Category: Business Skills

What is the decision-making process?
For business growth and management, this question has enormous meaning and benefits.

Why is it important?
No matter in which business field you are working in ( finance, marketing, sales, project management…), you have to make an array of decisions on a daily basis.
The difference between poor and effective problem-solving come from how well we understand and implement the process of making decisions.

On this page, you will learn and get:

• What does decision-making mean?
• What are the main steps of the decision-making process?
• Decision-making strategies to improve problem-solving.
• Infographic in PDF for free download.

Decision-Making Process in Business: A Step-by-Step Guide.

Believe or not, understanding the decision-making process can bring you a lot of benefits and can make you a successful leader or manager.

Simply, decision-making means to select a choice from available options.

To make decisions every day is a part of our personal and business life! We can not change that. However, we can change the way we make choices, we can learn how to make better decisions.

Let’s see the main steps of the decision-making process.

Step 1: Identification of The Problem

Decisions always are a result of a problem, needs or situations.

In many cases, the exact problem is not clear. You have to make it clear in order to find the right decision for the situation.

Many people underestimate this first step because they think defining of the problem is something obvious and there is no need to spend time on it.

However, they are wrong! Why?

Albert Einstein says, “If I were given one hour to save the planet, I would spend 59 minutes defining the problem and one minute resolving it.”
This quote does illustrate an important point: Well-defined problems are easier to solve!

It brings us to the question “How to identify a problem?”

Here are some tips and important methods:

Ask yourself questions related to the problem such as:

• What are the details of the problem?
• Is it a new or an old problem?
• Who is involved in the problem?
• How important is it?
• Why the problem should be solved?
• What will be the consequences if the problem is not solved?

Other tips and points

• Explore carefully the situation
  Make a clear picture of what happening and why happening. List down the main points and aspects of the situations.
• Break down the problem into smaller elements
  This tip is helpful especially when it is a complex situation with different issues.
• See the problem from different perspectives
  Looking at it with different eyes is an important way to have instant insight on new directions. For example: If you are a businessman, always try to see the problem from the customer point of view.
• Define the causes
  List and organize the causes of the problem. This will help you to find the solution. There is a wide range of possible causes such as people, changes in the environment, lack resources, rules and etc. Make sure you find the right causes because this is crucial for the decision-making process.

Step 2: Gathering Information

First, let’s clarify something. It is not just gathering information important here. You have to gather the right information in order to create a successful decision-making process.

Information is a great power! If you gather the right information, you have a better chance to resolve the problem.

How to find the right information?

You have to do a research! In the researching process there are some important tips you should know:

• Determine exactly what you want to know.
  This will save your time. The more precise you are in at the beginning, the easier you will find what you are searching.
• Clarify who will search the information.
  You or someone else of the company? One person or several people will do the research?
• List down all possible sources of information.
  Examples here are the internet, books, people, other company or organization, your own notes and experiences and etc.
• Determine which are the best sources of information and which are just helpful.
• What are the methods and ways of collecting information?
  Some of the most popular methods are surveys, public forums, magazines, premium statistical data.
• Determine the gaps in your knowledge and try to fill these gaps.
• Think about who will use this information.
  Only you or some of your colleagues and managers?
• Think about how to present the information in the most easier to understand and effective way.

Effective searching requires a clear focus and flexibility to use different search tools.

Step 3: Find out Alternatives

If you have all information you need, it is time to move on and to find out paths of action.

No matter what the problem is, there are many alternatives available!

Find out a list of them. This will help you to look at the problem in different ways.

Coming up with more than one options enables decision makers to see which one is the right solution.

How to identify possible alternatives?
When it comes to gather alternatives, brainstorming is a well-known and effective method widely use in the business. You need to use brainstorming properly to hold on your successful decision-making process.

Brainstorming encourages people to come up with ideas that sometimes sounds a little bit crazy. One or some of these ideas may be the solution you are searching for.

Tips

When you use brainstorming:

• Decide what is more appropriate – individual or group brainstorming.
• Avoid criticizing or rewarding ideas. This is not the right time about that. Every person and every idea has equal worth.
• Provide a free and open environment that encourages everyone to give ideas.
• Choose a comfortable place to sit and think.
• Minimize distractions so that you and other participants can focus on the problem.

Step 4: Evaluation of Alternatives

Thanks to the previous step, you have an array of possible alternatives. Now, you have to evaluate each option without prejudice!

This step allows you to see advantages and disadvantages of each option in details. Here you have to compare and think about the opportunities that each solution provides.

How to evaluate options in the most effective way?

Tips

• Clarify each alternative. Describe each option carefully and highlight any differences. This will give you the chance to find any misunderstandings early.
• Make assumptions. Ask yourself what will happen if a particular option is chosen for the solution of the problem.
• Make comparisons. Compare your options step-by-step. Use equal criteria for each possible solution.
• Consider weaknesses of each plan. What are the negative consequences? Are they important?
• Think about the costs? What are the costs for each action plan? Is it worth the price?

For your help and deeper analyze, there is a range of techniques for evaluation. Some of the best of them are:

• Marginal Analysis
  According to Investopedia, “Marginal analysis is an examination of the additional benefits of an activity compared to the additional costs of that activity.” This technique is widely used in the decision-making process by companies in order to maximize their profit.
• Cost Effectiveness Analysis
  This is an improvement of the traditional marginal analysis. In this case, the you have to consider the cost-benefit analysis. The alternatives that provide the maximum benefits at the minimum cost are considered for best options.

In our previous post, we describe the main decision-making tools and techniques in details.

Step 5: Select the Best Alternative

Once you go through from Step 1 to Step 5, you can make an informed decision.

Selecting the best action plan is a crucial step in the decision-making process. You have to consider some main points here:

• List down the most appropriate and preferred alternatives from the previous step.
• Which are the risks involved in each of them?
• What problems may create each of the preferred options?
• Do you have the resources needed to implement the plans?
• How much time is needed and which alternatives meet the deadline?

Sometimes, it is better to choose a combination of alternatives. It depends on the situation.

Step 6: Implementation of The Decision

Finally, it is the time to resolve the problem!

Convert the alternative you choose into a plan or a sequence of activities.

This step of the decision-making process requires a lot of things to do such as choosing the right activities, defining costs and responsibilities, expected difficulties, scheduling and etc.

The particular actions here depends on the size and complexity of the problem.

We are not going to explain this process in details here because planning and implementing are a whole science. What is important here are some main tips and points:

Tips and points

• Make the decision clear for everyone who is involved in its implementation. The people in charge have to understand every aspect of the plan and their responsibilities. Good communication skills are what you need here.
• Find out what is the level of acceptance. Is the decision accepted and supported by colleagues? Do you need to put additional efforts to convince someone that the plan is effective?
• Make sure you have a team that “has your back,” and understand the goals of the plan.
• Schedule meetings to discuss progress. Present a list of tasks, goals, and achievements.
• Involve the upper management where appropriate. Keep them informed. This will allow them to be able to react better in a case of problems.
• Create a good communication environment. Give every participant a voice in the process.

Following these tips can help you maximize the success of decision-making process and implementation of the best option.

Step 7: Monitor and Evaluate the Results

It is a time to see the consequences of your decision!
This is the most exciting part of the decision-making process!

You have to experience the results of your decision and find out whether or not the problem is“solved”.

What is the most important here is the monitoring part. The monitoring allows you to review progress.

Here are the main points that can help you to do a successful monitoring process:

• Find out if goals are achieved or not. If not, then consider the following points.
• Is is necessary to change the deadlines?
• Are the goals still seem realistic?
• If it is necessary, change the priorities and focus on the achievement of the goals.
• If it is necessary, change the goals.
• Learn from the monitoring in order to improve future planning activities.
• Consider asking for help from high-level management or professionals.

The decision-making process is one of the most important activities for the business. The way you lead this process can destroy or bring an enormous success to the company. Understanding the main steps of making decisions is crucial ability.

Decision-Making Strategies to Improve Problem-Solving

It is all about problem-solving!

We need to learn and follow the steps of the decision-making process in order to be able to resolve problems in the most effective way!

When we resolve problems, we want powerful decisions and sufficient results. We do our best and expect the best. With this in mind, analytical skills and good decision-making strategies are valuable assets for us.

