Ron J. Cherian

I applied to an "entry-level" Data Analyst role last week. The requirements were absolutely ridiculous. → 4+ years with Power BI → 5+ years with SQL → 3+ years with Python → "Strong stakeholder management experience" → Preferred: Master's degree For an entry-level position. Let me be clear: this isn't gatekeeping. It's confusion. Companies don't know what they actually need. So they copy-paste requirements from senior roles. Add "entry-level" to the title. And wonder why they can't fill the position. Meanwhile, genuinely capable analysts see that list and think: "I'm not qualified." You are. The job description is broken. Not your profile. Most of those requirements? They're wish lists, not deal-breakers. What actually matters for entry-level data work: • Can you write functioning SQL queries? • Can you build a clear dashboard? • Can you explain what the data means in plain language? • Can you learn quickly when you don't know something? That's it. The rest is noise. Stop comparing yourself to impossible standards written by people who don't understand the role. Start applying anyway. Because half those companies will interview you. And some will realise you're exactly what they needed — just not what they wrote down. The job market is broken. Your response shouldn't be. ♻️ Repost this if someone needs to hear it. 👋 Follow me for more Data career tips. — Rajat Raj

45

26 Comments

🍁 Top Tech Openings for Early and Mid Career Professionals in the US 💡 Quick Tips to Break into Program & Product Management - 1️⃣ Understand the Roles: PM vs Program Manager: focus on product vision, strategy, and execution vs project coordination and cross-team delivery. 2️⃣ Build a Portfolio: Share case studies, side projects, or product experiments showing problem solving and impact. 3️⃣ Learn Key Frameworks: Agile, Scrum, roadmap planning, KPIs, and user centered design basics. 4️⃣ Highlight Transferable Skills: Leadership, communication, analytics, stakeholder management, and problem solving. 5️⃣ Network Smartly: Connect with current PMs and Program Managers, attend meetups, and ask for informational interviews. 6️⃣ Leverage Micro Credentials: Certifications or courses from Google, PMHQ, or Coursera can boost credibility. 7️⃣ Show Business & Tech Awareness: Understand market trends, company products, and relevant technology. 8️⃣ Tailor Your Resume: Quantify achievements, focus on impact, and align experience with job requirements. #TopTech Roles 👉 Software Engineer I - Markem-Imaje 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gQrZ5Jkd 👉 Full-Stack Engineer - BNY 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gXhBcRmS 👉 Sr Associate, Full-Stack Engineer - BNY 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gZ-B9GhC 👉 Sr Associate, Business Process Management Analyst - BNY 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gzkJure8 👉 Full-Stack Software Developer - Greenpixie 🔗 https//lnkd.in/gGV35nq5 👉 IT Intern - HHR 🔗 https//dsp.prng.co/mB0LxAb 👉 Sr Solutions Engineer - NetApp 🔗 https//dsp.prng.co/ZG2c8ab 👉 Sr. React Developer - Charles Schwab 🔗 https//dsp.prng.co/WSmVxNb 👉 Senior IT Business Analyst - PG&E Corporation 🔗 https//dsp.prng.co/h6bzTRb 👉 Lead Analyst - OneMain Financial 🔗 https//dsp.prng.co/LoesaWb 👉 Project Management Analyst - Guidehouse 🔗 https//dsp.prng.co/vh4ueOb 👉 Business Process Analyst - Guidehouse 🔗 https//dsp.prng.co/nxTjc-b #ProgramManager 👉 Program Manager I - Google 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dYXaTkRe 👉 Sustainability Program Manager - Microsoft Corporation 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dqvMkx6M 👉 Technical Program Manager - Apple 🔗 https://lnkd.in/d4yYzqKu 👉 Associate Product Manager - Zinnia 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dVaB4pFq 👉 Product Manager I - tastylive 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dmzMz2Sw 👉 Technical Product Manager - Telnyx 🔗 https://lnkd.in/d9KdGKVT 👉 Associate Product Manager - Modern Health 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dtA4knZK 👉 Product Manager - Lucid Motors 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dRdKD-M8 👉 Product Manager - Robinhood 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dHDpF_h2 👉 Product Marketing Manager I - Uber 🔗 https://lnkd.in/d7rSuQGY 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲'𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. 📌 Want early access to tech openings like this before they go viral? Drop your email below 💬 or DM me for exclusive early access. 👀 Follow Arpita Rawal for daily US tech opportunities, plus updates in Data Science and AI.

