Analyzing a Data Analytics Career

Walk us through your career trajectory, where did you start, where are you now, where do you want to be?

Although my career has been more of a "squiggly" line than a straight one, all of my roles have involved data and technology in some aspect.  

My career began in the middle of my academic studies. During my undergrad years, I landed my first corporate gig as a co-op intern at a large oil and gas corporation, where I was first exposed to data analytics and reporting. Since graduating, I’ve held various data-related roles in government, as well as in the energy and tech industries. As an information systems major, I’ve been fortunate enough to have been involved in interesting and challenging projects that included working with clients to understand their business and data needs, creating effective reporting solutions in order to help inform business decisions, and educating others to improve their information and data management literacy. 

As a Business and Data Analyst at the City of Calgary, I’m really excited to be able to incorporate what I’ve learned over the years to better serve the public.

What does a day in the life of your current role look like? What project are you most passionate about?

As a data analyst, no two days are ever the same! 
The first part of my work day often involves checking my inbox, seeing if anyone has reached out to me about any updates to an existing request or project, or if there are any new requests for information from clients. Depending on the project, some of my work can be investigative, such as extracting, transforming and reviewing the data to see what kind of insights can be drawn from the dataset. Other times, it can be about quality assurance, such as reconciling data discrepancies between various systems.  Often, my work involves creating reports and visualizations in Power BI or Excel, which includes meeting with clients to better understand their data needs or confirm any project deliverables. Since improving efficiency is a key aspect of data analysis, I’m also constantly on the lookout for ways to incorporate more automation into my work. If I have time at the end of the day, I’ll spend some time learning more about how to use existing technology and systems, gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter at hand, or learn more about the company culture.  

Part of why I’m passionate about working with data is that I get to put on my detective hat, collect information, investigate the data, and find little clues that could help indicate which direction the business should lean towards when addressing a problem. Any project that allows me to leverage both my creative and analytical muscles to complete this work while simultaneously helping others is what drives me.

How have you gained the experience you need to level up in your career?

As a life-long learner, one of the most important things that has helped me level up in my career is to approach whatever I’m doing with a growth mindset.  From a technical perspective, this has included taking on challenging projects at work that are outside of my comfort zone, spending some of my extra time volunteering with an organization with their data needs, and supplementing any knowledge gaps through coursework or online learning.  

However, developing my technical skills was just the beginning of my career. What truly elevated it to the next level was learning from mentors and finding role models. This doesn’t necessarily mean walking up to someone and asking them “Hey, can you be my mentor?” In fact, most of my mentorships began simply by being curious and asking the right questions. Some of my mentors have focused on providing technical guidance on specific projects and helping to bridge new relationships with others. Another provided guidance on improving productivity, sharpening leadership skills, and navigating through different organizational cultures.

By having several mentors, I was able to maintain a well-rounded perspective on the profession. 

To summarize: while keeping up to date with the latest technology trends was the stepping stone to my career, the relationships I’ve cultivated with my peers and mentors over time were what transformed it.

Any general advice about networking, finding a fulfilling job, or starting a new job in the tech industry?

When it comes to finding fulfillment in a job, one of the best pieces of advice I’ve received during my career was from one of my mentors, who said (and I’m paraphrasing a bit): know what your strengths are, and invest in them. And knowing what those strengths are can take time, experience, and patience. While it’s important to understand what your weaknesses are so that you can improve on yourself and stay grounded, I’ve found that I am most productive, confident, and energized when I can harness my strengths to find an innovative solution. 

I’ve kept this piece of advice at the forefront of my mind, and because of it, I feel more focused on my work knowing that my strengths can guide me and keep me on the right career path.