My Career Skills Audit: Honest Reflections from a to be Data Scientist
The Career Smart Skills Audit test will help you to identify the skills areas which you believe you most need to develop or which are most important for you to develop further.
So I just got my results back from the Career Smart Skills Audit, and let's just say... it was eye-opening!
What The Audit Revealed
The test highlighted three main growth areas:
- Commercial Awareness (which I totally agree with)
- Managing Self (attacked me personally, but fair)
- Managing Others (Also fair but not really relevant for me right now)
My Take on Commercial Awareness
This one hit home. As someone diving into data science, I've been so focused on mastering algorithms and coding that I've neglected the business side. The audit pointed out that I struggle with:
- Understanding how economic factors affect businesses
- Articulating how my work contributes to commercial success
- Identifying what makes companies different from competitors
And honestly? These are exactly the skills I need to stand out. What good is building an amazing model if I can't explain its business value or understand the industry context it operates in?
The Self-Management Struggle Is Real
Time management and organization have never been my super strong suits (just ask anyone who's seen my desk during finals week). The audit confirmed what I already knew - I need to keep working on:
- Managing my time effectively (Started using linear for planing, does that count?)
- Handling pressure without stressing out
- Organizing my workflow better
In the data science world, this could be a major roadblock. Juggling multiple analyses, meeting deadlines, and prioritizing tasks are daily requirements, not optional skills.
What About "Managing Others"?
The audit also flagged "Managing Others" as a development area, but I'm not convinced this is crucial for me right now. I'm not aiming for a management position anytime soon. Though I guess even junior DS roles require some collaboration skills...