21 Key Attributes Statisticians Need To Succeed In Their Career

by Ethan Jones

Monday, September 14, 2015

Statisticians develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. They may also specialize in fields such as bio-statistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.

The core tasks that statisticians are likely to carry out include:

Report results of statistical analyses, including information in the form of graphs, charts, and tables.
Process large amounts of data for statistical modeling and graphic analysis, using computers.
Identify relationships and trends in data, as well as any factors that could affect the results of research.
Analyze and interpret statistical data to identify significant differences in relationships among sources of information.
Prepare data for processing by organizing information, checking for any inaccuracies, and adjusting and weighting the raw data.
Evaluate the statistical methods and procedures used to obtain data to ensure validity, applicability, efficiency, and accuracy.

In order to successfully forge ahead with their careers, analysts in a survey carried out by U.S. Department of Labor (via O*NET) have marked out the following as important attributes that statisticians would need. These attributes have been selected from characteristics and requirements strongly associated with the occupation. They are

Abilities: Enduring attributes of the individual that influence performance
Interests: Preferences for work environments. Occupational Interest Profiles (OIPs) are compatible with Holland's (1985, 1997) model of personality types and work environments. Six interest categories are used to describe the work environment of occupations: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. An OIP consists of six numerical scores indicating how descriptive and characteristic each work environment (or interest area) is for an occupation
Knowledge: Organized sets of principles and facts applying in general domains
Skills: These include basic skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate learning or the more rapid acquisition of knowledge. Plus cross-functional skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate performance of activities that occur across jobs
Style: Personal characteristics that can affect how well someone performs a job

We have listed out attributes which were scored 80% or more in terms of importance by the analysts.

Analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 98.6%

Being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 94.8%

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Attribute Type: Knowledge Score: 94%

The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 92.6%

Using mathematics to solve problems.
Attribute Type: Skills Score: 92.4%

Being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 92.2%

Having a strong preference for conventional work environments. Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Attribute Type: Interests Score: 90.43%

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Attribute Type: Knowledge Score: 88.4%

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Attribute Type: Knowledge Score: 88.4%

Having a strong preference for investigative work environments. Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Attribute Type: Interests Score: 85.71%

Developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 85.6%

Being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 85%

The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 85%

A willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 84.8%

Being honest and ethical.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 84.2%

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 82.6%

Persistence in the face of obstacles.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 82.2%

Creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 80.8%

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Attribute Type: Skills Score: 80%

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 80%

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 80%