Let’s see a list of simple but crucial strategies to use when we make business decisions:

• Define if the decision is easy to make or difficult.
  Clarify what are the aspects and related problems to the situation.
• Do you need additional support?
  In the most cases, the answer to this question is YES. It is always better to ask help when the problem is complicated. You can consult with high-level managers, colleagues, experts or someone who has resolved such a problem in the past.
• Make sure the goals are clear for you.
  If you have completely clear goals, it will be easier for you to chose the best alternative and action plan.
• Make sure you have realistic expectations.
  This is a crucial strategy. Many decisions and plans fail due to unrealistic expectations. Make a complete list of all negative consequences from your decision.
• Learn and use analytical skills.
  Analysis skills are vital decision-making skills for effective decisions.
  The analysis is about ability to break problems into parts to see relationships, reasons, and factors. This is the basis for creating plans and finding right solutions. Analysis skills are a whole combination of abilities such as problem-solving skills, management skills, interpersonal skills, setting goals and more.
• Always use a list of Pros and Cons.
  This is among the best decision-making strategies! This list will help you see more clearly benefits and disadvantages of the different options and ideas.
• Never allow emotions and biases to influence your decisions.
  We all are people with a huge range of emotions and some biases. It is so unprofessional to let them influence our business decisions. Not to mention that emotions can rule down the whole problem-solving process.

Understanding and implementing the decision-making process gives you more power and increase your chances for effective problem-solving. Business growth and career success depend on the way we make decisions!

Download the next Decision-making skills Infographic in PDF for Free

What skills to put on a resume?
When it comes to a new job application, companies look carefully at the skills list section of a resume. We all know that the more work abilities you possess the more chance for a good job you have.

On this page you will learn and get:

• What are the best skills for a resume? A list of them.
• Why are they important for your job application?
• Definition of each skill and examples.
• Helpful work skills list Infographic in PDF format for download.

Of course, the right skills set depends on the specification of the job position you apply. However, there is a range of abilities needed for a resume, no matter if you are applying for a job in finance, marketing, accounting, sales, teaching or another business field.

Let’s see a list of the best and most required skills for a resume.

Skills To Put On A Resume: The Ultimate List

Communication Skills

Communication skills are absolutely crucial abilities for every job position and business field.

What are communication skills?
According to BusinessDictionary.com communication skills are “The ability to convey information to another effectively and efficiently.”
Effective communication abilities require being able to express your ideas and views clearly and concisely.

Why are communication skills the most important?
What and how you speak to people have a great influence on your work performance! Communication is the heart of every company. Everything you do at work requires some kind of communications.

Without effective communication, a message can turn into error with negative consequences for the company. Otherwise, good communication skills have the power to increase the business success.

The art of communication is among the most discussed topics when it comes to business achievements.

Examples of good communication skills are:

• active listening skills
• body language
• spoken and written communication skills
• presenting skills
• making a speech in front of an audience
• be confident
• be respectful
• be clear

These are among the best skills to put on a resume.

Team building skills

What are team building skills?
These are abilities to work together with people in a group, to build effective communication with them in order to achieve a particular goal.

Companies give a lot of many for team building courses, programs, and etc.

Why are team building skills so important?
The answer is simple! Because a team can achieve something much bigger and work more effectively than a group of the same individuals working on their own!

Teamwork is essential for the business growth. As an employee or manager, you have to be able to cooperate, to create and to exchange ideas with other team members.

Examples of team building skills are:

• active listening and care for others
• collaborative skills
• creative thinking
• idea exchange
• patience
• support and empathy
• giving constructive feedback
• being comfortable with disagreements
• accept responsibility
• positive attitude

Definitely, team building abilities are some of the best skills for a resume.

Leadership Skills

What are leadership skills? Are leadership skills learned or innate?

Leadership skills do not mean they are only for leaders and managers!

Moreover, they are a valuable combination of abilities with a huge role in your career. They allow you to lead, to motivate, to inspire, to create and to build respect. And YES. They can be learned!

Examples of leadership skills are:

• proactive
• inspire and motivate
• creating enthusiasm to make things happen
• organizing
• delegation task to people with the right skill set
• presenting a positive personal and company image
• analytical thinking
• goal settings
• honesty
• open-minded
• the ability to innovate
• planning
• responding flexibly to changing situations
• accepting responsibility for mistakes and wrong decisions
• learning from failure
• showing a respectful attitude to others
• persevering when things are not working out

Why are they important?
Because the combination of the abilities listed above can bring enormous success to the company!

Self-management

Self-management have the power to change dramatically almost every aspect of our life.

Self-management skills definition refers to our abilities to control our feelings, emotions, and activities. They play a decisive role in our personal and business life.

Good examples of self-management skills are:

• self-confidence (it means to like and to respect yourself and to believe in your own abilities and strengths)
• stress management
• self-motivation (self-motivation is one of the most powerful forces that drive you to do things and to achieve success in business).

Why are they important?
Because they are your power! How people manage themselves in their work always be the crucial point for the business!

Self-management skills are considered as some of the hardest to learn. They are becoming more and more important for companies so, make sure to put them in your resume and CV.

Flexibility and Adaptability Skills

They are among top 10 skills to put in a resume.

What is Adaptability?
Adaptability skills include these abilities that allow you to fit the changed circumstances in the environment. Adaptability in the workplace means to be able to change in order to be successful in new and different business situations and work assignments.

Why are flexibility and adaptability important?
Adaptability skills are some of the most valuable abilities that a person can possess because these skills allow you to survive, develop, create, learn and to achieve success.

You have to be open to changes without fear but with positive thinking and desire to learn.

Good examples of flexibility and adaptability skills are:

• keeping calm in the face of difficulties
• positive thinking and optimism
• be open to new ideas and changes
• having alternative options in case plans go wrong
• thinking quickly in response to sudden changes
• defining changing priorities

Time management and organization skills

In our busy lives, these abilities are extremely needed to be good on the job and to create a successful career.

What are time management and organization abilities?
The definition refers to the way you plan and manage your daily activities and tasks (business and personal). Every one of us wants to have time for everything but this is impossible. We need to prioritize and to make choices.

Time management and organization skills are valuable abilities that companies wants to see in a resume.

Why are they important for your resume and CV?
Because they allow you to be more effective and productive at work. The Time is limited! Companies are searching for people who can organize their time and tasks. Nobody wants to hire people who will bring a mess to the company.

Examples and useful tips here are:

• prioritize your goals
• create a schedule
• use different optimization tools
• make lists
• take regular breaks
• share problems with other team members
• create habits
• avoid distractions to your work
• break large tasks into smaller tasks
• balance work and leisure

Analytical Skills

Definition
Analytical skills are the ability to collect, gather, visualize and analyze information in details. They include also the ability to see a problem or situation from different points of view.

They are crucial for business fields such as finance, business development, project management, marketing management, medicine, engineering, and any other type of business where you have to think.

Why is analytical thinking among the most important skills to put on a resume?
Because the quality of our work depends on the quality of our logical and analytical thinking and they are the basis for decision-making and problem-solving. If we are with poor analytical skills, it leads to wrong decisions!

When it comes to analytical skills, there are many examples that can be given. Here are some of the most important of them:

• the ability to collect the right information
• numeracy skills
• strategic thinking skills
• attention to detail skills
• technical skills
• logical reasoning
• the ability to make different types of analysis such as SWAT Analysis

Analytical skills are a necessary prerequisite for decision-making and problem-solving. They are among the best skills to put on a resume.

Decision-Making Skills

What are decision-making skills?
Decision-making skills are the abilities that we possess and use to select a choice from available options.

We always try to make good and effective decisions and we use all our knowledge and skills to pass the decision-making process in the right way.

Examples of decision-making skills and tools are:

• the ability to gather and select information
• finding possible options and solutions
• selecting the best options
• making the final decision
• implement your decision
• the ability to evaluate your plan

Why are they important?
Making decisions that produce successful results for your organization have two very important results. First, it brings success and opportunities for the company. Second, you look effective and makes you promotable for leadership and career grow.

Decision-making is vital for every area of the business world. If you are in a low-level job position, you have to make a lot of decisions in a single work day. Some of them are quick decisions, others take more time.

Some career paths, like sales and marketing management, business development, finance and psychology are among those that often require a large amount of decision making.

Definitely, we can say that decision-making abilities are among the most important skills to put on a resume.

Problem – Solving Skills

What are problem-solving skills?
These are these abilities that allow us to work effectively through details of a problem to reach a solution.Every single day we have to deal with a wide range of problems. Some of them are simple but others are a big issue.

Why are problem-solving skills are some of the most important?
Problems are the center of your work, no matter what exactly your job involves.
When it comes to business level, effective problem-solving skills can make a business to growth and can make a huge difference to your career!

Therefore, problem-solving abilities are very valuable skills to put in a resume!

