Scott O. Hirsch Explains How To Become a Data Expert

As the world of data mining and analysis grows larger and more technical, there is still a need for humans who can easily interpret information. Many fields of employment, such as marketing and financial lending, depend on knowing their audience to be successful. Professionals like Scott O Hirsch understand the numerous ways to incorporate data into a business. Here are some of the many ways to become a data expert.

Practicing

Data is not an exact science but a field constantly experiencing change. Because of this, it is greatly beneficial for people wanting to learn more about data to look at as many datasets as possible to familiarize themselves with the information they might encounter. Many free online platforms enable people to examine data and produce visualizations from that information. Beginners can opt out of taking on a large project and sticking to learning the basics until they grasp those initial activities.

Taking Courses

Experts like Scott O Hirsch know that the type of software or programming language that a data professional uses largely depends on what they are trying to do with that data. Some of the more common data platforms include:

• Excel, for organizing data and sharing it with others who have an interest in the information
• SQL, which stands for structured query language and allows users to manipulate data within a database 
• Python, a versatile programming language that is easy to learn and allows users to analyze data and create software programs 

If you are unfamiliar with any of these programs or have a general desire to learn another software platform, consider taking a course that can guide you through the learning process and provide you with hands-on materials. Many certification programs come with a cost, but there are also many courses out there that are free, especially for beginners.

Developing a Portfolio

A portfolio is a professional document that contains your best work. It might consist of graphs, articles about topics of interest in the data field, or explanations of particular data trends. In addition to the possibility of opening up employment opportunities, a portfolio can help you assess what you are good at and what could use improvement when it comes to the data world.

There are many ways to become an expert in data. A little bit of knowledge of the field, along with some hard work, can land you a satisfying career.

Scott O. Hirsch Bio

Scott O Hirsch is a professional who has worn many hats throughout his career, including serving as founder of Media Direct and participating in the sports world by managing boxing heavyweights. He has marketing and digital data expertise and is a member of the Forbes Business Council. In his free time, he enjoys playing racquetball and spending time with his two children.