How to become A Tableau Specialist

When you are in a supermarket selecting something as simple and ordinary as a box of breakfast cereal, you might not realise that someone is observing, understanding, and analysing your choices. These watchful professionals are Tableau Specialists, who help businesses collect data and use it to make decisions. In a nutshell, Tableau Specialists use the data visualisation platform of Tableau to interpret business intelligence and enable enterprises to skyrocket their sales.

• Tableau Developer
• Tableau Expert
• Tableau Admin
• Tableau Data Scientist
• Tableau Data Artist
• Tableau Discoverer
• Tableau Data Analyst
• Business Intelligence Developer
• Business Intelligence Analyst
• Business Analyst
• Information Analyst
• Tableau Consultant

What do Tableau Specialists do?

A Tableau Specialist would typically need to:

• Help companies enhance their functioning and attain objectives using data visualisation to understand business needs from the point of view of clients and customers
• Store and use data within the organisation by fabricating enhanced tools to understand data sources and format it, clean it up and transform it into a crystal-clear visualisation with different parameters, actions, and filters 
• Develop and manage analytics, dashboards and BI (business intelligence) solutions for better data execution
• Conduct and document data analysis, data validation, and data mapping or design
• Build layered OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) cubes for securing data, optimal data analysis and performance
• Collaborate with the team to develop reports and dashboards that add value to the company by delivering insights into data or improving and automating processes
• Incorporate new systems by working with teams as well as examine and enhance active systems
• Determine the most optimal implementation that will comply with the data architect's design; develop and perform unit tests; write database queries to examine the consequences and solve any difficulties
• Use iterative review cycles to produce outputs that match or surpass user expectations
• Follow a set of software coding and style guidelines to ensure uniformity
• Maintain sophisticated Tableau reports to allow scalability, extensibility and reusability
• Offer technical proficiency in data architecture, design, and implementation; resolve support tickets associated with Tableau reports

Tableau Specialists spend most of their day in an office sitting at their computers, designing and building data visualisations and dashboards. However, you may also have the opportunity to work remotely. You would collaborate with developers, business analysts, and other stakeholders, typically under the umbrella of the IT department in the company.

You may need to travel to work with your clients at their project site. 

Tableau Specialists generally work regular business hours from 9 am to 5 pm and rarely do overtime, allowing for a healthy work-life balance. However, schedules may vary depending on deadlines. If you are working on a freelance assignment, you may have the freedom to establish your workdays and hours and work on a contractual basis, taking up one project after another. 

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Tableau Specialists can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Tableau Specialists are generally employed by: 

• Information Technology Companies
• Management of Companies 
• Computer Systems Design Firms & Related Services
• Finance & Insurance
• Administrative & Support Services

Professional associations and organisations are crucial for Tableau Specialists interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Occasional need to work long hours to meet deadlines
• Health problems caused due to sitting down for long hours and working on computers

Any academic program that a potential Tableau Specialist takes up typically requires a period of supervised experience, such as an internship, which helps you apply classroom learning to the field. You may undertake internships in IT fields as a programmer or developer under the supervision of experienced Tableau Specialists. Experience as a SQL developer, BI developer, back-end developer, data scientist, or software business analyst is valuable since data analysis typically does not offer entry-level jobs.

Read about the profession and interview or job shadow experts working in data architecture to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers. 

Varying qualifications are required for this role, depending on the employer. Most may be more concerned with prior experience and skills, whereas others may ask for formal qualifications.

Tableau Specialists typically require a bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer engineering, software engineering, computer science, or a related field. Such programs include understanding database languages, such as Structured Query Language (SQL), life cycle development of applications, data architecture, extensive datasheets, programming, MicroStrategy, and technology architectures. A bachelor’s degree in business may be another pathway to follow.