Of course, it is impossible to make the right decisions anytime we have problems. However, there is a wide range of tools and steps we can learn to make things easier.

Some of them are:

• the ability to identify a problem
• structuring the problem
• evaluation of information or situations
• breaking problems into components
• looking for possible solutions
• considering various ways of approaching
• estimation of the solutions
• making a decision
• implementing the decision
• monitoring and feedback

If you have experience in solving of complex problems, put it on your resume. This would be a great advantage for you.

Hard Skills List

What exactly hard skills mean?
These are teachable abilities that can be defined and measured much more than soft skills. Hard abilities are easy to quantify. Soft abilities are personal-driven and subjective skills.

Some of the best examples of hard skills are a degree or certificate, foreign language knowledge, programming, mathematics, and etc.

• a degree or certificate
• foreign language knowledge
• programming
• mathematics

As the hard skills are much more evaluated, it is easier for the companies to compare job candidates according to their hard knowledge and abilities.

Some business industries require more hard skills than other. Examples: finance and technical managers, business development, restaurant management, physicists, biologists and other science.

When you applying for a job, put all certificates that you possess (and that are related to the job position).

Certificates are the proof for your hard skills!

Computer skills list

Every one of us clearly knows that computer skills are a must for every type of job position that related to work at an office.

Many jobs require “basic computer competence”, but what does it mean?
These are basic skills that we use to work with the most common and famous software programs. IT and computer skills are an important part of every good resume, job application, CV or cover letter.

Here we will list some the main computer skills needed:

• Windows (XP, NT, 0SX, 2000 and etc.)
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• PowerPoint
• Outlook Express and /or other e-mail programs
• Windows Share Folders and / or other managing files programs

If you need certification and developing your IT and computer skills, here are two highly respected certification organizations:

• ICDL (International Computer Driving License) is the international standard in end-user computer skills. It is a certification in the practical use of computers and computer applications.
• ECDL Foundation is the certifying authority of the leading international computer skills certification programme – ECDL / ICDL.

If you have other IT and computer skills list them on your resume.

Negotiation Skills

Negotiation skills are used in a wide range of business situations such as interview and job description; selling products and getting deals; marketing and purchasing activities.

What exactly are negotiation skills mean?
To negotiate means to use a combination of personal, communication and listening skills!
Negotiations are everywhere in the business world and working lives.

Examples of negotiation skills:

• active listening skills
• be professional and control your emotions
• be patient and respect the other side
• persuasive skills
• tactfully changing the views of other people
• carefully listening to the need of the other side
• using positive attitude
• reaching an agreement acceptable to the both sides
• knowing when and how to compromise
• using appropriate body language
• argue politely but with logic
• keeping calm using assertive attitude

Why are negotiation and persuasion skills important to learn?
Because they mean you are able to convince others do what you want. They give you the inestimable power to influence! Skilled negotiators are among the most successful people with a huge career and/ or business growth.

It ranks negotiation abilities among best skills to put on a resume.

Creativity and innovation

Creativity is a vital ability needed for company’s and business growth.

What is creativity?
To create means to be able to find and implement new ideas, solutions and innovations. It means to give the company a range of competitive advantages.

Creativity is among the top skills to put on a resume. It has increasing meaning and value for the business.

If you are a creative person list on your job application different examples from your experience. Make the company see you as a someone who can bring new opportunities and innovations.

To be more creative:

• think positively
• be open to new ideas
• don’t be afraid of changes
• make your best to learn new things
• take the initiative
• be familiar with the tendencies and news in your professional area

Why is creativity the most important ability you possess?
Because you are able to create your own personal, business, and career path in the most effective way. Creativity is the force that can bring a business to unimaginable levels of success and opportunities!
An idea can create a magic!

Stress Management

Almost any type of job description has a sentence similar to that “… the ability to work under pressure.” This ability requires strong stress management skills.

Companies are searching for people who can deal with a wide range of problems and situation under pressure.

Why is stress management so important!
Believe or not, poor stress management can kill your career, business, and personal life. To be able to manage your own pressure and stress is among the best mastery a person can possess.

There many ways to make your life more enjoyable. Learn and use them!

Willingness to learn

Do you have a passion to learn new things and to develop your skills? If you do, put this on your resume, because willingness to learn is a valuable quality you possess!

The business world is rapidly changing. Especially now, in out high-tech ages. To succeed, you have to learn constantly, because if you don’t your competitors definitely do!

Why is the willingness to learn is among the important skills to put on a resume?
Companies want to hire people who are well educated and have a passion to learn. Because only in that way, the company can develop and grow.

To summarize skills to put on a resume, see the following Infographic.

Download the Infographic in PDF for Free.

Business consulting skills and qualifications are becoming more and more needed when it comes to fields such as marketing, sales, business management and development, finance, IT, public relationship and human resources (HR).

On this page you will learn:

• What is a business consulting? Definition.
• List of key consulting skills required for resume and job interview questions.
• Business consultant roles, responsibilities and qualifications.
• Some of the best consulting firms to work for.
• Top business fields to be a consultant.

What is a business consulting?

Business consulting is an activity related to providing professional advises in a specific business area such as marketing, business management and development, sales, finance, human resources and etc.

The person who doing this is called a business consultant. He is an expert in a particular area.

A professional consultant works with clients (companies or individuals) on planning, making strategies and problem solving in order to help them fulfill their needs and goals.

Types of Consultants:

• External consultant
  An external consultant is a company or a person who is employed externally. An external consultant generally works with many clients and organization to provide solutions for particular problems.
  For example, a company may hire a certified marketing consultant to identify potential client needs and to make plans and strategies for market growth.
• Internal consultant
  An internal consultant is a person who operates within an organization. He has defined roles and responsibilities. A company may have several consultants with different responsibilities such as marketing consultant, sales consultant, HR consultant, financial consultant, public-relations (PR) consultant, IT consultants etc.

To be an effective and professional consultant, you have to possess a good combination of many consulting skills and abilities.

Key Consulting Skills List

• Communication Skills

Communications are the main part of your job as a consultant, so be sure you know how to improve and develop your both verbal and non-verbal communication abilities. You have to be able to present your ideas clearly and persuasively in written and oral forms.

Examples of good communication skills are active listening skills, written communication skills, be confident and patient.

• Analytical Skills

Analytical skills are crucial consulting skills. Analytical skills are the ability to collect, gather, visualize and analyze information in details. They include also the ability to see a problem or situation from different points of views.

As a consultant, you have to be able to identify and analyze problems and situations in order to provide working and effective advice.

Examples of analytical skills are the ability to collect the right information, numeracy skills, strategic thinking.

• Attention To Detail

You should not miss important details! Strong attention to detail skills are important abilities for every type of consultant.

Because details will show you how to manage problems and will help you provide professional advice to your clients or managers.

What is attention to detail?
To pay attention means to focus on an action or thing. In business aspect, attention to detail definition includes the ability to concentrate on a task.

• Problem-Solving Skills

As a consultant, your tasks and goals are to provide solutions to particular problems. So, problem-solving abilities are absolutely crucial consulting skills.

In your career, the problems you face can be simple or complex, and easy or difficult. A fundamental part of consultant’s role and responsibilities is defining ways to solve them.

The problem-solving process includes defining the problem, generating alternative and options, evaluating and selecting solutions, implementing solutions.

• Decision-Making Skills

Decision-making skills are in a strong connection with problem-solving abilities! We use decision-making skills to solve problems by selecting one from several possible alternatives.

Your managers or clients expect you to come up with possible solutions and advice for a particular problem. That is what a business consultant’s work is about, isn’t it?

• Creativity

Creativity is a powerful tool for every business area, field, and profession. Consultancy is not an exception!

Creative solutions, improvements, and developments have a significant impact on your job efficiency and productivity.

• Adaptability Skills

If you are searching for a job now, you definitely notice that many companies require adaptability and flexibility in your job description. So, be sure to include them in your resume and CV. Also, be ready to answer job interview questions about them.

Adaptability skills are important consultancy skills too. Adaptability skills include these abilities that allow you to fit the changed circumstances.

Adaptability in consultancy means to be able to change in order to provide adequate solutions and advice for new and different business situations.

• Hard Skills

The listed above skills are related mainly to soft skills. But if you want to succeed in the field of business consultancy, you definitely need a good set of hard skills too.

Hard skills are those skills that are easy measurable. They can be learned at school and university. Some of the best examples of hard skills are a degree or certificate, foreign language knowledge, mathematics, and etc.

The particular hard consulting skills depend on the field you are working in.

