Where did you grow up? Important stages of your life (school, education, experience abroad, jobs etc.)
I was raised in Sydney, NSW. I believe the high school and the university was important to myself not only due to the education I received but the people I met along the way to shape who I am. Prior to working at SAS I worked as a baker at the local café for nearly 6 years and a brief stint as an academic tutor for Data Science at the University of Sydney.
How did you get to your current job position? For how long have you had it?
I applied online for the role in the early half of 2019, later in June, I was notified that I was blessed with the opportunity with an interview at SAS. Once accepted, I underwent a 3-month academy program for Customer Advisory in the US. Now I’ve been working within Consulting for the last 1.5 years
How did you choose your specialisation (compared to others)? / Were you weighing up any other alternatives before choosing this specialisation?
Throughout my formative years, I’ve always been more mathematically inclined, choosing Science subjects over English or Arts. I’ve always wanted to do analytics or something problems solving based, so an alternative may have been something like academia in Mathematics.
What was your interview process like? What kind of questions were you asked?
The interview process was quite daunting, and I was nervous. I had to provide a mock technical presentation outlining the advantages of evolving the analytical maturity for a client. Questions were raised about the presentation to gauge if the individual had a deeper understanding of the concepts shown and if individual themselves fit in with SAS' core values.
What does your employer do?
SAS solves real-world issues leveraging data and analytics
What are your areas of responsibility?
Responsibilities are largely dependent on the project assigned. I had a short period doing systems administration work, ensuring that the environment was healthy. I've also had the honour of designing a back-end process for data ingestion for another. The main responsibility of a consultant is to possess a great work ethic and a high standard of work.
Can you describe a typical workday? What was the last thing you worked on?
A typical workday is a brief stand up meeting for the currently assigned project outlining what was done previously and what tasks are outstanding. Throughout the day I’ll complete the tasks in my own time whilst weaving in time to work on personal development.
Currently, I’ve been working on the design and build of a back-end process to ingest data for a fraud solution. Extremely interesting and stimulating work, with the ability to make a difference in society.
What are the career prospects with your job? / Where could you or others in your position go from here?
Working at SAS provides a wealth of possibilities due to the diverse nature of the work. You are exposed to the latest and greatest technology and a myriad of industries. I’d be hard-pressed to think of an area that is untouched by SAS. With the help of the experts at SAS you’d be able to find a field that interests you and nurture your growth into an expert.
What would your career be if you weren’t doing what you’re doing now?
I was previously doing my honours in Applied Mathematics, whilst applying for jobs at SAS I saw applications for government bodies, finance, and insurance. I’d most likely still be utilising analytics in some shape or form.
What do you love the most about your job? Which kind of task do you enjoy the most?
I love the people at SAS. I’ve made friends from all over the world due to the Academy in the US and the individuals in Australia with their own unique talents and skillsets that compliment my own. I know I have a support network that is understanding so I know I’ll never be left alone in the dark.
I enjoy working with the team together on a problem, so I can learn and pick up habits that I can employ in the future. This is the ethos of Consulting, working as a team to solve the issue at hand.
What’s the biggest limitation of your job? Do you bear a lot of responsibility? Do you have to work on weekends? Are stress levels high?
The biggest limitation of my job is the amount of knowledge required for a project. I believe that this is a good thing, it forces me to collaborate with others, it challenges me to always learn constantly which should be at the heart of every individual.
I have had to work the occasional stressful weekend, but this is few and far between. This is fine because I know that the team is in the same situation and it is our responsibility to get the work done. A little bit of stress is good as it means you are being stimulated.
A word to the wise...
Which three pieces of advice would you give to a current university student? They don’t necessarily have to be related to your role, or even be career-focused.