What defines a good work ethic in data & analytics?
Your boss is monitoring if you are a reliable and accountable employee.
When you start a new job in data & analytics, what will your employer care about the most? It may surprise you to know that the key qualities have nothing to do with your technical skills in statistics, computer programming, or data engineering. Instead, your employer will focus more on your work ethic.
Hiring a new worker is a cost and a risk. Your employer is paying for your salary without fully knowing if you will be competent at your job. Even if you have the necessary technical skills, you may turn out to be a toxic employee.
Here are the questions that your supervisor will wonder about you during your first few months on the job:
Do you pay attention when your boss gives you instructions?
Do you complete your tasks as instructed, on time, and without drama (or do you somehow come up with excuses for delays and failures repeatedly)?
Do you respond to emails and instant messages within a reasonable amount of time (or do you make your boss and co-workers wonder if you are ignoring them - even if it is unintentional)?
Do you pay attention to details - about the business question, the data requirements, and the statistical model?
Do you write emails with proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation?
Will you accept feedback about your performance?
When you face obstacles, will you persevere and work hard to overcome them?
When you make mistakes, will you hold yourself accountable, learn from those mistakes, and improve your performance accordingly?
If your boss or co-workers ask for your assistance (within reason and without disrupting your productivity), do you provide it readily?
Do you check the results of your analyses to ensure their accuracy?
Yes, your technical skills matter a lot, but they are easier to measure in the selection process. These other, softer qualities are harder to gauge. If your actions and performance answer these questions with “Yes” in a consistent way, then your boss will be very impressed - and will have more patience to train you on the technical areas where you need to improve. Your technical skills determine if you are qualified for a job. Your work ethic will determine if you will keep that job.