There’s a reason that so many people with technology background are looking to get a job in web analytics. With the rise of data analysis tools that track clicks and more, companies are finally taking advantage of “Big Data” and learning how their customers behave online. As a result, the demand for analytics professionals has increased in recent years. The broader technology industry is, as always, growing quickly and likely to lead to a pretty stable job. These factors, when combined, make web analytics a great fit for those who have a tech background, an interest in analyzing data, and a desire to spend their time in a stable industry that is typically less prone to contraction than others in the modern economy. Just how, exactly, can someone get a job in this part of the tech sector?
Start with a Proper Computer-Related Education
There are plenty of resources that will talk up the value of being self-taught, and that might be an alright path for the web analytics professional who intends to freelance or become a self-employed contractor that is used by companies performing analytics outsourcing. This is not the strongest area of growth in web analytics, however. Most professionals with this background are hired by major corporations that want a permanent analyst, and they’ll look for the traditional candidate qualifications as they sift through resumes. That means web analytics candidates need to bring at least a bachelor’s degree to the job interview, and it should be one that gives them a significant technology background. As a backup, candidates could bring a math or science-related degree with them, since much of their job will involve these fields as well.
Qualified candidates should have a computer science, computer programming, or web development degree. Other degrees might include mathematics, mathematic analysis, data modeling, or a science-related field. For maximum marketability, a master’s degree in these fields certainly cannot be considered a bad thing, according to TechWeb.
Professional Certifications Lend an Analyst a Bit of Extra Credibility
As web analysis has grown in both importance and demand over the past few years, many universities and professional organizations have developed professional certifications or academic certificate programs that focus specifically on web analytics. These programs teach students the basics of the applications used to track data points, the processes used to compile data into useful information, and the ethical considerations that govern the collection, sharing, and interpretation of consumer data for the benefit of a large corporation. While most businesses do not require these certifications, and not only that they are recommended, candidates who go out of their way to learn about the profession on their own will have an added competitive edge compared to those who took no such initiative.
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Start Looking at Local Computer Career Sites and Job Banks
With the proper qualifications, those who are looking to succeed in web analytics will need to start looking for a job. Though some jobs are advertised on career aggregation sites, the best positions are often found on individual company sites right alongside more traditional corporate jobs or entry-level roles. This added initiative will give candidates the ability to bypass the competition on sites like Career Builder, increasing their chances of being seen and interviewed by human resources professionals. With this approach to professional training and job searching, those trying to get a job in web analytics will likely be quite successful.