For example, if you are a professional finance consultant, it is a great advantage to have degree and qualifications in finance and /or mathematics. If you are anIT consultant, the knowledge of programming languages such as C++ and JAVA are a must.

The listed consulting skills are the basis for effective consulting work.

Do not forget that your consulting skills depend on your willingness to learn, improve and develop them.

Let’ see now which are the key consultant roles and responsibilities and what actually a business consultant do.

Business Consultant Roles, Responsibilities and Qualifications

The particular responsibilities and qualifications depends totally on the job position and business area.

For examples:

• If you are an online marketing consultant, your responsibilities include implementing both on-site and off-site SEO optimization, perform system architecture for marketing platforms such as marketing automation, CRM, Google Adwords, Analytics and etc. Qualifications such as the degree from an accredited college or university, with a focus on economics, statistics, and business is a big advantage.
• If you are a financial consultant, your main responsibilities are collecting financial information, analyze financial situations, identifying investment objectives, making investment recommendations and etc. Some of the best qualifications here are Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification, degree on economics, statistics, mathematics and etc.

Despite the differences coming from the specificity of the jobs, there are some common roles and responsibilities that are typical for every type of business consultant:

• Give expert opinion and advice in a particular field;
• Identify problems and opportunities;
• Identify strengths and weaknesses;
• Provide solutions for problems;
• Teach, train, and support;
• Influence other people;
• Plan and make strategies;
• Give ideas;
• Analyze situations;
• Find methods and ways for developing;
• Optimization;
• Improving work performance;
• Increasing employee motivation;
• Identify clients needs and etc.

Top Consulting Firms

Vault.com, a career website, has released a list of the best consulting firms to work for.

Here is a list of some of them:

• McKinsey & Company

McKinsey & Company is a global management consulting firm that serves leading businesses, governments, non governmental organizations, and not-for-profits. They help their clients make lasting improvements to their performance and realize their most important goals. Over nearly a century, they’ve built a firm uniquely equipped to this task.
Official website: http://www.mckinsey.com/

• Bain & Company

Bain & Company is one of the world’s leading management consulting firms. They work with top executives to help them make better decisions, convert those decisions to actions and deliver the sustainable success they desire. For 40 years, they’ve been passionate about achieving better results for their clients—results that go beyond financial and are uniquely tailored, pragmatic, holistic and enduring.
Official website: http://www.bain.com

• The Boston Consulting Group

With over 10,000 employees in 82 offices in 46 countries, the firm is one of the World famous consulting groups. According to Forbes magazine, this reputable firm is one of America’s Largest Private Companies.
Official website: http://www.bcg.com/

• Deloitte Consulting LLP

“Deloitte” is the brand under which tens of thousands of dedicated professionals in independent firms throughout the world collaborate to provide audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management, tax and related services to select clients. These firms are members of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (“DTTL”).
Official website: http://www2.deloitte.com/

• Oliver Wyman

With offices in 50+ cities across 26 countries, Oliver Wyman is a leading global management consulting firm that combines deep industry knowledge with specialized expertise in strategy, operations, risk management, and organization transformation.
Official website: http://www.oliverwyman.com

Top Business Fields to Be a Consultant

• IT and Computers

We suppose that you are not surprised, IT is a top field to work. This area has unlimited potential that is growing constantly.

• Human Resources

Everything related to people skills and organization is very important for companies, so you can expect that HR is a field with a great potential. As a consultant in this area, you have to be able to improve everything from hiring people to their efficiency at work.

• Marketing and Sales

These fields are in a direct connection with clients and customers. Some areas have amazing growth such as internet marketing, content marketing, and international business.

• Finance

Finance is a business field that includes a wide range of activities related to company’s income and expenses. Organizations will always need experts and professionals in this area.

• Management

One of the most difficult, but also one of the most high-paid areas for consultants.

Your consulting skills and qualifications are the power that can significantly change your career!

When you are applying for a job or writing your resume / CV, be sure to include a good list of hard skills you possess and give examples of them.

Hard skills are needed for all types of business areas and job positions.

On this page you will learn:

• What are hard skills? Definition.
• What is the difference between hard skills and soft skills?
• Most common hard skills list employers look for.
• Useful tips for listing your skills in a job application.
• Hard skills vs soft skills infographic in PDF for free download.
• A Quick Quiz: What do you know about hard skills?

What are hard skills?

Despite the fact that, there are much more information and examples of soft skills, hard skills are vital for business and professional development.

What exactly hard skills mean?

These are teachable abilities that can be defined and measured much more than soft skills. Hard abilities are easy to quantify. Soft abilities are personal-driven and subjective skills.

Some of the best examples of hard skills are a degree or certificate, foreign language knowledge, programming, mathematics, and etc.

Hard skills require specific knowledge! It is where comes the main difference with soft traits. For better understanding hard skills vs soft skills connection see the infographic at the end of this post.

Good examples of soft skills are communication skills, leadership, adaptability and problem-solving skills.

So, as you see it is really hard to measure and quantify soft abilities. But on the other hand, hard abilities are much more measurable.

As the hard skills are much more evaluated, it is easier for the companies to compare job candidates according to their hard knowledge and abilities.

With this in mind, you have to put in your resume or CV a really good list of your qualities, certificates and other documents that prove your hard skills!

Soft skills related to your personal characteristics and traits are difficult to prove but play a very important role in the company’s decision to hire a candidate for a particular job position.

Business Dictionary defines soft skills such as “Communicating, conflict management, human relations, making presentations, negotiating, team building, and other such ability, defined in terms of expected outcomes and not as a specific method or technique such as statistical analysis.”

Which skills are more important – hard or soft?

Of course, both of them are equal.

Balance is the best answer here. Make sure that your resume and CV contain enough skills of the both types.

Hard Skills List

The particular hard skills list depends entirely on job position you are applying for. The following examples show better the hard skills vs soft skills difference and connection.

For Examples:

• If you are applying for a software developer, some of the best hard skills are the ability to use one or more development language such as Java, C++, Smalltalk, PHP, .NET, and etc. Examples of a software developer soft skills are the ability to work successfully in a team, good communication skills, etc.
• If you are a project manager, you can list in your CV hard skills such as expert knowledge of project management methodologies as the Waterfall or Agile, business analysis knowledge, certifications as PMP, PRINCE etc. Hard skills are important for working with different types of PM software such as Project Management Tools, Risk Management Tools, Workflow Management Software, and Gantt Chart Software. Project manager skills also include knowledge for different UML diagram types.
  Important soft skills of a project manager are leadership skills, communication skills, problem-solving abilities, decision-making and etc.
• For bakers, important hard skills are the ability to work with operating kitchen equipment and to have specific knowledge of different cook methods. Important soft skills: attention to detail, flexibility, adaptability, willingness to learn.

Although needed abilities depend on the job position, there are some common hard skills that are very popular in our high-tech ages. Here is a list of them:

• Basic Computer Skills
  It is not a surprise that almost every type of job has a strong connection with computers. Examples of basic computer skills are the ability to work with Windows, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook Express, Windows Share Folders. If you need education or additional learning for these essential computer skills, here are some very helpful courses and books:
  1) Microsoft Excel – Excel from Beginner to Advanced
  2) Master Microsoft PowerPoint 2016 the Easy Way
  3) Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint Training With Certificate
• Data Analysis
  Analyzing some kind of data is a common part of many job positions and responsibilities. Big data is a key resource for many big data companies and businesses. So, it is obvious that data analysis is among the most common hard skills required.
  In addition to that, you need knowledge for working with a range of software and tools such as data visualization software and flowchart software and etc.
  There are many reasons to learn data analysis: want to start a new career, want to develop your hard skills in your current career, or you want to know how to use, collect, analyze, and present data for any purpose. If you have one of the above reasons, here are 2 important courses that can help:
  1) Complete Introduction to Business Data Analysis:
  2) Data Science A-Z: Real-Life Data Science Exercises Included
  The both of the above courses are with a very high level of customer reviews and at an absolutely affordable price.
• Mathematics and Numeracy skills
  Mathematics and numeracy skills are crucial for the majority of business fields – finance, IT, accounting, construction, building, manufacturing, engineering, logistics, medicine, trade and more.
• Knowing Foreign Languages
  Although English is the official business correspondence language for many countries, it is a big advantage to know other languages. Examples of the most required languages are German, Spanish, French, Chinese.
• Planning Skills – these abilities are in a tight connection with many professions and business fields such as marketing, project management, engineering, business analysis, sales, logistics, construction, and etc. Also, there is a good range of tools and techniques for good and effective planning that you can learn to use.

