Who Hires Digital Analysts Anyway

When I explain my job to friends or to anyone that seems interested, I usually encounter a slightly puzzled look as people try to understand a few things:

• What is Digital analytics?
• Why would someone task me to find Digital analytics Analysts? How hard can it be…?
• And who hires Digital analytics Analysts anyway?

For the purpose of this blog, I would like to address how I answer the third question - Who hires Digital analytics Analysts anyway?

I have recruited for clients in all different sectors, such as global Internet and Retail businesses through to niche sectors such as River Cruising and Part-Time Tutoring. Having this experience and exposure, I would like to give a brief insight into the industries, both big and small, that want (and need) Digital analytics Analysts.

Thousands of vacancies

According to LinkedIn, as of 08/11/2015 there are roughly 14,700 results for Digital analytics Analytics roles in the US. This figure is probably not entirely accurate, because a number of those adverts will be duplicates, irrelevant or no longer vacant. However, it does at least give us a basis to start this analysis from.

Of those jobs over 3,000 (around 20%) are within the Marketing and Advertising industry alone. The Financial Services industry makes up around 600 positions and just over 300 vacancies are open within Retail. These are three industries that I would traditionally expect to be hiring Digital analytics Analysts, because more of their customers are digital analytics natives –  so surely job seekers are lining up to apply for the digital analytics vacancies in these industries!

Unfortunately for hiring managers within these large Retailers, Banks and Advertising agencies – the Analysts themselves are often bombarded with new opportunities, whether through online advertising or headhunting. The problem arises here in that it is often a struggle to distinguish between the best and right opportunities. If you believe the claims in these job postings, there are hundreds of “Market Leading” agencies in Midtown Manhattan, but sometimes candidates want something a bit different!

Enter stage right

This is where the Start-ups and niche industries can offer a viable alternative. These companies have as much demand for a Digital analytics presence, and an insight into that presence as any other. If job seekers are faced with too many options within the big industries, why don’t they consider applying for roles at smaller brands and businesses where they can have more of an impact and potentially life-changing stock options for example?

Unfortunately again for hiring managers, candidates can feel slightly wary of sending their résumé and personal details to an advert stating the company details are “Confidential - In Stealth Mode!” or perhaps a strangely named company with no address or phone number listed.

As a Recruitment Consultant with experience in both the UK and US job markets, some of the best roles I have worked on have been one-of-a-kind opportunities, which a candidate would never have applied for off their own back having just seen the job description or advert, regardless of the size of the company.

What’s the answer?

Ultimately my answer to the question posed, ‘Who Hires Digital analytics Analysts Anyway?’ is simply, every industry hires Digital analytics Analysts – including some you may not expect to and some that may need to try harder than others to attract the right talent.

What are your thoughts? Is your industry or sector making the most of the insights that a Digital analytics Analyst could uncover? Do you struggle to attract people to your company or sector, perhaps losing out to bigger brands? It’s fair to say that candidates will always have their preferred industries they like to work in – I am sure there are even some who will want one of the 6 roles currently available on LinkedIn within Law Practices…

	Joe Gibbs