5 REAL Reasons Why You Should Pursue a Data Career

Hey friends 👋 

I had a conversation with a friend of mine in the data space this week that got me thinking.

We were talking about how many content “gurus” there are out there that sell data analytics as this easy dream job that will solve all of life’s problems.

That conversation fired us up a bit.

Want to know why?

Because it’s simply not true.

Data has its fair share of challenges, stress, and anxiety. Being depended on for technical solutions can be a big responsibility. There are also times when you’ll bang your head against a wall trying to figure out a query all day long. And of course, tech is a volatile job market with layoffs occurring frequently.

Don’t get me wrong, the data field has its benefits and is attractive:

• Working in tech is sexy

• Relatively good pay

• Remote work

But while these might pique your interest, these reasons shouldn’t be your prime motivators.

So let me give you a handful of better reasons to pursue a career in data…

1 | You enjoy solving problems

Solving problems is a huge part of most data careers.

Whether it’s creating scripts, building dashboards, making reports, designing a database, or any other host of technical activities you might be doing, most of it centers around solving problems.

Often, the problem-solving is in the form of answering questions, but either way, expect to be relied on to provide or assist in providing solutions.

2 | You’re analytically-minded

You might expect this trait from a career in data analytics, and rightfully so. But what does it mean to be analytically minded?

I look at it as having an aptitude for asking questions, searching for solutions, and examining how to do things better. Much of the roles you’ll be doing revolve around these traits, so it’s a good idea to have that temperament.

3 | You’re not bothered by high volumes of critical thinking

Now, critical thinking is involved in many careers outside of data, but some aren’t as much, so I thought this was worth mentioning.

Remember when I mentioned banging your head against a wall trying to figure out a query solution? This is where the critical thinking comes in. Expect to get stuck, often. To break through, you have to really wrap your head around many of the problems you’re given. This makes critical thinking indispensable.

4 | You enjoy working alone but also collaborating with others

There are some days when I’m mostly left to my own devices. I’m given the autonomy to do my work and expected to complete it by the given timeline.

I love that autonomy, and I love getting sucked into deep work for hours at a time.

However, there’s a fair share of teamwork that goes into doing your job well too. Meeting with stakeholders, speaking with other departments, and working through solutions with your team are just a few of the things that you can expect to be doing in a data career.

Being comfortable with a balance between the two is the sweet spot.

5 | You enjoy learning new things

Data tools are always innovating. Whether that’s the advancement of a current tool or the introduction to a whole new one.

Python in Excel, which was just announced, is a good example. As was the introduction of ChatGPT. Another example is the introduction of tools like Tableau or Power BI some years ago, and they’ve only gotten better over the years.

Embrace learning new skills and be comfortable with that change. It will serve you well in your data career.

This is not an all-inclusive list of traits, but rather a few of the biggest ones that came to mind.

Sexy tech, money, and remote work are all fair incentives, but if you want to make a career out of data, reasons like the ones I mentioned above are far better motivations for making the jump.

That’s it for this week.

See you next time ✌️ 

Whenever you’re ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:

1 | The Data Portfolio Guidebook

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2 | 1:1 Coaching Call

For help navigating the data job hunt, consider booking a 1:1 career guidance session with me. There are a few options available to help you get to your ideal data job faster.

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