Lauren is passionate about helping people grow their knowledge, and helping women into work in sectors which are traditionally male dominated.
In this article, Lauren looks at why data handling skills are important and how to learn more about data.
According to the Government’s findings in the Business Data Survey from earlier in the summer, nearly 20% of all businesses admitted to having concerns over the ability of their staff to handle and manage data effectively.
WHY IS KNOWING ABOUT DATA IMPORTANT?
With the modern workplace becoming increasingly digital and with employees spending more time than ever interacting through online channels and utilising more software in their day-to-day roles, having a solid understanding of what data is and how it works is critical. Especially for younger team members entering the workforce, if they can say that they have knowledge of something that a more established team member does not, then they have already begun to improve their value within the organisation.
Meanwhile, knowing about data in a cyber security context is a must for anyone working anywhere. It’s a simple way to reduce being responsible for the risk of hacks, phishing, and data leaks, whether you work in a small startup that might be vulnerable to targeted attacks or a large company that hackers could see as a goldmine for data and financial exploitation.
HOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DATA
To learn more about data, you need to be asking yourself, “Which courses or education could help me do my job better?” or “Where are gaps in my skillset holding me back?”
This can be a great way to unlock opportunities for learning that can deliver an immediate impact. The key here is to understand that your end goal is to figure out how you can help your employer’s performance as well as educate yourself, and questions like those previously mentioned are designed to identify areas for growth and not be used as a way to point out flaws or shortcomings.
When it comes to your training, this should always be attached to clear and measurable outcomes within your role. This can be concrete, such as web traffic increasing, or abstract, such as feeling that you have a better understanding of which levers they can pull to deliver results. Attaching milestones and achievements alongside training will help you to chart your progress and gives direction toward where next you should push yourself.
It’s also worth mentioning that today, training and developing one’s skills doesn’t have to be as cumbersome as it once was. Many training providers offer online courses that can be studied at a learner’s convenience, fitting around their professional and personal commitments so that they can pick and choose when is best to study. The accompanying learning materials can all be interacted with digitally as well, so there’s no need to spend time traipsing across the country in pursuit of knowledge that can be accessed via your phone, tablet, or computer. It’s never been easier to learn so if you want to learn more about data, now’s the time to do so.
