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What does Data tell us? Why do we want to know the information we collect and analyze? How can Data help us now? Well, sometimes you have to go back to basics. Knowing your Data helps you make better decisions for the future. This is the transformative nature of Data Science. The Data Scientists have collected is leading toward a vaccine for a novel virus. Our massive shift from in-house workers to working from home showed us where the gaps in our internet infrastructure existed. But, the information we gathered wasn’t just where the gaps occurred, it also offers a jumping off point for how we can use what we’ve learned to improve. We know Data is essential to business today, but how we use it, and gathering what we can learn from it, offer transformative advantages we might have otherwise missed. WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Data Science is what helps us interpret the massive amounts of Data we’ve collected. With an estimated 90 percent of Data created just in the last couple of years, and an estimated dearth of connected devices estimated to grow over 75 billion by 2025, the sheer volume is daunting. Yet we still have need for change. Technologies to interpret Data at such a massive scale still need someone to gather, collect, analyze, and interpret the information. What we’ve learned so far with Data Science shows us what must change to support health workers, the health of our employees, the support of remote workers and gig workers, and how businesses can differentiate themselves from their competitors in a post pandemic world. SEVEN WAYS ORGANIZATIONS CAN PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE Prioritize Digital Collaboration As employees begin to return to ‘normal’ work hours, Gartner suggests 48% of employees will work remotely. This is an 18% increase pre-pandemic. So, when hiring managers take stock of their employees, they’ll want to consider things such as productivity and performance management and how workers are evaluated based remote working touchpoints rather than established criteria of employee performance management.Ensure Inclusivity of Employees Bring employees into more critical roles and give them the freedom to make mission critical decisions. Open Up Opportunities and Develop Critical Skillsets Coach employees on how to develop critical skills for a variety of roles, rather than focusing on one particular role.Be Flexible The days of doing things ‘the way we we’ve always done’ are gone. It’s time to reassess, reevaluate, and prepare your employees for success. How? Consider what may may be needed for a given role’s development path. Do your employees need reskilling or upskilling? Flexible careers. The gig economy. The freelance economy. Contractors. All these titles and labels offer flexible learning and training allowing your business to pivot smoothly and efficiently as needed. Training is the key here and it will help employees transition into other organizations, into roles with greater responsibility, and allow both your employees and your organization to adapt to changes more quickly.Teach Employees to Respond Rather than React Structure your organization and employee response to quickly course correct. Don’t assume or target a core set of future skills. We don’t know what the future holds or what skills may be needed. But if you have employees with wide interests, your business may be better positioned to make changes as needed. Implement a Culture of Inclusiveness – Remote vs. In-House Employees Diversity is an important part of any business. But with the rise of remote workers, it’s time to ensure all workers are supported in regard to healthcare coverage, mental support, and financial health pre-and post-pandemic. Inclusiveness can help to engage those workers both in-house and remote to ensure everyone feels part of the team. Devices such as VR, AR, video calls, and more can help to make every employee feel part of the company culture.Encourage Data Literacy Throughout Your Organization Everyone in your organization will need to be Data literate. Yet everyone will be at a different level of literacy. Here it’s important to define both the skills and capability. Once your leadership has a firm grasp of the Data provided to them by your Data Scientists and business intelligence analysts, then they’ll have a starting point from which to make informed decisions. Building a culture of Data begins with leadership. Are you ready for the role or are you an organization looking for someone to fill this role? Business processes have shifted online, looking for your next job has become more daunting than ever before. But here’s the good news. Everyone’s on the same page. Leaders, hiring managers, recruiters, and prospective employees are all navigating a new way of doing business and finding talent to keep those businesses running. If you’re interested in Big Data and Analytics or other Data professional opportunities, 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.
