技术类人员配置公司Instant Alliance的总裁米利亚纳•舒尔查特表示：“不论你所从事的是哪一类工作，只要你能证明自己具备数据分析能力，能向雇主提供明智的建议，你就会成为团队中不可或缺的一份子。”

数据技能非常受欢迎，不止在技术和金融行业，它们在许多行业都变得越来越有用处。在市场营销、人力资源、销售和客户服务等领域，掌握数据技能将对你的工作业绩产生重要影响。

这并不意味着你需要成为硅谷的专家，才能培养数据技能，让自己更受雇主欢迎。实际上，打开电脑，你或许就能找到所需要的工具。

微软 Excel

这一点毋庸置疑，但值得一提的是，据Burning Glass Technologies最近的就业市场分析显示，精通Excel是获得一份高薪工作的必备关键技能之一。

而且学习如何使用这款软件相对容易。舒尔查特表示：“对于基层员工来说，Excel是市场上使用最方便的工具之一。”她还补充道，Excel可以让公司记录和分析大量数据。

例如，有些公司利用Excel来跟踪开支，也有公司用来跟踪员工销售业绩。不确定自己的Excel技能是否达标？可以在Udemy.com上学习免费的Excel课程。

网站分析

网站分析就是收集在线数据，用于更好地理解客户。常用的网站分析工具包括Kissmetrics、Mixpanel和最知名的Google Analytics，公司可以通过这些工具跟踪和分析网站流量。

对消费者的洞察和理解，可以帮助完善客户服务、产品开发等各个方面。

例如，新闻网站使用Google Analytics，可以了解哪篇报道吸引了最多的流量，然后确定制作更多这种报道的最佳方式。

准备开始测量数据了吗？ Google Analytics Academy上有谷歌（Google）数据测量专家们的免费课程。

数据可视化

舒尔查特形容数据可视化能够将信息转变为有帮助的视觉显示。她并表示：“优秀的数据可视化可以用来讲故事。”

learntocodewith.me博客和播客的创作者劳伦斯•布拉德福德解释称：“把调查结果变成图表，让信息更容易让人理解。”他认为视觉叙事能力可以帮助员工通过演示，说服客户和高管。

例如，即使初级销售人员也可以通过线形图，向上司展示他们每月如何提高销售额。

你甚至可以将新掌握的数据视觉化技能用于求职，创建一份信息图表简历，展示自己的成绩。在Udemy.com上免费学习入门课程《数据视觉化入门》。

客户分析

与网站分析一样，客户分析使公司可以组织数据，研究客户行为。客户分析并不局限于在线行为，许多行业都将其用于设计直接营销活动，改善绩效和提高客户满意度。

麦肯锡公司（McKinsey & Company）去年进行的一项研究显示，公司使用客户分析，可以显著增加盈利。如果你能培养分析和解释这些数据的能力，你在公司内就会变得更举足轻重。

在Udemy.com上花15美元，即可学习如何开展和分析客户研究的入门课程，在你的简历上添加这项技能。（财富中文网）

译者：刘进龙/汪皓

"When you can demonstrate the ability to analyze data and make informed recommendations to your employer, you become an indispensable part of your team no matter what type of work you're doing," says Mirjana Schultzat, president at technology staffing firm Instant Alliance.

Data skills are so in-demand, they’re becoming increasingly useful in a number of fields—not just technology and finance. Marketing, human resources, sales, and customer service are just a few areas where your expertise can make a big difference to your job performance.

That doesn’t mean you need to be a Silicon Valley whiz to develop the data skills that will make you more marketable to employers. In fact, some of the tools you need are most likely already on your laptop.

Excel

This is an obvious one, but it’s worth mentioning, given that proficiency in Excel is one of the key skills to landing a good-paying job, according to a recent labor-market analysis by Burning Glass Technologies.

It’s also relatively easy software to learn. “For entry-level workers, Excel is one of the most user-friendly tools on the market,” says Schultzat, adding that it enables companies to record and analyze a broad range of data.

For example, some companies use Excel to track expenses, whereas others use it trace employees’ sales performance. Not sure your Excel skills are up to par? You can take a free Excel course on Udemy.com .

Web analytics

Web analytics is about collecting online data and using it to understand your customers better. Common web analytic tools include Kissmetrics, Mixpanel, and, most notably, Google Analytics, which let companies track and analyze website traffic.

These consumer insights can help improve everything from customer service to product development.

A news website, for example, can use Google Analytics to see what stories are generating the most traffic and determine the best ways to produce more of them.

Ready to start measuring data? The Google Analytics Academy offers free lessons from Google measurement experts.

Data visualization

Schultzat describes data visualization as being able to transform information into helpful visual presentations. “When done well, data visualization tells a story,” Schultzat says.

“By turning findings into graphs and charts, you make information more digestible,” Bradford explains. Visual storytelling skills help employees make persuasive presentations to clients and executives, says Laurence Bradford, creator of the learntocodewith.me blog and podcast..

Even an entry-level salesperson, for example, could create a line graph to show his or her manager how their sales improved from month to month.

You could even use your new data visualization skills as a job seeker if you decide to create an infographic resume to illustrate your accomplishments and achievements. Learn the basics with a free Introduction to Data Visualization course from Udemy.com

Customer analytics

Like web analytics, customer analytics enable companies to organize data and study customer behaviors. Not limited strictly to online behavior, customer analytics is used across various industries to create direct marketing campaigns, improve performance, and maximize customer satisfaction.

Companies that use customer analytics can boost their bottom line substantially, as shown in a study last year by McKinsey & Company. If you develop the skills to analyze and interpret this data, you could increase your value within your company.

Add this skill to your resume with a $15 introductory course on how to conduct and analyze customer research from Udemy.com.