Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Data Analysts and Junior Product Managers
Kevin's background as an educator provided a unique perspective, allowing development of data analysis skills —"measuring students' progress"—which translated to corporate roles at Amazon and beyond. Entry-level positions such as data analyst roles or junior product management roles leverage similar skills, using data "intentionally" to inform decision-making.
Data Analysis, Product Management, Impact Measurement, Decision-Making, Entry-Level Roles
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kevin Tsay
Director, Program Management & Product Strategy Operations
Turnitin
Washington University in St. Louis, 2007
Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, MPP
Education
Technology
Operations and Project Management
LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. Data analyst roles offer valuable skills applicable to various sectors and can be an excellent entry-level position.
2. Junior product management roles provide opportunities for those interested in product strategy and operations.
3. Experience in measuring student progress and impact, even as a teacher, translates into valuable data analysis and decision-making skills in corporate settings, highlighting the transferability of skills across different sectors.
Transcript
What entry-level positions in this field might an undergraduate college student consider pursuing?
I feel really lucky that I started in the classroom as an educator. It offered me a perspective within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, but also having seen a variety of educational experiences. This allowed me to understand how education works from a teacher's perspective, within different academic and classroom settings.
In terms of skillsets that I've built that could also be entry-level, aside from the classroom, are data analyst roles or even entry-level junior product management roles. The data analyst role, for instance, utilizes skills I picked up while in the classroom, thinking about how to measure student progress.
This was something I was trained on as a teacher, which other teachers did not necessarily have. It really set me up to think about how I measure impact fundamentally.
This extended beyond student achievement to the corporate world at Amazon. I've also done work in nonprofits and government, thinking about the bottom line and our metrics. All of this is part of my work in considering how data can inform decision-making.
Therefore, any role that uses data intentionally in different ways can be really helpful in an entry-level position.