Data Analyst, how to find a job for yourself

On the one hand, data analysis can solve the pain points of enterprises and bring development opportunities; on the other hand, it often requires starting from scratch and finding value points. Starting from the lack of sense of mission in the initial stage of data analysis, this article introduces methods to regain vitality. It reveals the two sides of data analysis work and provides junior analysts with ideas on how to maintain motivation in ups and downs.

Polarization is the norm in data analysis. While some students are busy with SQL, others are deeply confused about "what should I do?" These students are often new to a company or a newly established data department. Their direct supervisors are so busy that they can hardly see them once a week. When they meet, they only say:

“You have to take the initiative”

“Talk more to the business.”

"What can you do if you think about it more?"

It’s gone, gone, gone... What to do!

1. Solutions

Everyone should be careful. Don't try to "keep it to yourself" at this time. You may try to come up with an analysis topic that will amaze everyone behind closed doors. If you do this, you will most likely fail to come up with an analysis topic. Even if you do come up with an analysis topic, you will probably get a reply like "I knew it a long time ago." Because except for startups that have just established data departments, most companies have reports in use to some extent. If you are new here and don't understand the situation, you may end up with a repetitive topic.

The core value of data analysis is to provide data that others need but have not seen yet. What others need is the first priority. Therefore, do a good job of research and find out the needs before you can proceed to the next step.

2. Start Here

When it comes to research, many students will think of: talking to the business. When thinking of talking to the business, social phobia and procrastination will kick in, and then it will take a long time without any action. In fact, it is really difficult to talk to the business when you don’t know anything. Fortunately, we have other ways.

In an enterprise, the complete data analysis system is shown in the figure below.

Among them, the business analysis part involves the integration of business and financial data, so the theme is relatively fixed, including:

1. Revenue KPI achievement

2. Cost KPI control

3. Channel input-output ratio

4. Profit and loss of goods/projects

5. Compliance status of each business line

Therefore, when you are not sure what to do, you can first look at:

1. Is there any department that is undertaking the business analysis report?

2. Is there anyone doing the business analysis topic?

3. Is there a fixed tracking report for each topic?

Generally, the data department has the authority to check which reports are updated regularly, so they can see these situations. If they cannot see them, they can also ask their direct supervisor directly, and they can find out with just one communication.

If you encounter the following situation:

1. Only financial reports, no business reports

2. There is a report, but some topics are missing

3. Only monthly reports, no follow-up reports

Then you can directly raise the demand and ask for the improvement of relevant reports, so that you can find a job to do. And this job can allow leaders to see the business situation more clearly and more completely, which is directly useful without worrying about stepping on landmines.

Of course, if you already have a complete report at the business analysis level, you have to continue to delve deeper into the business to find opportunities.

3. Find opportunities by deepening business

For most of thematic analysis, we need to talk to the business in detail to understand the needs. But please note that not all businesses attach so much importance to data, and not all businesses want to talk to us. It is very important to find the right person.

At this time, we can use our analytical ability to analyze the status of the business department. There are three important indicators for reference:

1. The performance of the business department. Check the results directly from the business analysis report

2. How much data does the business department need to retrieve? Determine from the daily update report + temporary data retrieval quantity

3. The enthusiasm of the business department to cooperate. This depends on your own discussion and subjective judgment.

By combining these three indicators, we can create a "Data Demand Profile" for the business department and provide targeted services (as shown in the figure below).

4. Give results in stages

Pay attention here! It is possible that the business department gives a specific data requirement "Add a XX report to me". This kind of requirement can be directly accepted and implemented.

If the business department gives you a job like, “We have a problem that we would like to analyze,” you must be alert! Students without experience will think, “Finally, I have a job!” and then happily take it on, working hard without foreseeing the risks ahead.

Generally, problems that are difficult to solve in business are also difficult to analyze in terms of data. For example, a business person might ask, “The success rate of our new products is too low. Can you analyze which new products will be successful?”

At this point, the following situation is likely to occur:

1. Looking at the entire industry, the success rate of new products is not high

2. The company has old problems and its business capabilities are not good enough

3. Lack of process data, only sales results

These situations cannot be solved by just one or two data tables. When you receive a request, when you hear a specific business problem, don’t just promise: “I’ll give you the result in two weeks”, but make a work plan (as shown below):

In this way, you can output in stages. Even if you get stuck at a certain stage, everyone can see your previous efforts, and the gap is almost ready. Many students who are driven crazy by the lack of demand blindly take on very difficult problems, but end up not being able to output results, which drives them even more crazy... In the end, there are also many who quit their jobs out of frustration. Everyone must be careful

V. Summary

To summarize: If you want to find work for yourself as a data analyst, you need to learn more about the current status of the company's data, find the data needed by the business department, and gradually improve the data system starting from the report. You must also clearly list the progress and implement it step by step so that everyone can see your efforts. This is the way to break the deadlock.

Author: Down-to-earth Teacher Chen

Source: WeChat public account "Down-to-earth Teacher Chen (ID: gh_abf29df6ada8)"