Ways in which you can identify the kind of analytics training you need

Many people inquire about ways in which they can further the knowledge that they have in analytics. This is an industry that is still in its infancy and there are many developments that are bound to occur in the future. It is therefore important to choose the right kind of analytics training that will get you ahead and keep you current.

The boom in training

In the recent past, analytics education has experienced a boom. Some of the training is done in classes, some use software while there are also workshops and online tutorials that have become profuse. This makes it quite hard to identify the best program to choose. The other issue is the lack of clarity regarding pertinence, practice and process so as to clearly tell people what is really needed to succeed in analytics.

What do you want to do?

This should be the very first step regardless of the career in question. What kind of role currently or in the future are you aiming at? Do you want to be a data scientist or an analyst? You may also be a business professional looking for a way to leverage analytics into your daily workflow. There are also those who seek to make a transition within their career to become analysts. When you have made a clear determination of where you are at and what industry you are in, you will be in a better position to choose your path.

Identify the skills gap

When it is clear to you exactly what it is you want to do, it is time to identify the skills gap. One of the things that should be noted is the fact that the skills needed in different areas like marketing, product development and so on are different from those needed by a data scientist. There are many analytics skills that successful professionals apply. They should be able to get data from different sources and then organize it to be able to analyze it.

An analyst must learn different techniques to successfully extract value from the raw data. An analyst should also be in a position to work with the different stakeholders through effective communication.

Choose the best training option

When you have clearly defined the skills gap, you should be able to choose the best training option. The kind of training that you need is usually based on the gaps that you intend to fill. It also depends on exactly what you want to do.

There are several options when it comes to training. There are universities that offer a master’s degree in this area. The programs are usually ideal for persons who don’t have any kind of professional experience but want to handle analytics roles. The programs are usually comprehensive but can be time-consuming. You can also choose the online options that are quite accessible.

Local universities also offer some semester courses. It may be wise to also keep an eye open for the professional workshops that are usually held by major companies.