Hi. I recently accepted an offer at a large tech company for a data analyst role. In my previous role I was a data analyst doing mostly Power BI dashboards but my analytics responsibilities were pretty basic, like Excel VLOOKUPS and data cleaning in Excel. I used Python for a couple tasks but not really. I didn’t use SQL as my role didnt require database querying. In my new role, which I start in a month, I will be tasked with doing more strategic tasks like presentation skills as well as SQL skills…overall more analytical and business-heavy than my previous role where I was the most qualified in terms of technical ability.. but the tasks were basic. I worry that I won’t hit the ground running as my data analytics skills have been accumulating dust over the past year. I’ve reached out to other analysts, same role same company, and they all told me not to worry because I will learn everything on the job. I also did a Masters in analytics last year but it’s been so long that I fear my skills have suffered from not practicing enough SQL, Python, and overall data analytics during my previous role. Imposter syndrome is real! Maybe I’m overthinking though…any thoughts? Should I refresh my skills with a tutorial on YouTube or something like that? #dataanalytics #newjob
dont worry. you are amply qualified. it’ll take some time to get used to, but I also had a similar path. I went from data science to consulting, and definitely the work was quite different, but presentation skills are learnable, and remember your edge in technical skills to draw confidence in your presentation. As long as you like the job, youll ramp up in no time
Thank you!
TC
Been in the exact same spot that you’re in, about 3 years ago. It gets better. You’ll pick it up. I know it’s easier said than done - but try not to worry, because you’ll learn everything on the job. And you’ll be given enough runway to learn and make mistakes.
I can totally relate, I’m a junior in my company, and everyone in my team are senior level. I basically lacked the confidence to even ask questions. Been a year since I joined, much better now but still the impostor syndrome gushes in sometimes. I guess just being curious and asking questions helps, set up 1-1s with folks in your team. You’ll be surprised at how much they don’t know and they’re open discussing it. They always tell you they started at where you’re at right now. Everyone goes through this. It’s alright.
You could always do some of the SQL questions on leetcode to brush up on SQL
OP, it's not a concern. You are just wary of the unknown. Once you join and work hard the first 3 months, you should be fine.
I like when I feel this way starting a new job because it means I am going to learn a lot. In a matter of time you will accumulate new skills to be proud of. One way I overcome imposter syndrome is to see the job as an opportunity to learn and not feel I need to impress everyone.
Learn on the go, use critical thinking approach(by asking pointed questions for additional clarity), speak only when spoken to and use some high level corporate jargons. You should be fine. Obviously you did well on the interview(s) and hence you deserve the spot. Good luck.
What company? Can u get a referral
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IDK if it helps but in my mind, you're only an imposter if you were dishonest and intentionally misrepresented yourself to your team or employer. They made the decision to hire you. You get to choose if you're the imposter or not. If you don't have the skills they thought you had, learn them; on the job or otherwise. You shouldn't be punished for not having certain skills unless you were misleading about your skill set. Maybe you don't know have experience with every process they're going to throw at you, but if you admit you don't know it and learn it, that doesn't make you an imposter. Faking it makes you an imposter.
Thanks for the tip. I definitely have the skills but in my previous role I wasn’t challenged enough and my technical skills and overall business acumen got rusty. Now, I feel like I’ll be more challenged which I wanted! …but at the same time I naturally worry about expectations. At least, it’s reassuring to know that the company I’m joining has a good culture that prides itself on skill development and growth so I’m lucky.