Analytics Magazine Analytics Magazine, July/August 2014 | Page 60

Q&A W ITH LI NDA B U R TC H For any quantitative person, when they’re talking to a potential new employer, it’s important to understand if analytics has a seat at the corporate table. salary alone because money isn’t going to be the factor that’s going to change their life. Rather, it’s the kind of work you will do and how engaged you will be. It’s really important to understand the challenge and the growth opportunity within whatever it is you are looking to jump into. The third thing I think is important to analyze for any quantitative person when they’re talking to a potential new employer is to understand if analytics has a seat at the corporate table. You have to make sure that there is buy-in within the organization and the stakeholders are really actively involved and engaged in conversations about how analytics can and should be used or imbedded within any organization. That’s a huge factor in understanding how happy you will be in your job and how successful you can be as a quantitative professional. Getting back to the plight of the quantpoor MBA, how can a candidate boost analytical skills mid-career? Many colleges and universities are now offering analytics programs, often online, through their business schools, and INFORMS, for example, holds continuing education courses