People from all walks of life work with data today, and analytics has become part and parcel of everyday living, from something as simple as managing a family budget to planning finances for an entire business.
A Data Analyst course is often the starting point for those who want to master this skill. But there's always this one doubt: should you pick online or classroom training?
The answer isn't straightforward because it depends entirely on your schedule, career goals, and personal learning style. So, what did we do to decode this for you?
We analysed thousands of our data analyst learner profiles and their preferred mode of training to come up with a solid answer for you. The outcome? Ten clear learner personas you can relate to. Read on and find your best fit!
Category #1: Recent Graduates: The Eager Beavers
This category, as you are aware, brings together four major streams:
Figure 1: The Four Major Streams of Graduation
And guess what? Learners from all four streams take Data Analytics training. That's the beauty of this versatile field. After all, wherever there's data, there's a need for analysis, which pretty much means everywhere. So, which mode of training has worked for them? Let's find out.
Graduates usually pick up concepts fast and move through the course with ease. They tend to thrive in instructor-led formats. But before deciding on the mode, there are two questions to ask:
- What's motivating them to take this course?
- Is landing a job their immediate priority?
Persona 1: The Tech Job Seeker
Very evidently, a job is Meghana's primary need. She's also looking for a well-crafted program that fast-tracks placement but isn't heavy on the pocket. Now let's look at another example from the same group.
Persona 2: The Non-Tech Intern
John isn't after any immediate job opportunity like Meghana. He is looking for a credible training that fits around his internship. He values quality over quick placement.
See the difference? Both are recent grads, but their timelines, constraints, and priorities differ. But one thing remains common: the drive to prove themselves.
So what works best for them? Live, classroom-style environments! A morning batch would keep Meghana focused and in touch with mentors, alongside paving the way for her to stay disciplined and ready for interviews.
For John, on the other hand, an evening batch makes more sense. It gives him structure without cutting into his internship hours, and also lets him interact with peers and clear his doubts in real time.
Category #2: Working Professionals: The Busy Bees
Working professionals are always on the move, juggling work, personal life, career growth, and everything else that life throws their way. Yet, they are sure about one thing: upskilling is the only way to stay ahead. In this category, we see five different types of professionals, each with their own motivations, challenges, and ways they like to learn.
Figure 2: The Five Segments of Working Professionals
Each of these segments has its own work schedules, learning goals, and flexibility criteria to meet. But on the whole, a live online mode of training strikes the balance between structure and freedom that most professionals are searching for. Let's dissect this a little further.
Career Advancers
These are professionals who already hold a solid role but want to climb higher in the corporate ladder. What drives them is the chance to make a visible impact, produce results that stand out, and ultimately earn that next promotion.
Persona 3: The Career Advancer
Arjun is already confident in his role but wants to deliver more - A true performer! With mentor-guided live online sessions, he can easily get the hang of things, while pre-recorded content is also fine, giving him a quick nudge whenever needed.
Career Switchers
These professionals aspire to pivot into analytics from a different field or domain. Unlike the advancers, they are not building on their existing technical career but carving out an entirely new path. Their progress is driven by opportunity and reinvention.
Persona 4: The Career Switcher
Clearly, Sneha needs proper handholding as she lacks basic technical skills, too. Yet her current role is very demanding, and allotting time for learning can be difficult.
A hybrid evening batch, a blend of classroom and online data analytics learning, best suits her profile as she can have live interaction during the session, and get in-person guidance during the time of her visit to the class.
Tech Adjacent Professionals
Tech Adjacent Professionals work in roles that are not primarily technical, but rely on data for decision-making. They may not be in core tech roles, but with analytics as a complement to what they already do, they get the best of both worlds: domain expertise + data-driven insights, a powerful combo!
Persona 5: The Tech Adjacent Professional
For Rajiv, weekend batches work best. They fit his busy schedule and keep learning consistent. With hands-on analytics, he can directly sharpen his marketing campaigns and decisions.
Freelancer & Independent Consultants
High-pressure, client-first setups are the norm for this segment. For these professionals, every project counts and credibility and timely delivery are all-important. As opposed to the corporate world, their performance is directly tied to client satisfaction, so hands-on experience and a strong portfolio are critical.
Persona 6: The Freelance Data Consultant
What Mode Works Best for Meera: It's for sure live online sessions with projects and session recordings. At ExcelR, our Jumbo Pass helps you with unlimited access to the course, which means you can't miss out on any session, even if you happen to miss one. You also get to attend with the trainer of your choice.
Managers, Leaders, and Entrepreneurs
This segment comprises decision-makers who need high-level insights to guide teams and strategy rather than technical mastery. Their learning is driven by the desire to make smarter business decisions, optimise resources, and lead with data-driven foresight. They value concise, high-impact content that provides strategic takeaways they can implement immediately.
Persona 7: The CEO
Our Recommendation: A rightly split and paced curriculum, an e-learning tutorial that is on-point, without delving into too many technical details, would be the ideal mode of training for this segment.
Category #3: The Self-Starters: The Free Spirits
Driven by curiosity, personal growth, and intellectual exploration, these are learners who are wise owls who often learn independently. They seek knowledge for fulfilment, enrichment, or skill enhancement. This category attracts learners from diverse backgrounds. Let's see some examples and which mode works for them.
Persona 8: The Researcher
Self-paced modules or weekend live sessions allow researchers to learn methodically while balancing fieldwork as well as other academic commitments. Pre-recorded content lets them revisit complex methods as needed.
Persona 9: The Return-to-Work Parent
Our Recommendation: A 11 AM live online weekday batch that includes projects and career guidance sessions is ideal for Rhea. Initially, she can also consider taking an E-learning course, a cost-effective program to begin with. Once she covers all the theory, she can then join a live online session to apply the techniques learnt.
Persona 10: The Hobbyist
Weekend batches or self-paced modules are excellent choices for Kabir, providing flexibility and freedom to explore without constraints. Mini-projects and case studies enhance interest-driven learning.
Summing up!
- Classroom training works well for Category 1 recent grads. If you are one, pick a batch time that suits your schedule.
- Category 2 working professionals can take any classroom, live online, hybrid, self-paced, pre-recorded, or e-learning mode. If you belong to this category, select according to your schedule and preference.
- Category 3 self-starters already have the zeal and motivation to complete the course in any mode. If you belong here, pick any mode that suits your priorities.
Hope you found your profile relevant to one of the personas above. Comment below on which mode you would choose. 👇
Cheers to a great start!
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