What A Research Specialist At University Of Southern California Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Research Industry
Ruth, a Research Specialist at USC, wished someone had emphasized the importance of technical skills, specifically "certain softwares" like SQL, Tableau, and GIS, for career advancement in research. This knowledge, while not initially apparent, is crucial for effectively translating data, even for those with a qualitative focus like hers, highlighting the evolving technological demands of the field.
Data Analysis, Coding, Technology, Career Development, Software
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ruth McCormack
Research Specialist
University of Southern California
Barnard College, 2015
University of Southern California, Masters of Public Administration
History, Art History
Education, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Sales and Client Management
LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. To advance in research, familiarity with software like SQL, Tableau, and GIS is crucial.
2. Even with a qualitative focus, coding knowledge significantly enhances a research specialist's capabilities.
3. Start learning relevant software early in your career to gain a competitive edge.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you entered the industry?
Something I wish someone had told me, especially growing up, is that you need to know certain technical things to be advanced in this area. When I was growing up, there was still dial-up AOL, and not everyone will know what I mean when I say that. Not everyone had smartphones, and that was the status.
What I now realize is that to be successful in my field, you do need to know the main software that's out there. For instance, we use different coding mechanisms like data as a language, or SQL, or certain methods such as that. We also utilize Tableau and GIS, which are software for mapping data.
I am someone who is more qualitative, and I like to translate data to be understood by those who can't speak code. But to do that, I need to know a little bit of code. So, it's that knowledge I wish I had known earlier in my career so that I could have started that process sooner.
Advizer Personal Links