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Christian, Data Analytics and Reporting Manager at University of San Diego: Advize Career Interview
This interview with Christian, a Data Analytics and Reporting Manager at the University of San Diego, offers a fascinating glimpse into a data-driven career.
The journey began with a shift from social services to a focus on essential data skills like statistics, coding, and analysis.
Day-to-day responsibilities encompass the entire data lifecycle, impacting university rankings and various campus projects.
The role demands both technical prowess in tools like R and Python, alongside crucial soft skills like communication and critical thinking.
What's particularly exciting is the opportunity to derive actionable insights from data and to enjoy the flexibility and autonomy offered in the field.
Challenges exist, particularly around data quality and acquisition, but the field rewards continuous learners willing to tackle new problems.
Gaining experience through internships and building a portfolio are key to breaking into the field, where documentation is paramount.
A research assistant position during a PhD program provides a solid foundation through performing statistical analysis on datasets, strengthening the data skills that help in the current role.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Christian Guerra
Data Analytics and Reporting Manager
University of San Diego
Cal State University Los Angeles
UC Riverside - PhD
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Anthropology, Sociology, Criminal Justice
Education
Data and Analytics
Transfer Student, First Generation College Student
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Career Path of a Data Analytics and Reporting Manager at University of San Diego
Christian's career path began with initial aspirations in social services, shifting towards professorship during graduate school before ultimately choosing a different direction; realizing the importance of "statistics, data analysis, um, and coding," Christian dedicated time during a PhD program to develop those skills, leading to a data analyst position and current role as a Data Analytics and Reporting Manager at University of San Diego.
Main Responsibilities of a Data Analytics and Reporting Manager at University of San Diego
As a Data Analytics and Reporting Manager, Christian's main responsibilities involve the entire data lifecycle, from "collecting, verifying, and validating data" related to student enrollment and outcomes, to reporting on trends to professional managers and disseminating information across the university, including on the website. Furthermore, Christian contributes to the university's national rankings by reporting data to organizations like US News and Bloomberg, and also works on numerous data projects around campus.
A Day In The Life Of A Data Analytics And Reporting Manager At University Of San Diego
A data analytics and reporting manager's days are diverse, varying based on "different data needs," with projects often spanning a week. Recurring tasks include validating and uploading new student data into platforms each semester and ensuring program directors capture student outcomes, while a significant portion of the role revolves around rankings, such as working on Bloomberg during June and July, and US News in November and December, a "year round type of thing".
Most Important Skills for a Data Analytics and Reporting Manager at University of San Diego
For a Data Analytics and Reporting Manager at the University of San Diego, Christian emphasizes that "hard skills" like data analytics using R and Python, data cleaning, and asking the right questions with the data are crucial, but equally important are "soft skills" such as communication for disseminating statistical findings to a non-expert audience and critical thinking to understand the data's origins and validity.
Favorite Parts of Being a Data Analytics and Reporting Manager at University of San Diego
Christian enjoys extracting actionable insights from data, such as identifying the increasing enrollment of military students and then being able to recommend further recruitment efforts since "we are in a military town". Also, Christian appreciates the role's nature, which allows one to work on computer screens with minimal meetings and limited human interaction, which is considered a "good thing".
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Data Analytics and Reporting Manager at University of San Diego
As a Data Analytics and Reporting Manager, Christian's biggest challenges revolve around data quality and acquisition, noting issues with "missing data, messy data," and the need to merge data from multiple sources, such as appointments, demographics, and enrollment, which is a significant challenge. Compounding this is the difficulty in obtaining student survey responses due to length, lack of incentives, and students simply deleting requests, forcing Christian to rely on "the kindness of their heart," which can be unreliable.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Data Analytics Industry as a Data Analytics and Reporting Manager
As a Data Analytics and Reporting Manager at the University of San Diego, Christian enjoys the work-from-home options and autonomy offered in their field, allowing for flexibility in working hours; they also appreciate that "statistics are statistics," providing a stable foundation of knowledge applicable to almost any industry, offering immense versatility in career paths.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Data Analytics Industry, According To A Data Analytics Manager At University Of San Diego
According to Christian, a Data Analytics and Reporting Manager, individuals who thrive in data analytics are those "always willing to learn" and unafraid to tackle new problems, models, or ways of thinking about data; in this field, taking the initiative to learn something new is key because "you're never gonna know everything, but that's okay." Continuous learning is essential in this dynamic industry.
What A Data Analytics Manager At University Of San Diego Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Data Analytics Industry
Christian, a Data Analytics and Reporting Manager, wishes they had mentorship or a junior data analyst role to learn from before entering the field, as "most of how [they] learned how to do data analysis was through failure, like trial and error." They also feel that current tools like ChatGPT would have been extremely helpful, as it can explain complex topics "in like layman's terms," and overall, thriving in the industry requires being unafraid to fail.
Entry-level positions for aspiring Data Analysts at University of San Diego
Christian, a Data Analytics and Reporting Manager at University of San Diego, admits that the data field is tough to break into due to saturation from diverse backgrounds and recommends aspiring data analysts pursue internships to gain experience and showcase their work through a portfolio to demonstrate competence. They suggest "be able to show, showcase your work" like through a portfolio "so the employer knows that you know what you're talking about".
Significant Career Lesson From a Data Analytics Manager at University of San Diego
As a Data Analytics and Reporting Manager, Christian emphasizes the critical importance of documentation, stating one should "always document every single thing" when manipulating and cleaning data. This habit ensures replicability, preventing redundant work when someone inevitably asks for the same analysis again.
College Experiences That Helped a Data Analytics and Reporting Manager at University of San Diego Succeed
Christian attributes career success as a Data Analytics and Reporting Manager to actively engaging as a research assistant during their PhD program, where they performed statistical analysis, including "logistic regression" and "linear regression" on healthcare datasets. Further, they taught themself "R and some Python, as well as some statistics," solidifying the skills needed for their current role.
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