Businesses across the world have been collecting data for many years, and now there’s a massive demand for people who can gather and interpret it. Data has always been a word techies love to use, but now business owners around the world are realizing how important it is for the success and growth of their business. This means there are an increasing variety of jobs available for anyone with a penchant for data. If data is your thing, here are nine career paths you might want to consider.
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Data Scientist
A data scientist is a person who takes data, organizes it and then analyzes it. The analysis reveals connections or intelligence which is used to inform business or organizational decisions. To be successful in this particular career you need to have an analytical mind, a strong background in math, in-depth knowledge of statistics and programming, and be able to organize information. A degree in this particular field would also be required. Data science courses can be studied online, which is excellent news if you’re already working or are unable to travel to study. Data scientists are in big demand in a range of different industries including energy, telecommunications, aerospace, IT and security, finance and banking, software, media, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and retail.
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Data Architect
A data architect is responsible for building complex computer database systems for companies. They use their programming skills to identify various data and organize it in a way that makes it useful. As well as building systems, they also have to be able to analyze existing systems and see whether their performance and functionality can be improved. A data architect has to be able to build database systems that are secure. Alongside this requirement, they also have to devise a method for backing up the data and recovering it should technology fail. The system they create has to be documented so that other professionals can use it.
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Customer Insight Analyst
Have you ever wondered who decides what products get developed and which appear on the shelves in your local big name store? A customer insight analyst helps businesses understand their clients by gathering relevant data about customers and consumers. The data is collected and broken down in a meaningful way and can be used to identify market trends or areas in which customer needs aren’t being met. Following the analysis, a customer insight analyst will provide reports relating to sales trends, projections and areas for future development. Aside from the relevant qualification, an analyst of this kind also needs to have strong mathematical and analytical skills, communication and computer skills.
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Big Data Engineer
A Big Data Engineer is responsible for gathering, storing, and evaluating sets of information, usually in an office environment. There are opportunities for this type of career across a range of different organizations. If you’d like to help an organization with their technological infrastructure, this might be just the role for you. Specific positions will vary depending on the industry, but the primary goal is to ensure the technological infrastructure operates seamlessly in support of business goals. Duties could include writing code for essential business components, holding technical training sessions, being a mentor or a team leader for specific projects. Excellent technical skills are must-have for this role.
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Marketing Analyst
When it comes to marketing, a lot of the decisions a company makes about its marketing strategies is lead by data that has been collected for evaluating the success of a particular campaign. Therefore, data analysts have found a place in the world of digital advertising. Thanks to technology it’s possible to track performance metrics, and a person who is comfortable working with data is able to gain valuable insights from various reporting technologies.
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Human Resources Analyst
A human resources analyst analyzes data in the human resources department. They work as part of a team and make suggestions regarding employee changes, productivity, and compensation. Part of the role is to analyze salary and benefits plans, ensuring all employees in an organization are working at maximum efficiency while keeping costs under control. The role is usually an office-based one and involves using computer programs to collect, analyze and apply their data findings.
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Data Base Administrator
A person who holds this position in an organization is responsible for company databases that are used to store business data. They ensure databases are operational, searchable, and secure. The role also includes performing routine tests and modifications to ensure the database is performing and running correctly. Should a problem occur, the database administrator has to be able to troubleshoot the programs and hardware. Part of the average working week could involve being on call in case of an emergency or system failure.
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Ethical Hacker
Would you like to be involved in identifying security problems with a computer network? An ethical hacker could be your dream role! You will have to conduct tests on computer networks and try to hack them in order to access information without authorization. Once any weaknesses in a system have been identified, they will be able to help improve security. An ethical hacker has to keep abreast of new hardware and software and be able to produce reports providing details of their hacking attempts and any conclusions they may have made about the effectiveness of the security currently in place. As well as a bachelor’s degree and certification, an ethical hacker also have to have excellent analytical skills, interpersonal skills, communication and customers service skills, attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
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Epidemiologist
An epidemiologist can work in public and private health institutions, government agencies, laboratories, pharmaceutical businesses, or universities. Their role involves the investigation, analysis, and tracking of local, national, or international surges in disease. They are usually involved in studying contagious diseases but can also be concerned with other public health-related issues such as maternal health, substance abuse, and chronic health. Surveys are undertaken, body fluids are analyzed for patterns or outbreaks, with the aim to control the spread of disease and prevent further outbreaks. The first step on the career ladder for an epidemiologist is to earn a bachelor’s degree.