chapter ten

10 The statistics career survival guide

 

This chapter covers

  • What statistics look like in the real world
  • How to navigate a career with statistics
  • Making the most out of your skillset
  • How to remain ethical under career pressures

As we close the book, I want to send you off with some “street smarts” in your career. I do not want to presume your career objectives, but given you are reading this book, I will make some safe bets that you are not only interested in statistics but also in how it translates into real-world settings and the greater job market. We will talk about career paths that use statistics, as well as the necessary adjacent skills. Then we will segue into practical concerns, like artificial intelligence and remaining ethical under pressure. Let’s get started!

Statistics in the real world

After reading the previous chapters, a question you might have is, “How do I actually use my newfound statistics knowledge?” We learned topics ranging from basic data analysis to hypothesis testing, as well as creating models like linear regression and logistic regression. So what’s next?

Using data in industry

Career paths that use statistics

Adjacent skills to learn

Structured Query Language (SQL)

Programming proficiency

Data visualization and storytelling

Knowing your industry

Are you a practitioner or advisor?

Efficient, continuous learning

Putting the cart before the horse

Poor role definition

Organizational misalignment

Vanity projects and busywork

Thriving against the economics and politics

Thriving in the age of AI

Understanding incentives

Remaining ethical under pressure

Be analysis-driven, not data-driven

What

Who

Where

When

Why

How

The importance of curiosity

Summary

References