As we mentioned above, hard and soft skills are of equal importance. They complement each other.

Here is a list of the most common and valuable soft skills required in a wide number of job descriptions:

• Communication skills
• Leadership skills
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Problem-solving
• Decision-making
• Creativity
• Team-working
• Time management skills
• Willingness to learn

Useful Tips:

• When you are considering what type of hard abilities to include in your resume look at the job description qualification section. This is the place where companies list the required degree, certificates, and technical skills.
• Always attach your certificates when applying for a job. Certificates are the proof for your hard skills!
• If you are learning something new or attending courses at the moment of the application, put them on your CV too. They develop your skills and qualifications and increase your opportunities to win the job.

Download the following Hard skills vs soft skills infographic in PDF for free download.

A Quick Quiz:
What do you know about hard skills?

What is the definition of hard skills?

Teachable skills that can be measured. They are easy to quantify and require specific knowledge.

Personal-driven and subjective skills. It is really hard to measure and quantify hard skills.

Skills related to your personal characteristics and traits. It is very difficult to prove them.

None of the answers are correct.

Which of the followings is NOT an example of hard skills?

Foreign language knowledge

A degree or certificate

Self-confidence

Computer programming

Which of the followings is NOT related to the hard skills?

Easy to quantify

Characterize your relationship with other people

Require specific knowledge

How can you prove your hard skills?

With certificates, education degree, awards and etc.

You cannot prove that you possess hard skills.

Maths and physics are:

Examples of hard skills

Examples of soft skills

Adaptability and flexibility are:

Hard skills

Soft skills

Which of the following lines contain only hard skills?

An industry specific certification, SEO marketing, time management skills, creativity.

Foreign language skills, coding ability, decision-making skills, problem-solving skills.

Bookkeeping, the ability to work with Microsoft Word, machine operation ability, computer programming.

Hard skills can be learned in school and from books. True or false?

False

True

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What data analyst skills and qualifications are needed for a successful career in business data analysis?

What list of skills you have to put on a resume, CV and job application, when you are searching for a job in data analysis area?

It is not a secret that a good data analyst earns a high salary and the demand for this profession is growing up in our high-technology society full of unstructured information.

On this page you will learn:

• What is a data analyst?
• What are his main skills and qualifications?
• What a data analyst do – key job responsibilities and duties.
• A list of the best and most popular certifications.
• A list of professional organizations for data analysists.

What Is a Data Analyst?

A data analyst gather, collect, transform, process and modeling data. He is able to analyze large volumes of structured and unstructured data.

Simply speaking, a data analyst looks at the company numbers and figuring out what they mean for the organization. They are able to translate the numbers into words.

The main goal is to prepare data for decision-making and problem-solving process.

Data analyst also have to present the information in the right form – charts, graphs, tables, and etc.

If you want to be a successful data analyst, it is needed to have a good background in technology, mathematics, statistics, business intelligence, data mining and you have to possess a range of data analyst skills and qualifications.

Data Analyst Skills and Qualifications

1. Analytical Skills

When it comes to jobs related to analysis, it is obvious that analytical skills have the crucial role.

Analytical skills are the ability to collect, gather, visualize and analyze information in details. They include also the ability to see a problem or situation from different points of view.

Analytical skills are key data analyst skills that allow you to solve complex problems by making decisions in the most effective way.

If you want to be a good data analyst, you have to possess, develop and improve analytical thinking and skills.

2. Numeracy Skills

Numeracy skills are basic mathematical skills that include a wide diapason of abilities such as:

• Knowledge of numbers and figures;
• Understanding relationships between numbers;
• Interpreting mathematical information;
• Ability to remember;
• Visual perception of information with charts, diagrams, tables;
• Ability to organize information;
• Argumentation and logical thinking;
• Calculation skills;
• Understanding trends;
• Scheduling or budgeting;
• Measurement and data analysis;
• Working with graphical information;

3. Technical and Computer Skills

Good technical and computer skills are among the vital data analyst skills. A data analyst should be familiar with many tools and software programs.

Good examples here are:

• SQL databases and database querying languages;
• Statistical Language (R, SAS, SPSS);
• Spreadsheet such as Excel;
• Big Data tools, such as Spark and Hive HQL;
• Big Data analytics toolkits, such as SparkSQL, SparkMLlib or Mahout for data analysis at scale;
• Programming (e.g. XML, Javascript or ETL frameworks);
• Data visualization and reporting techniques and more…

4. Attention to detail skills

These are crucial data analyst skills too.

Attention to details skills allows a data analyst to find and see hidden details and connections. This ability is very important when it comes to decision-making and problem-solving.

Detail-oriented strengths give you the ability to work better, to be more effective and to minimize the risk of errors.

Companies value and require these strengths, that’s why many people include attention to detail capacity on their resumes, CV and job applications.

5. Business Skills

At leats, but not last, business skills are also on the list of top data analyst skills.

They have a huge impact on the data analyst job and career.

Main business skills needed are:

• Communication skills
  As a data analyst, you have to work with other people as a team. You have to be able to communicate effectively with managers and colleagues to present and explain data.
• Problem-solving and decision-making skills
  They go hand in hand with your job and work. Do not forget that the main purpose of the data analyst job is to provide the right information for the needs of problem-solving and decision-making process.
• Organization and time management skills
  Better time management skills will allow you to do much better your responsibilities and to be able to meet the deadlines that are required.
• The ability to learn new things, especially about new technology developments.

Data Analyst Responsibilities

All of the listed above data analyst skills will give you the opportunity to do more successfully your job and responsibilities.

The particular responsibilities depend on the size of the company and on the business field.

Some of the most common duties and responsibilities are:

• Construct reports and visualizations using different tools such as Excel, Tableau, R or other BI tools;
• Perform database maintenance activities such as creating databases and objects;
• Use of SAS, SQL, Informatica, SSAS, SSIS, SSRS, and Excel to automate Quality Control processes;
• Analyze and interpret and present results using different tools and techniques;
• Work with business stakeholders and managers to understand reporting requirement and deliver accurate information;
• Process and perform quality control checks on supplied data;
• Run standard queries looking for data issues;
• Identify critical metrics and make recommendations on what data to collect;
• Proactively identifying data needs;
• Searching for new opportunities for process improvement.

Data Analytics Certifications

You know that the much more certifications you possess, the much more opportunities you have to get a high-paid job. Although, certifications measure your knowledge!

Fortunately, there are many independent organizations and specific companies providing big data certifications.

Some of the best and most popular data analyst certifications are:

• Certified Analytics Professional
  CAP is the premier global professional certification for analytics practitioners.
• Mining Massive Data Sets Graduate Certificate – Stanford University
  With the Mining Massive Data Sets graduate certificate, you will master efficient, powerful techniques and algorithms for extracting information from large datasets such as the web, social network graphs, and large document repositories.
• EMC Data Scientist Associate (EMCDSA) – EMC
  Data Science Associate (EMCDSA) certification validates your ability to apply the techniques and tools required for Big Data Analytics.
• CCP Data Scientist (Cloudera Certified Professional Program)
  CCP Data Scientists have demonstrated their skills in working with big data at an elite level.
• HP ATP – Vertica Big Data Solutions V1
  This certification validates that you can deploy and manage the Vertica Analytics platform to help organizations optimize and monetize Big Data analytics.
• HP ASE – Vertica Big Data Solutions Administrator V1
  This certification validates that you can manage the Vertica Analytics Platform and drive top performance within this platform.
• Analytics: Optimizing Big Data Certificate – University of Delaware
  Data-supported solutions for improving business performance.
• Certification of Professional Achievement in Data Sciences – Columbia University
  The Certification of Professional Achievement in Data Sciences prepares students to expand their career prospects or change career paths by developing foundational data science skills.

Professional Organizations For Data Analysists

• Data Science Association
  The Data Science Association is a non-profit professional group that offers education, professional certification, a “Data Science Code of Professional Conduct” and conferences / meetups to discuss data science (e.g. predictive / prescriptive analytics, algorithm design and execution, applied machine learning, statistical modeling, and data visualization).
• International Institute for Analytics (IIA)
  The International Institute for Analytics is an independent research firm that works with organizations to build strong and competitive analytics programs.
• The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)
  The largest society in the world for professionals in the field of operations research (O.R.), management science, and analytics.INFORMS serves the scientific and professional needs of Analytics Professionals and Operations Researchers including educators, scientists, students, managers, analysts, and consultants.
• SIGKDD
  SIGKDD’s mission is to provide the premier forum for advancement, education, and adoption of the “science” of knowledge discovery and data mining from all types of data stored in computers and networks of computers.