Some Tableau Specialists may choose to pursue a master’s degree, particularly an MS (Master of Science) in computer engineering and information technology. You may also acquire an MBA or Master of Business Administration degree. A master’s degree is highly valued by employers and may put you on the track to career progression, salary increase, enhanced professional reputation, and a vast network of contacts. 

Certification demonstrates a Tableau Specialist’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. When acquired from an objective and reputed organisation,  it can help you stand out in a competitive job market, carry a significant salary premium of up to 18 per cent, increase your chances of advancement, and allow you to become an independent consultant. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Certain certifications are accepted across various industries and set you apart from other developers. For example, Tableau Desktop and Tableau Server are the two broad categories of certification that demonstrate your ability to use Tableau once you pass the relevant Tableau-administered exam. Tableau Desktop is used to analyse data and create visualisations and dashboards. Tableau Server allows organisations to host Tableau and equip their employees with analytics capabilities. 

Certifications include the Tableau Desktop Specialist for beginners, the foundational Tableau Server Certified Associate, and the Tableau Certified Data Analyst. To decide on an appropriate certification, you may seek help from your mentors or study job descriptions of various companies to find out about the latest trends.

An employment background check can include but is not limited to a person’s work history, education, credit history, motor vehicle reports (MVRs), criminal record, medical history, use of social media, and drug screening.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications and relevant skills drive career progression. Employees with consistently high performance levels may be eligible for promotion every two to three years. 

Tableau Specialists may begin as Consultants. Developing a high level of expertise in database programming, data management, Python and R programming will help you advance in the field. Learning concepts such as statistical models and predictive modelling will likely result in new challenges and responsibilities accompanying greater repute, leadership opportunities and sizable paychecks.

With adequate experience, you may advance within the firm to become a Software Architect, Project Manager, Lead Program Manager, or IT Director. Or you may opt for a self-employed route and choose to take up freelance assignments once you have gathered sufficient experience and built a network.

Candidates with the necessary skills, relevant academic qualifications and experience in data handling techniques will accelerate your job prospects, as will the ability to interpret and present data and findings.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Tableau Specialist build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. It allows you to upskill continually, regardless of your age, job, or level of knowledge.

To stay abreast with evolving technology, you may consider merging data wrangling and statistical analysis with spreadsheets and SQL to build a competitive edge in the job market as a business or data analyst. 

Business Intelligence

A blend of data analytics, data mining, data visualization, data tools and infrastructure, the system of business intelligence (BI) also incorporates best practices that facilitate data-driven business decisions. The overall organisational picture, created by BI tools and processes, aims at driving change, removing inefficiencies, and helping companies adapt swiftly and resiliently to supply or market fluctuations. 

What is Data Analytics?

Data analytics is the complex and scientific process of analysing raw data to extract useful information and draw conclusions that help businesses achieve optimal performance. 

What is meant by OLAP?

OLAP stands for Online Analytical Processing. It is a mechanism that examines and analyses data from various angles or perspectives. You can use it to implement complex queries on data in a relatively short period. Typical OLAP applications include financial reporting, business reporting for sales, and budgeting, which facilitate corporate work.

What is Data Visualisation? 

The presentation of data in a graphical format is known as data visualisation. Visual tools, such as charts, graphs, and maps, facilitate data interpretation and reveal valuable information such as trends, outliers, and patterns.

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing Tableau Specialists have more flexible work schedules and locations. They have full ownership of the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.

On the other hand, a full-time Tableau Specialist has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.

Over 2,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes of data are spawned every day across all enterprises.

Data visualisation and analytical tools such as Tableau are constantly evolving, and most enterprises use them. When companies toil to keep up with the fierce competition and want to find new ways to reach their customers and fulfil client needs, they look up to Tableau Specialists to bring data to life to make optimised business decisions. 

Keep it simple. Complex infrastructure may generate data anomalies and hinder users from self-sufficiency. Given that you cannot gather all the data that business intelligence users would like, try to equip them with the tools to create reports and change or filter them to suit their needs.