148

31 Comments

What Hiring Managers Actually Look for in Business Analysts When hiring managers evaluate Business Analysts, they often look beyond resumes filled with tools, buzzwords, and certifications. What truly stands out is how a Business Analyst thinks and communicates. From my experience working in banking environments, hiring managers value professionals who can break down complex problems into simple, actionable insights. They look for clarity of thought — someone who understands the business context before jumping to solutions. Strong communication is another key differentiator. Business Analysts are expected to interact with diverse stakeholders — business users, developers, QA teams, and leadership. Being able to adapt communication style for each audience is far more important than knowing every tool in the market. Domain understanding also plays a critical role. In banking, familiarity with processes such as digital onboarding, AML/KYC, and account servicing builds credibility and speeds up requirement discussions. It allows analysts to ask sharper questions and anticipate risks early. Most importantly, hiring managers look for Business Analysts who take ownership — professionals who don’t just document requirements, but actively contribute to delivery success. Tools can be learned. Mindset, clarity, and accountability take time — and that’s what truly differentiates strong Business Analysts. #BA

2

If you are a Business Analyst with 3–10 years of experience...You know that 👉 You have mastered tools like JIRA, Confluence, Excel, and Power BI but still feel like you are not building anything for yourself This is Day 12 of my 100-Day Side Hustle Series for Mid-Career Professionals This series shows how to turn your existing job experience and passion into a profitable side hustle without quitting your 9–5 (in the starting) But here’s the brutal truth about your job: You are stuck collecting data, writing endless documentation, and chasing updates, while your own career goals stay on hold 💡 What can you do instead? Use your skills in tools and structure to start a side hustle like: → Working as a Virtual Assistant for international clients (handling reports, dashboards, SOPs) → Freelance BA for startups that can’t hire full-time analysts → Creating Notion, Airtable, or Excel dashboards for coaches and founders → Offering paid templates or 1:1 calls on setting up workflows or reporting systems 📈 Example Math: 1 international VA client = $300/month (~₹25,000) 2 clients = ₹50,000/month all using the skills you already use daily And if you are ready to go deeper and know about the first step to create a sustainable side hustle by finding out your Unique Authority Sweet Spot - where your existing skills and work experience meet your passion and life story. I have recorded a 17 minute Masterclass where I’ll help you: ✅ Find your Unique Authority Sweet Spot ✅ Turn your job experience into high-value, in-demand offers ✅ Use ChatGPT prompts to craft your niche and positioning ✅ Go from clarity → cash flow with a proven monetization plan You don’t need new skills. You just need to learn how to package them Follow and DM "Authority" to join the community and watch the masterclass with step by step guide towards your first step in building your dream life . If you have any questions you want me to answer, feel free to write me in my Inbox. . (And if you want me to feature your role or position, DM me your job title. Identity will be kept 100% confidential.) . . . . . . . . . . #businessanalyst #workingwomen #working9to5 #workingprofessionals #midcareer #onepersonbusiness #sidehustle #midcareerprofessionals #careertransit

4

One month is enough to create a Data Portfolio you can be proud of. My customer’s story shows you how. I had a client who was transitioning from a Genius Lead role at Apple and was now seeking an entry-level Data Analyst position. They had recently completed the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate and were working on a Udemy Tableau course. They wanted to get into financial analytics but were open to my project recommendations. So, they bought the Personalized Projects Service. In the next month, they: → Built a project analyzing U.S. retail sales data using Excel pivot tables and dynamic charts to identify trends and seasonality for forecasting. → Modeled Shopify data in Tableau by AOV and conversion with 0–60 day revenue timing to guide budget allocation. → Created a professional Data Portfolio that NOW draws attention and shows the skills companies want. All they did was: → Trust me on project selection → Follow all the step-by-step instructions → Work hard for a month P.S. — If you’re hiding behind the excuse of “money,” know this: you can achieve the same result without spending a dollar.  The only difference is how fast you want it.

