not sure of options

[gwog]

Hi,

I work for a very large consumer goods company. I started in December of 2002 as a Data Analyst. When I started they had reporting systems that were very complex and non-user friendly. My initial "assignment" was to modify/create data reporting systems for our department.

I have done that quite succesfully. The problem is now that I've created every reporting system they wanted, I am finding myself "bored".

Some background: Out of college I taugh some computer classes at a local business college. After that I worked for a Manufacturing company as a Document Control specialist (basically I created database to track engineering drawings - and made photo copies of said drawings when requested). From there I went to work for a marketing research compay where my title was Data Analyst. At this company I used sofware to compile research data into cross-tables - that was then presented to the clients by someone else. Next came my current job (which I've already described).

I am very strong at general database creation (but my SQL programming skills are weak). I almost always can sit down with a any software package and "play" with it for a few hours and understand how it works and what it can do "out of the box" again not any programming.

I do enjoy teaching software apps to others - but in today's world of computer based/online training - don't see a lot of opportunities in this area.

I am extremely task oriented - give me a list of 1,000 things to do and I'll happily do them - but ask me to come up with the list myself - I struggle.

That is where I am in my current role - my supervisor has said - we want you to come up with things that will help everyone else in the department out. The big problem is I don't know how to do the other jobs, and so am finding it very difficult to know what would be helpful to them. I have asked them repeatedly to let me know if there is any thing that they think of that they just "wish it would do this" or "wish I had this info" but no one has responded.

As most people - finance is a big driver - and my current salary is comparible to an admin salary. So obviously I'd like to find a way to advance.

Any suggestions of a direction I could take my career in are greatly appreciated.

lisa.

 

[jiqjaq]

Based on our description, it sounds like you are what is often termed a "business analyst". You map out the flow of data within a company and then determine how to make it flow easier and smoothly. Programming skills, while certainly helpful, are not always needed for this.

Since you've been with the company for 2 years and have already designed reporting systems, you obviously know more about the flow of data there than you give yourself credit for. People don't always need more reports. Your job is to make other people's jobs less of a hassle by identifying and providing tools to help them work faster.

Most companies have many different people entering the exact same data. You would provide a method to capture that data so fewer people need to enter it. Sometimes the data can be stored in a database for later retrieval, but often it's very helpful to have that data provided as a list of selections, rather than users needing to key it in from scratch.

You need to observe the steps people go through to complete specfic tasks. Can any of A's output be used for B? Does B really need to see everything from A or will it be overwhelming? Maybe B is in a different department, but can't understand A's data because different terminology is used to describe it. That's where you come in.

 

[MikeLacey]

Lisa,

I suggest that you consider going back to your supervisor and saying: "Working that way really doesn't suit me - I need more of a goal, do you have any specific projects in mind?"

And don't worry about it. You don't have anything to do because you've done your job well - most times you give someone a task like that and they spend the next 15 yrs supporting what they've done.

Mike

To err is human,
but to really foul things up -
you require a man Mike.

Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at faq219-2884

 

[psbsmms]

I wouldn't be so quick to tell the supervisor that you don't work well in the environment that they want you to. Also if you wnat to move up the ladder than this is a skill you need to develop, good supervisors/managers need broad goals and objectives and are expected to find the subtasks required to meet the stratigic goals stated and then assign them to others. I have managed many differnt organizations and I will tell you the person I have to map out all the requirements for any one goal is not the one I recommend for promotion

 

[MikeLacey]

Sounds to me as if they can't be bothered to define what they want - but yes, I take your point.

Mike

To err is human,
but to really foul things up -
you require a man Mike.

Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at faq219-2884

 

[gwog]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I undestand what psbmss is saying about being careful about saying to my boss I can't work in this environment.

JigJag your comments are very appreciated and helpful. It gives me some ideas to at least try to come up with a plan of what to do next.

Mike thanks for your kind words about doing my job well.

You all have helped me see things in a new light.

Lisa.

 

[jancebk]

Not to alarm you - but I have seen some organizations challenge an employee to "define what they can do" to determine the value the employee adds to the organization.
If the employee doesn't come up with a list of what they can do to help either 1) generate revenue, 2) save other people time, and/or 3) save the organization money, then the person might make it to the short list when it comes time for layoffs, etc.

On a more positive note, you do seem to have analytical skills. You said you don't know the other peoples' jobs. Observe them, sit with them, learn their job a bit and brainstorm ways to make their jobs easier. Tell your supervisor in order to continue assisting the department you need to take it to the next level and learn what & how the others do their jobs - so you can figure out ways to help them.

Hope this helps - good luck!
Jan

 

[Corran007]

i agree with jancebk. the best way to learn about how to improve others jobs is to do it youseself and figure out what needs to be improved. Plus you can learn more skills.

If your dealing with basic workers, asking them what they wish they had or could be improved doesnt work to well. go to thier supervisors. im sure they have heard complaints from thier people on things they would like to improve. Ive had similar issues here. i was asking the users directly about thigns and if they had problems. they were saying none of course. then thier supervisor came to me with a list of problems they were encountering that came from the same people that didnt have any problems. I just now have them report thier problems to thier supervisor and i work with her. depending on your company culture, alot of end users dont feel comfortable talking about stuff to non coworkers.