chapter ten

10 The statistics career survival guide

 

In this chapter

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

As we close the book, I want to send you off with some street smarts for your career. I do not want to presume to know your career objectives, but given that you are reading this book, I will make some safe bets: you are not only interested in statistics but also in how they translate into real-world settings and the broader job market. This chapter begins by outlining career paths that use statistics, as well as the necessary adjacent skills. Then we will segue into practical concerns, such as artificial intelligence and how to remain 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’ve covered topics ranging from basic data analysis to hypothesis testing, as well as how to create models such as 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

Programming proficiency

Data visualization and storytelling

Knowing your industry

Are you a practitioner or an 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