by Kristianna Chung
18. June 2020
So, you’ve been told to work from home. Finally, more time with the family… Wait, more time with the family? How will you get your work done while also homeschooling your children? Maybe you’re married and your spouse is home, too. The routine of work has been disrupted, and though many businesses were already turning to remote work, this is something else. So, how do you morph from leaving the house to go to the office to simply walking into your kitchen or home office to begin your day? In other words, how do you draw the line between work and family when you’re working from home? We know it can be difficult and unsettling in this troubled time, so we have a few tips to get you started. Getting Started in Your Remote Working Lifestyle DEFINE YOUR WORK SPACE What room can you designate in your house to be your “office.” It’s best to have someplace with a door, but this isn’t always possible. Is it the kitchen table? Ok, but this will mean you need to set strict ground rules about the hours you’re “on.” Make sure everyone understands when you’re “at work.” Whether it’s your kitchen table, a quiet room, or the end of your sofa with your laptop, these are your remote working tools. In some cases, it may even be a good idea to invest in noise-canceling headphones to help you stay focused. HAVE SET HOURS Define what hours you’re working and stick to them. Begin and end your day at the same time. Don’t forget to schedule breaks – coffee break, lunch, a stretch of the legs – around the same time each day as well. Work with your team to set hours for when you’ll be online working and respond to off-hour messages within your working hours. Without designated hours, it can feel like you’re constantly available and always “on” blurring the lines between work and family. Get some fresh air when you can. Step outside for a walk or a coffee, whatever brings you outside can help recharge and energize you for the work ahead. ENSURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TOOLS Remote working apps, videoconferencing tools, and cloud-based filing systems help ensure the job gets done. Make sure you keep your passwords in a safe place and be extra cautious when logging in from a new location. Is your computer up-to-date? Does it have all the security measures and capacity in place for the additional online tools and apps you may need to add? Making sure you address these things can help to solidify your workspace and ensure you’re able to meet with your team online and get the job done. FOLLOW THE 20-20-20 RULE The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes look away from your screen and focus your eyes on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. TAKE A BREAK FROM TALKING ABOUT WORK If you’re not used to working-from-home, loneliness can quickly set in. Remember those quick hallway chats or discussions over lunch or coffee? Take that impulse and use it when talking with your team. Have a virtual coffee break. Take a break from work and talk about hobbies, something funny that happened to you, or even just how you’re feeling away from everyone. You won’t be alone in these feelings with everyone in the same work-from-home boat. These tips can help you put your best foot forward for your remote working lifestyle. But don’t forget, you can use these same rules for family time, too. In the wake of work-from-home policies, remote working, and the shifting landscape of working outside the office, technology careers are prime opportunities to both gain increased knowledge in your chosen field or begin your career path. If you’re interested in remote Big Data & Analytics opportunities, we may have a role for you. Take a look at our current vacancies or contact one of our expert consultants to find out 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.
26. March 2020
We’re at a unique time in our history, in which there are more jobs available than people to fill them. Major employers are looking at apprenticeships, free degrees, or simply abandoning degree requirements altogether. There is one field, however, which affords candidates a range of industries, apprenticeship opportunities, and advancement like no other field before. Data. Much like the freshman congress just entering the House of Representatives, Junior Data Scientists are at a distinct advantage as we enter 2019. If you’re a Junior Data Scientist interested in advancing your skills and seeing where it can take you. This is your year. Careful at the Curve Like many changes which seem to happen both too quickly and not quickly enough, there will be a learning curve in 2019 and in the years to come. It will be felt by everyone; business and data professional alike, but it’s important to realize that like all growing pains in regard to change, things will get better. The talent shortage, particularly in the US, as of August 2018 was estimated to be 151,217. Places like New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco felt the brunt of this shortage. This skills shortage affects everyone and could strain a company’s ability to deliver, unless there is a strong scaling strategy in place. It’s at this crossroads, the prevalence of Junior Data Scientists can help bridge the strain. However, too much too fast could also lead to potential misinterpretation of data causing some to fall short on their ROI. Part of learning is making mistakes and being aware there is a learning curve as Senior and Junior Data & Analytics professionals work together toward the company’s common goal. According to LinkedIn’s Workforce Report for January, hiring has been moderate with a 4.1% increase over that of December 2017. In the continuing pulse of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, tech skills still reign. Soft skills, though, are increasingly in demand as everyone levels up to keep up in regard to business management skills, strategy, and digital transformation across enterprise endeavors. So, what are some ways to maximize your opportunities. Below is a quick overview: Skills for the New Year, New You Tech Skills Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Visualization are a few of the top skills needed in the new year. Language processing skills and knowing which tools are best for which problem e.g. Python, SQL, R, Excel and Scala. Data storage, optimization, and modeling can help lay formulate strategy by knowing where data is, the best data to use, and what it can do to create information for actionable insights aligned with business practices. Quantitative and Predictive Analysis, and Software Development are additional building blocks for skills-based knowledge for any data professional. Business Management Skills Strategy, vendor management, change management. Not only are tech skills important, but as the business landscape itself changes and c-suite executives level up their own data and digital transformation skills, it’s important for Data Scientists to do the same. They should understand the business sector they’re working in so they can create solutions to complex problems which align with their company’s objectives, goals, and logistics. Communication Skills It can be all too easy to get caught up in the minutiae of detail and work singly on a project, but it is here communication becomes key as it helps bring in other departments to help analyze the data correctly. These departments may include those in a non-technical field such as marketing, and the data professional must be able to clearly and fluently translate their findings. Evaluate how your goals and skills align. Find others who have a similar mindset, but be open to new opportunities. You never know what skills you might inherit when you branch out of your comfort zone. Create Your Own Curriculum for Lifelong Learning Opportunities Practice deliberately, build your own project, give and get feedback on your work, and track your progress. The Future So Far… In general, the Data Science job outlook continues skyward as vast amounts of data requires skilled professionals to clean it, and determine how and why it’s going to be used. Someone must be able to unravel this information to not only increase its value, but be able to explain what they’ve learned in plain language to non-technical professionals, business executives, and in many cases board and/or stakeholders. If you’re interested in Big Data & Analytics, we may have a role for you. We specialize in Junior and Senior roles. Check out our current vacancies or contact one of our recruitment consultants to learn more. For our West Coast Team, call (415) 614 4999 or send an email to sanfraninfo@harnham.com. For our Mid-West and East Coast Teams, call (212) 796 6070 or send an email to newyorkinfo@harnham.com.
16. January 2019
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