The other day I mentioned that I would be starting a new series of tips on how to get “hired with Excel.” This is my first post. I will lay out the goal of the book and an important definition.
Every profession has its tools. The doctor has his stethoscope, and the conductor the baton. The analyst’s tool is Microsoft Excel. Excel is a fast, easy way to analyze data, the vehicle for nearly everything an analyst does.
Excel is the single most important program to and get a job as an entry-level analyst. This book’s goal is to teach two things: the most important Excel skills for the entry-level analyst and how to communicate these skills during an interview. If you’re an aspiring analyst as well, you may also want to broaden your knowledge by reading information such as the temporary employees benefits.
What is an “Analyst”?
My definition of an analyst is any role that uses quantitative data for business insights, to “translate” numbers into plans and summaries. In most analyst jobs, the translation tool will be Excel.
Analysts can be found in almost every department across all industries. There are “financial analysts,” “business analysts,” “research analysts,” and many more. With varying day-to-day activities, the basic skills needed are similar.
Some analyst job, such as the IT-centric “programmer analyst” or “systems analyst,” tend to focus more on database than spreadsheet skills. Although these analysts use Excel, it will be more for data validation than data analysis. Read the job description carefully and use your judgment in determining the job’s nature.
Check out this post on “The Unified Theory of Analysts” for more on what an analyst does.
Photo courtesy StartupStockPhotos.
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