Between Eric Peterson's new job board and recent post about the same and Avinash Kaushik's post about hiring a senior web analyst plus Jason Burby's post about Becoming an Experienced, Invaluable Web Analyst there's a lot of material on what you need to land your dream job in Web Analytics - all in one week!

I decided to compare all three points of view and add my own thoughts.

On Getting Started:

Jason Burby - "Many of the most successful people I've worked with in this area didn't actually come to analytics from a technical or statistical background. They came from more of a Web strategy or an MBA background and were trying to solve a problem on the site or trying to improve something. They began digging into the Web analytics data to understand what people were doing and found a nugget of insight. The next time they had a problem to solve, they looked at the analytics data to gain insight. Over time, it became a formal role, team, or group."

Avinash Kaushik- "…I would deeply investigate if the candidate is just a sophisticated “numbers person” or had business acumen. I would look for 70 % of the latter and 30% of the former in a Senior candidate. You might put a different % but please look for raw business acumen / savvy."

Eric Peterson - "…..There are tons of people like this out there–trust me, I am in communication with folks like this all the time, it's just a matter of companies understanding how to recognize them when they apply for open positions given that they don't have "8+ years experience professional statistical analysis and modeling experience, e.g., advanced web analytics, advanced survey design and analysis, econometrics, psychonometrics, data mining, or clinical trial analysis/biostatistics" plus a PhD (preferred) on their resume but be willing to report to the Director of Analytics."

Marshall Sponder - Everyone who know me thinks I'm one of the very best Web Analysts out there - somewhat of a self styled visionary, but - had I not fallen into Web Analytics, almost by accident, - no one would hire me for it - I don't think I'd pass the interviews.  I have always felt companies are looking at the wrong things when hiring - I believe anyone can do almost any job - the question is …. do you trust the individual and how much effort is it going to take to get this person to the point they can be productive? 

As long as they have the capacity to do the job ….. and the personality, and they believe themselves to be worthy …. the rest can be built - including the statistical and mathematical stuff everyone seems to be asking for.  

I was going to write a post on Seth Godin's "I'd be a lousy pilot" but it belongs here.  Bear in mind that doing and being the Web Analyst is different than interviewed for one.  That's why I can be such a good Web Analyst - but I'd be lousy in an interview.  But I go after results - and solving difficult problems - the kind most people run away from. 

The more difficult the problem …the more challanging it is … the more I like it. 

Getting back to Seth Godin's post on being a lousy pilot:

"..Pilots have to get it right every time. They have to follow a myriad of procedures. They must be calm and focused and consistent, and yes, boring. No one wants to notice the pilot.

Good pilots probably do very well in job interviews–and not just for pilot jobs. They have many of the traits that hiring managers look for. They follow instructions with an eye on detail. They don't fail (if they did, they probably wouldn't be at the interview). They show up on time.

I'm grateful there are pilots. I'm also glad I'm not one.

Here's the thing: I think (outside of the airline business, of course) that our need for pilots is diminishing, and rapidly. I think the value add of a person who carefully follows instructions and procedures keeps going down. I think the fact that pilots would do well in a job interview at your organization means your organization probably should change the way interviews get done.

I want to be a lousy pilot and a great Web Analyst.