If You Want To Succeed In Any Industry, Learn This Skill

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Unless you went to school for data science (which, if we had to bet, is a small percentage of you), you probably didn’t think you’d need to be data savvy to succeed in your job. But friends, the times are changing, and necessary career skills are evolving. No longer are you expected to just know Microsoft Suite, but in nearly every industry, you also need to be data-driven.

We know what you may be thinking. I don’t work in finance or the tech industry! But that doesn’t matter, being proficient with data will help you do your job better and get ahead. Here are a few reasons why being strong with data can give you a serious edge in your career.

Companies love numbers.

Data is becoming a core component of virtually every industry out there. Airbnb created its own university for its employees to learn how to become more data-driven in their roles. The meal delivery service Blue Apron enlists the help of data companies like Looker and Big Query to help their teams understand big-picture analytics. And those are just two examples. Leading companies are data-oriented so it’s important that you develop the skillset.

You can learn how to do your job better and measure your own success.

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Whether it’s your strategy for driving revenue in sales or reaching a wide audience as a writer, data shows you which of your tactics are proving successful. If you see that something is working, you can double down on it. When data reveals your tactics are falling short, you can make a decision to change your approach. Essentially, getting down and dirty with the numbers can help you do your job better.

Beyond that, no matter what your job description entails, you should always have evidence that you’re killing it and getting results. Backing up your successes with data can not only prove to your boss that you’re contributing positively to your company, but also that you can predict future success. You’re putting your achievements on paper (or rather a screen) as documentation of what worked and what didn’t. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.

Making data-driven decisions can make you a more worldly human being.

Aside from using data to strengthen your own role and company, you also tune in to how other similar organizations around the world are functioning and succeeding. What can you learn from them? Data can serve as a model for comparison and help you understand new, more innovative ways competitors are doing business. Data forces you to be informed on more than just your own job description and team — it forces you to broaden your perspective.