The range of statistician jobs available is greater than ever before. This is due to the increased acceptance and utilization of information technology by businesses and organizations. This shift has resulted in huge sets of data based on a range of activities. For example, a typical business will have a database of all its clients, sales activities, orders, and invoices. A statistician can analyze this data to determine customer preferences, peaks and valleys in the sales cycle, failed strategies, and more.
In broad categories, there are three different statistician jobs: teaching, research, and analysis. All these require formal post-secondary education in statistics or advanced mathematics. Most statisticians have a master's or doctoral degree in statistics from a recognized university. The skills required to be successful in this field include attention to detail, affinity for numbers, and discipline.
Teaching is one of the most common statistician jobs. All universities and colleges have courses in statistics for business, accounting, and commerce programs. In addition to the business school, the physical science programs also require their students to complete at least one course in statistics. The purpose of this training is to assist them in the preparation of laboratory reports and analysis of experiments.
Research into statistics includes exploring different mathematical concepts and the application of statistics to financial markets. This field is quite active and is experiencing a significant amount of growth. Developments in this area help expand our understanding of patterns, trends, and long-term forecasting.
Data analysis is one of the fastest growing areas for statistician jobs. Large organizations and businesses are actively looking for statisticians to analyze the vast amounts of customer and business data. Part of this process is to identify trends, patterns, and cause and effect relationships. A well-defined business intelligence department often includes several statisticians.
The most important aspect in determining the accuracy and relevance of any business intelligence tool is the quality of the query. A statistician has the skills and training necessary to develop well-defined queries that create a data set that can be analyzed for trends and patterns. A complete analysis may help the organization meet customers' needs, increase sales, and reduce wasted effort.
The career advancement opportunities in statistics are typically limited to middle management. Most statisticians are dedicated to the field and are looking only to increase their knowledge and professional standing. Positions in this field are well compensated, due to the level of expertise and skill required.