As you see, if you want to create a successful career in the field of data analysis, there are many factors you have to think about such as: improving your data analytical skills, getting the right certifications and doing your job responsibilities in the most effective way.

You probably already know that strong analytical skills and analytical thinking are among the most required business abilities widely used in job resumes and cover letters. But what exactly they are and how to improve them?

On this page you will learn:

• What are analytical skills?
  Definition and examples.
• A complete list of analytical thinking skills.
• How to improve your analytical abilities?
  Ultimate guide with tips and examples.
• Careers and jobs for people with strong analytical skills and traits.

The quality of our lives depends on the quality of our logical and analytical thinking and on how good we are in decision-making and problem-solving.

What are Analytical Skills?

Analytical skills are the ability to collect, gather, visualize and analyze information in details. They include also the ability to see a problem or situation from different points of view.

Analytical skills allow you to solve complex problems by making decisions in the most effective way. That is way analytical thinking became one of the crucial skills in the workplace with a vital role in every type of business field.

For example: If you are a business management developer your main goals are to find business opportunities for market growth and to increase sales.

To achieve that you have to be able to gather and analyze information about company’s current position and to build a plan and strategies for business developing. If you do not possess strong analytical skills, it would be a mission impossible.

Fortunately, analytical skills can be learned.

They can be improved with practice!

Analytical Skills List

When it comes to analytical skills, there are many examples that can be given. Here are some of the most important of them:

1. The Ability to Collect the Right Information

Yes, it is sound simple. But it is not. It’s not just about collecting lots of information.

You have to be able to gather and collect the right information required for a specific situation. Collecting information is the beginning of the analytical process.

Information is a great power! If you gather the right information, you have a better chance to resolve the problem.

If you collect wrong or unnecessary information, it will have a negative influence on the whole analytical process and you may come up with a wrong solution to the problem.

Here are some useful tips on how to collect the right information:

• Determine exactly what you want to know.
• List down all possible sources of information.
• Determine which are the best sources of information and which are just useful.
• Determine the methods and ways of collecting information. For example, if you are in the marketing area, online survey tools are a great way to collect information.
• Determine gaps in your knowledge and try to fill these gaps.
• Think about who will use this information – only you or some of your colleagues and managers and etc.

2. Numeracy Skills

Numeracy skills are basic mathematical skills that include a range of abilities to understand and analyze numerical information and to make the right conclusions and decisions.

They also include the ability to express ideas and situations using numerical or mathematical information.

Mathematics is a science with a key role for a career of the people who deal with technology, finance, IT, banking, engineering – all professions related to analytical thinking.

Numeracy skills are some of the vital analytical skills. Examples are:

• Knowledge of numbers and figures;
• Understanding relationships between numbers;
• Interpreting mathematical information;
• Ability to remember;
• Visual perception of information;
• Ability to organize information;
• Argumentation and logical thinking;
• Calculation skills;
• Understanding trends(for example with the help of data visualization software,);
• Scheduling or budgeting (for example with the help of project scheduling software and etc.);
• Measurement and data analysis;
• Working with graphical informationand different graphical software such as Gantt chart software, flowchart software;

3. Strategic Thinking Skills

Strategic thinking is the ability to know what you want to achieve and how to achieve it.

On a business level, strategy thinking means that you are able to come up with effective plans to resolve a situation or to achieve a company’s goal.

It allows us to manage better our personal and business life and to achieve different types of success.

Examples of strategic thinking skills:

• Clear vision about what you want to achieve.
• Understand and analyze your current position and resources.
• Prioritization.
• Develop a strategic action plan.
• Being flexible.
• The ability to learn.
• Understand underlying processes with the help of business process management software.

4. Attention to Detail Skills

Attention to detail skills is a crucial analytical skill.

What is attention to detail?

To pay attention means to focus on an action or thing. In business aspect, attention to detail definition includes the ability to concentrate on a task.

Detail-oriented strengths give you the ability to see hidden details and connections when you analyze situations, to be more effective and to minimize the risk of errors.

Companies value and require these strengths, that’s why many people include attention to detail capacity on their resumes, CV and job applications.

Example of attention to details skills:

• Organization skills
• Time management skills
• Observation skills
• Active listening skills

5. Technical skills

In our information and high technology era, good technical skills and knowledge are a must for all level of management and job positions.

Go to top

If you want to improve and develop your analytical skills, you have to be able to work effectively with a wide range of software programs, applications, hardware, and devices.

How to improve my analytical skills?

When it comes to analytical thinking, the key question is “How to improve my analytical skills?“. Which factors correlate with developing my analytical thinking?

Every one of us naturally possesses some kind of analytical abilities. But they are not enough. Analytical thinking gives the mankind opportunities to evaluate and create.

We want to be more successful! We want to make the right decisions! We want to resolve problems in the most effective way!

That is way, we need to learn, develop and improve our analytical skills.

And there are many ways to do that. Here you will see some of the best of them:

1. Learn to be more observant

When it comes to analytical thinking, it starts with attention to detail and observation. You have to be able to see hidden details and connections!

Use every moment (when it is possible to you) to observe the situation and environment.

Examples:

• Example 1: When you are going for a walk in the park, pay attention to what’s happening around you. What do you see? Do you see green grass? How green is it – dark or bright green? Do you think this grass have enough water or it needs to be watered?
  These questions may sound strange and silly, but they are not! These details are crucial for the grass and the park as a whole (not enough watered will destroy grass and will have a negative impact on the beauty of the park).
  And the ability to see the crucial hidden details is what makes a person good analyst!
• Example 2: When you read a newspaper or a website page, pay attention to details. What are the colors? Is design attractive or boring? Is the text formal or informal? Can you tell how many text colors we use on the page you are reading now? What do you think we want to achieve with the design?

Observation and asking yourself questions are key factors fo developing and improving analytical skills and thinking.

2. Practice describing a process step-by-step

Pick a process and describe it in written form with any details that come to your mind.

Examples:

• Example 1: Before your are going to visit a friend, right down a plan in details and define the process step-by-step. In your plan, you may include: 1. when you will get up in the morning, 2. what transport you will use, 3. what and when you will buy a present….
  Try to write down more deeply details such as what you will tell him when he opens the door, how you will say “hello” with a smile or not, and etc.
  Here again, deeply details are in the core of the analytical thinking. Deeply details are those details that look ordinary and no one pays attention to them.
  But if you want to improve analytical skills, your main goals are to see the depth.

Practicing step-by-step thinking goes hand-by-hand with improving analytical skills.

3. Try to find a relation between two completely different objects

Search for hidden connections! Hidden connections are what you have to see with ease if you are want to be a person with good analytical skills.

Examples:

• Example 1: A table and a lamp.On first sight, they have a completely different purpose. But look deeply.
  The two of them are making our life more convenient and easy. The two of them can be a part of a beautiful room design.
  There are mobile lamps that can be put on the table for more light.
  As you see, these two objects not only have something in common but they can work together to make improvements to our life.

Finding not obvious connections between two objects are crucial from problem-solving and decision-making. Practice regularly if you want to improve your analytical thinking.

4. Play analytical games

There are so many games that can help you improve your analytical skills.

Some of the most popular examples of analytical games are:

• Chess;
• Puzzle;
• Backgammon Table;
• Any kind of strategy games;
• Other online analytical games.

There are many websites dedicated to online games suitable for those who want to develop analytical thinking.

5. Learn brain and memory training from courses, books, and other sources

Learning from courses or reading the appropriate books is always one of the best ways to learn new skills!

Here are some high rated online courses you can use to learn how to train your brain and memory:

1) Brain Science: Improve Your Memory & Boost Your Memory
This Udemy online course is fully accredited by a globally recognized CPD body, the Continuing Professional Development Standards Agency. The course will provide you with very useful, and easy to do methods to improve your memory.

2) Master Your Mindset & Brain: Framestorm Your Way to Success:
This course is very easy to understand and thought provocative. It helps individuals and teams grow their mental flexibility and self-regulation.

3) Master your brain: Neuroscience for personal development
Discover how this approach can help with stress, self-confidence, motivation, change, communication, relations, …

6. Other ways and tips to develop your skills of a good analyst

The listed and described above methods for developing your thinking abilities are the most common. Here is a list of more ideas:

• Try to paint an idea that you have or an action that your are going to do.
• Try to make graphics of different trends by years or months.
• List down different arguments for an idea or a point of view you have.
• List down possible solutions for different problems (for example write solutions for a problem of your best friend).
• Explain different things to kids or to your friends.
• Make lists of pros and cons your decisions or ideas you have.

