When you want to refine what your professional niche is, you need to look at it from multiple angles.
This week we’ll start with tools and technologies, because it’s a simple way to focus on skills and experiences before we tackle the less tangible topics.
Let’s dive straight in with a fresh set of questions for you to explore.
Pick your tool of choice
You may be using Tableau, PowerBI, Fivetran, dbt, writing Python or designing in Figma (or something else). Pick the tool you spend the most time on during your work day and that you would also like to continue using in the future, whatever role you have.
From here, consider the following questions:
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How are you using the tool today?
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What tasks and processes do you run most often?
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What stuff is easy for you and what stuff is hard?
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If given the choice, what would you spend 80% of your time on using this tool?
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What do you think are the most useful features?
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What’s been your experience helping others use this tool, e.g. by teaching them or doing demos, etc.?
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Would you consider yourself a good teacher?
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Do you find it easy to explain how to use this tool?
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If you dive your chosen tool into its main use cases, e.g. visualisation, data preparation, analysis, design, etc., in which areas are you strongest?
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When it comes to your chose tool, what would you like others to know about you and your expertise?
What does this say about you?
Lots of questions above and I hope you’ll take a bit of time to think through them, answer them (in writing) and that you’ll recognise things about yourself.
You may say that this exercise doesn’t tell you yet what your niche should be and you’re right, it doesn’t. But it’s a piece in the puzzle.
Figuring out what space you want to carve out for yourself requires reflection and thinking, identifying your strengths and interests and recognising what skills you still need to develop.
So as you answer the questions above, what are you learning about yourself? Is there something that surprised you? Is everything as expected? If it’s the latter, I suggest digging a bit deeper.
One reason for going through these kinds of questions is that they often make you recognise something you hadn’t previously considered and those directions are always worth exploring in more detail.
Stay tuned for next week when we’ll explore your ideal workday and working environment.
Have a great week!
Eva