email to newyorkinfo@harnham.com.  

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