The more you practice, the more your brain accustom to analytical thinking. Do not forget that the practice makes perfection!

For more ideas and information you can read the post “Problem Solving and Analytical Skills” by The University of Kent.

Careers and Jobs for People with Strong Analytical Skills

All kind of professions, jobs and careers required some analytical mind and ability to think logically.

But there are some jobs in a close relationship with analytical traits and thinking. You know that many companies put in their job descriptions phrases such as “strong analytical skills are required“.

If you like solving problems and don’t mind to resolve complicated tasks, there are a list of suitable jobs for you. If you are serious about analytical and logical thinking, it is a good idea to follow high IQ societies and organizations such as

If you are serious about analytical and logical thinking, it is a good idea to follow high IQ societies and organizations such as Mensa.

So, you are a person who has developed analytical skills. What careers might be good for you? Here are some suggestions.

Examples :

• Business Analyst;
• Data Analyst;
• Data Architect;
• Data Scientist;
• Building Engineer;
• Marketing Analyst;

• Project Manager;
• Accountant;
• Financial Analyst;
• Business Developer;
• IT Developer;
• Programmer;

• Detective;
• Statistician;
• Mathematician;
• Lawyer;
• Doctor;
• Scientist

So, we can summarize the business fields: Enjeenering, Project Management, Computers (Information Technology), Accounting and Finance, Science, Law, and Medicine.

All professions of the future!

Download Analytical Skills Infographic in PDF for Free.

The next infographic summarizes the main points:

On this page, you will learn which are the best business intelligence analyst skills used in a resume and interview questions and which are key BI duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required in a job description.

Successful business intelligence analyst career path needs a wide range of abilities, qualities, and tools. We probably don’t need to tell you that business intelligence is one of the high-paying jobs with a competitive average salary. But becoming a good business intelligence analyst needs your skills and knowledge to be rock solid.

What is business intelligence?
It is one of the most important processes that plays a key role in the strategic planning process. It includes all actions and tools for gathering and analyzing different types of business data. The final goal is to help business managers to make better and informed decisions.

Business intelligence analyst duties and responsibilities vary with the field and size of the company. Generally, business intelligence is mostly used in fields such as market research and segmentation, statistical analysis, distribution analysis, sales revenue by products, customer support and more.

A list of best business intelligence analyst skills you need for a successful career.

Strong Analytical Skills

We are not exaggerating when we say that strong analytical skills are absolutely crucial for every business intelligence analyst.

Analytical skills help you to gather information and solve complex problems. If you want to be successful in you career and especially if you want your manager to trust you, you have to possess well-developed analytical thinking skills and abilities.

Good analytical skills and thinking include the ability to break down a series of complex data and bits of information, to view and analyze different situations from a very logical perspective, to develop an overall conclusion, and to find solutions for problems of advanced complexity.

As any other type of business skills, analytical skills can be developed with time and practice.

Numeracy Skills

Most of the business intelligence analysts are technically-oriented people and possess good numeracy skills.

Numeracy skills are basic mathematical skills that include a range of abilities to understand and analyse numerical information and to make the right conclusions and decisions.

They also include the ability to express ideas and situations using numerical or mathematical information.

To have numeracy skills doesn’t mean to be a great mathematician. It means to have some basic math skills plus some analytical thinking.

Main numeracy skills are:

• knowledge of numbers and figures;
• understanding relationships between numbers;
• interpreting mathematical information;
• ability to remember;
• visual perception of information;
• ability to organize information,
• argumentation and logical thinking;
• calculation skills;
• understanding trends;
• scheduling or budgeting;
• working with graphical information.

Attention to detail skills

They are among the best and most required business intelligence analyst skillstoo. If you are not a detail oriented person, there are many ways to improve your attention to detail skills.

What is attention to detail? To pay attention means to focus on an action or thing. In business aspect, attention to detail definition includes the ability to concentrate on a task.

As a business intelligence analyst, you have to be able to look deeply into the information you has. If you are not a detail oriented person, there is a possibility to miss something important for the specific business situation. That may have very negative and sometimes dramatic effect on a business problem.

So, being observant with attention to detail is one of the crucial abilities needed.

Knowledge And Ability To Work With Specific Software

In this category, the most important ability is to work with SQL. If you are not good enough with SQL, there are a wide range of free SQL tutorials and lessons available on the Internet.

Other important programs you have to be familiar with are Oracle, Tableau, Microsoft Power BI or IBM Cognos. If you consider yourself as a professional in the field of business intelligence, it means you have at least the basic knowledge of two or three of these software programs.

Other important programs you have to be familiar with are Oracle, Tableau, Microsoft Power BI or IBM Cognos. If you consider yourself as a professional in the field of business intelligence, it means you have at least the basic knowledge of 2 or 3 of these software programs.

In addition to these skills, you have to possess computer skills such as a great ability to work with MS Office, Excel and Access.

Business intelligence software helps companies to gain and analyze a huge data and information. Good knowledge and ability to work with specific software is among the most valuable business intelligence analyst skills.

Organization and Time Management Skills

Time management skills are among the best business intelligence analyst skills too.

There are so many benefits to know how to improve your time management skills and to organize your time. The ability to organize your time and work is vital for every successful business intelligence analyst.

Nowadays, in this hectic lifestyle we are always busy. So it is crucial to learn tips, techniques, and examples to improve our time management skills in the most effective way.

Some of the best time management skills examples, tips, and techniques are:

• Set goals;
• Prioritize your goals;
• Create a schedule;
• Start your day early;
• Use optimization tools;
• Make lists;
• Break large tasks into smaller tasks;
• Balance work and leisure.

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Business Intelligence Analyst Duties

Business intelligence analyst duties vary with the size of the company and business field, but here is a list of most common of them:

• Design and produce reports on a weekly/monthly/quarterly basis.
• Complete different data analysis projects in order to support various company activities and plans.
• Develop programs, methodologies, and files for analyzing and presenting different types of data.
• Identify and define information needs requirements for BI projects.
• Synthesize complex information into concise, readable written requirements at multiple levels of detail.
• Profile and understand various client data.
• Translate information needs requirements into functional specifications.
• Locate new process improvement opportunities.
• Develop, test, and implement data driven (SQL) reports.
• Create report documentation.
• Work closely with Department Managers and Account Developers.
• Research data for use in monitoring and reporting.

What are adaptability skills?
Adaptability skills are some of the most required abilities in the workplace and many job seekers put them on their CV, resume and job application. But what is adaptability definition? Here we will answer this question and will list some of the key flexibility skills (with examples) you need.

What is Adaptability?

Adaptability skills include these abilities that allow you to fit the changed circumstances in the environment. Adaptability in the workplace means to be able to change in order to be successful in new and different business situations and work assignments.

An adaptable person is able to learn from experience and able to deal well with the problems of business or personal life. Flexibility and adaptability are among the most required employability skills and abilities by companies.

If you want to be adaptable, you have to be able to evaluate and adjust to the different roles, responsibilities that you have each day.

Adaptability skills are some of the most valuable abilities that a person can possess because these skills allow you to survive, develop, create, learn and to achieve success. You have to be open to changes without fear but with positive thinking and desire to learn.

Adaptability Skills List

Being adaptable requires a range of adaptability skills. Here a list of some of the key of them:

• Self-Management Skills

Self-management skills are some of the most important and difficult to learn abilities. Self-management skills definition refers to the ability to control our feelings, emotions, and activities. These qualities are the basis of learning to cope with changes because our feelings and emotions have a huge impact on our ability to adapt.

Effective self-management have the power to change dramatically almost every aspect of our life.

Some of the most important skills in this category are self-confidence, time management, organization skills, and self-motivation.

• Decision-Making Skills

Decision-making skills are essential skills that refer to adaptability. We have to make decisions and choices everywhere and almost all the time in our personal and business life. Some of them are easy to make and requires a short decision-making process while others are the hardest choices in our life. The world of work is changing constantly.

Examples of decision-making skills and tools are the ability to gather and select information; finding possible options and solutions; analysis skills; selecting the best option, the ability to evaluate your plan and using different types of software such as risk management tools, decision-making tools, project planning software, time management tools and etc.

• Keeping Calm in the Face of Difficulties

Keeping calm in the face of difficulties is one of the best and most important adaptability skills that a person can possess. All of us come across something unexpected or something that frustrates our goals.

