We all know that big data is here to stay and it is going to encompass a huge part of business analytics and product development. So that means that companies need to start looking for people who have big data expertise. But what kind of employees do you need to really handle the big data revolution and exactly where are they hiding?
Hard to Find
If you’ve already tried to find candidates with this type of experience and haven’t had any luck, you’re not alone. Many companies are having a tough time finding qualified candidates because they are few and far between. A McKinsey & Co. report predicts a shortage of about 200,000 data scientists and a shortfall of qualified managers in the millions.
So where are these critical employees going to come from? If you think you can start scouring universities for graduates, you’ll be sorely disappointed. Schools and colleges are slow to create programs that teach students the necessary skills for analytics and manipulation of data.
What to Look For
So what should you look for when you’re on the hunt for new employees who can help take advantage of all this unstructured data?
- Scientific Method: data scientist is a term that came into the mainstream two years ago but it’s a good way to describe how these candidates will need to think.
- Mathematically Minded: more than just math skills, these employees must be able to manipulate math and use reasoning, data-based experiments, interpretations and hypothesis.
- Big Picture: part of the issue with big data is that you have to see the trees for the forest. People with this ability can help you uncover the gems of pertinent data in the unruly mess of content that makes its way through your analytic programs.
Businesses must start thinking about analytics as more than just subsets of their IT departments. As data analytics becomes an integral part of your company you’ll have to get creative when you’re trying to fill the hottest job in tech.