135

9 Comments

Let’s demystify Business Analysis especially for those of us transitioning from education or other fields Think of a Business Analyst like a school counselor or learning support specialist. The students = stakeholders The school principal = decision-maker (business owner) The teacher = product or development team The school counselor ( Business Analyst ) listens to everyone and helps design support plans that meet the needs of all.

21

2 Comments

If I wanted interviews from Amazon, Google and Microsoft these certifications would be on my list. Not random. Not trendy. Aligned with real job roles. Here’s a simple breakdown 👇 1. If you’re targeting Data / Analytics roles: ↳Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300) – https://lnkd.in/gWKpDThq ↳Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate - https://lnkd.in/gx85UyJM ↳Amazon Web Services Certified Data Analytics - https://lnkd.in/g65tfdH3 2. If you’re targeting Cloud / DevOps roles: ↳Amazon Web Services Solutions Architect Associate - https://lnkd.in/gjNYkJDS ↳Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) - https://lnkd.in/grbVbUeF ↳Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect - https://lnkd.in/gTU5bHQP 3. If you’re targeting Product / Program roles: ↳Project Management Institute PMP - https://lnkd.in/gnKAJbP9 ↳Scrum Alliance Certified ScrumMaster - https://lnkd.in/g6pbaapQ ↳Google Project Management Certificate - https://lnkd.in/gNNKk3zr 4. If you’re targeting Cybersecurity roles: ↳ISC2 CISSP - https://lnkd.in/g-dYbuMX ↳EC‑Council CEH – https://lnkd.in/g4DG6KFE ↳CompTIA Security+ - https://lnkd.in/gz9wfvwk 5. AI Courses (Beginner → Intermediate) ↳Intro to AI fundamentals - https://lnkd.in/gwbbx2JJ ↳Basics of Artificial Intelligence - https://lnkd.in/ggURjpda Bonus free learning platforms for AI & Cloud fundamentals: ↳Microsoft Learn – AI & Cloud modules - https://lnkd.in/gdFeSJwQ ↳Google Cloud Skills Boost – Free Labs & quests - https://lnkd.in/g_fCRAiS ↳AWS Skill Builder – Free training resources - https://skillbuilder.aws/ Certifications don’t guarantee jobs. But the right certifications aligned with your target role + skills can significantly strengthen your profile. 📩Save this for later. ♻️Share it with someone who is looking for a job change. #Jobs #FAANG #Certifications #AI

30

Morning Folks 3 Constraints I've noticed while working with Product Owners 1) Time POs are usually stretched as they are simultaneously managing multiple: - Products - Teams - Timezones - Stakeholders - Other duties in the same organization (e.g., being an SME) 2) Mental Capacity See point #1. No wonder they feel overloaded :) 3) Software Development Expertise (the most controversial) Product Owners come from the industries Within which the product is built Biotech, Education, Pharma, etc And They are usually the smartest people in that industry But they do not always have experience with: - SDLC - Writing Stories - Managing Dependencies - Holding Agile Ceremonies - Jira, Confluence, etc. And IMO They do not always need to have this expertise But what they need is the product in the end That will fulfill their vision --- What constraints have you observed as a Business Analyst working with a Product Owner?

12

9 Comments

Don’t transition into Tech because of the pay. And please don’t become a Business Analyst just because you have “transferable skills.” BA roles are not documentation roles. They are strategic roles. If you cannot think in systems, design flows, anticipate edge cases, and connect business goals to technical execution, you will struggle. And when a BA struggles, software delivery slows down. Tech needs thinkers. Not title-chasers. #BusinessAnalysis #ProductThinking #TechCareers #Leadership #BuilditRight

43

7 Comments