During these situations, we need to stay calm and self-confident. If we manage to do this, we will be able to be effective in our jobs and to maintain a good business and personal life.

• Positive Thinking and Optimism

Positive thinking allows you to use the power of optimism. Positive thinking doesn’t mean that you keep your head in the sand and stay away from difficult situations. Positive thinking means that you are able to see

Positive thinking means that you are able to see a new situation and unpleasant changes in a more positive and productive way. Optimism and positive thinking are adaptable skills that are crucial for every type of success – business and personal.

• Be Open to New Ideas and Changes

You have to clearly understand that changes are something normal. They are some of the most interesting and exciting parts of our life.

You don’t have to fear from changes, you have to accept and welcome them.

If you are open to new ideas and changes, you will be able to manage them in a way that is profitable to you.

Adaptability skills are among the top 10 employability skills widely required by companies. Adaptability is very important for all type of job positions and professions, but here is a list of some careers which particularly require a high level of adaptability:

• Marketing
• Sales
• Media jobs
• Advertising
• Management
• Business development

Download Adaptability Skills Infographic in PDF for Free.

What is business development? The page contains a list of basic business development skills, roles, and responsibilities needed for a resume and required by many companies in their job descriptions.

What is Business Development?

Business development is a combination of functions and activities for developing the business side of a company, improving its market position and maximizing profits.

This combination includes a wide range of business responsibilities such as finding and developing business opportunities, building business relationships, negotiating, making deals, building and implementing plans and strategies, and etc.

The final goal is to increase the company’s profits and achieving financial growth.

The person who is responsible for all of this is called business development manager or business developer.

Business Development Skills List

A business developer has many roles and responsibilities in a company. To be successful, he needs a really huge range of business development skills and qualities, because achieving and maintaining a company growth is one of the most difficult tasks in the whole business area.

A list of basic business development skills:

• High Level of Communication Skills

If you want to be a successful business developer, you need not just communication skills, but a high level of communication skills. They are the basis for building and maintaining a good relationship with customers and business partners.

Examples of good communication skills are: listening skills, verbal and non-verbal communication skills, being positive and patient, being respectful and confident and more.

• Data and Analytical Skills

You have to be able to view and analyze business situations (and problems) from a very logical perspective. Analytical skills include the ability to gather information, analyze, solve complicated problems, and make decisions. Analytical skills are essential business development skills.

To support analytical skills, business developers use tools such as workflow management software, process mapping software and flowchart software and etc.

• Decision-Making Skills

Decision-making skills are the abilities to choose between possible solutions to a problem. You have to make decisions every single day.

Some are simple, others can be really difficult and complex. In the business,the best alternative (for a complex problem) is not clear. But as a business developer, an essential part of your job is to find the best alternative. So, you need to build, develop and maintain good decision-making skills.

To support your decision making, there are available a wide range of software such as decision-making tools and risk management tools.

• Negotiation and Diplomatic Skills

Negotiations are one of the essential parts of the business (small or big, new or established). To negotiate means to use a combination of personal, communication and listening skills.

Effective negotiation helps you to resolve problems, situations and to make successful business deals. Strong negotiation skills are some of the most important business development skills.

• Relationship Management Skills

Development of relationship management skills (especially customer and client relationship management skills) drives the business to new levels of success and growth.

Examples of relationship management skills are: customer service skills, marketing, and sales skills, being confident, building a trust, the ability to connect with strangers, sales funnel knowledge, and more.

• Attention to Detail Skills

Strong attention to detail skills are needed especially for business development managers. If you are not a detail oriented person, there are many ways to improve your attention to detail abilities. Why paying attention to details is so important?

The answer is simple. Because people who have this ability perform better at their jobs than those who do not. Detail-oriented strengths give you the ability to work better, to be more effective and to minimize the risk of errors.

• Creative Thinking Skills

Creative thinking skills are among the best business development skills too. You have to be able to generate and develop new ideas and to think creatively about everything you know about your company. Creativity thinking is the key to identify possible ways to improve your company’s sales and market position.

Role and Responsibilities of the Business Development Manager

Role and responsibilities of the business development manager vary with the size of the organization and business field. Here is a list of the key roles and responsibilities:

• Analysis of possible business models and ideas;
• Analysis of the potential of business ideas;
• Monitoring of the market situation;
• Competition monitoring;
• Identifying, qualifying and seeking out new opportunities on the market;
• Identification of strategic targets and market niches;
• Market research and identifying potential clients;
• Development of new business fields;
• Creating and developing sales and marketing strategies;
• Building relationships with new clients and maintain relationships with current clients;
• Building and maintaining relationships with new and current business partners;
• Working closely with other managers and departments;
• Monitoring of long-term projects;
• Contract negotiations and concluding contracts;
• Strategic advice and support of partners, in particular, proactive development of appropriate solutions;
• Strategic and operational development of existing activities;

Download Business Development Skills Infographic in PDF for Free.

A good professional skills list is a useful tool for resumes, CVs, and job applications. This page contains a list of top professional skills and qualities required in a wide variety of job positions and business management levels.

If you want to be a good professional, you have to possess and use many competencies and abilities in your workplace and daily business life. No matter if you are a manager or an employee, there are some basic skills you need to do your work in an effective and professional way.

Professional skills list. Qualities and Abilities.

Good professional skills are numerous. They depend on your job position, education, degree and business field.

For examples: an English Teacher needs excellent communication and interpersonal skills and qualities, a Marketing Professional have to possess great communication, decision-making, and analytical skills; Systems Engineers have the ability to plan, organize, and prioritize their work.

But there are some key and basic skills that every good professional needs, no matter of the business field and job description. Here is the top of them:

• Communication skills

Becoming a skilled business communicator is a key point for every type of job. The ability to communicate effectively is very important for business relationships. What and how you speak to people have a great influence on your business and personal life.

No matter if you are a manager, employee or just a housekeeper, communication skills will always be one of the most important parts of the business and personal life.

Examples of good communication skills are listening skills, non-verbal communication skills such as body language, self-confidence, respectful attitude to others and more.

Nowadays, assertive communication skills are vital especially for professionals. They are the most successful type of communications. You can check our post assertive communication skills: the guide to developing them for understanding their importance and meaning.

Knowing to use some project collaboration software and team task management software are among the top skills that can accelerate and improve communication on a professional level.

• Decision-Making Skills

One of the hardest things in our life is to make decisions. But it also is one of the most important abilities that has a crucial role for us. We have to make choices every single day.

From simple choices (such as what shirt to take: red or blue) to very complicated and difficult decisions (such as choosing between two marketing strategies). These choices have consequences that can create good or bad results.

Many people think that making better choices is a talent. But decision-making skills are abilities that can be learned and improved.

Nowadays for improving these skills come to help specialized software such as decision-making tools and risk management tools.

Learning and developing decision-making skills and qualities is a lifelong process. Making right decisions in business and work is one of the best qualities of a real professional. How can decision-making abilities be improved? They improve with seeing, learning, experience, and practice.

• Leadership Skills

Leadership skills are among the top qualities and competencies in the professional skills list. What are leadership skills? This is one of the most interesting questions in the business.

Effective leadership skills are a combination of many abilities that allow you to lead, to motivate, to inspire, to create. Examples of leadership skills are analytical skills, conflict resolution abilities, creativity and creative thinking, organization skills and more.

• Organizational Skills

Organizational skills and qualities are some of the most important career skills a worker can possess. If you want to be a good professional, you have to be able to stay organized and focus on the projects at hand.

Organizational skills you need in the workplace can include general planning, coordinating resources, and meeting deadlines.

For improving your organization skills on a professional level, you can use a wide range of task management software and project management tools.

• Time Management Skills

Time management skills are an important part of organizational skills. Good time management skills help you to control your time and your life. With these qualities, you are able to maintain a balance between your work, personal, and family lives.

Good examples of time management skills are: setting goals, prioritizing your goals, creating a schedule, making lists, using optimization tools and more.

Also, nowadays the ability to use some time management tools are crucial for many professions and businesses.

• Flexibility

Flexibility is among the top abilities in the professional skills list.Flexibility allows you to adapt successfully to changing situations and environments. If you want to be a good professional, you have to learn to how to be more adaptable and to develop your ability to cope effectively with change.

• Stress Management Skills

Dealing with stress is a crucial ability because stress at work can lead to problems for the individual and the overall working environment.

A good professional never allows stress to reflect his/her job and tasks. If you have problems to control stress, there are many ways, tools, and techniques that help to manage stress. Learn them and use them.

Download Professional Skills Infographic in PDF for Free.