I used to hate being the new person in an environment. The thought of having to go over countless introductions or thinking of a random fact to sound interesting was daunting. But I found my first week at TDS quite the experience. After weeks of anticipation to start the job I put hours into applying for, I can finally share my first week's experience.
Day 1
I don’t think it’s a crazy assumption that people get anxious when starting a new job, but for some reason I did not feel the nerves I was expecting before my first day. This could be partly due to the friendly atmosphere of the office or the fact that i was running on an empty belly.
Right off the bat, Cohort 53 introduced ourselves to one another (which we went on to do 40 more times) . Thereafter we got an introduction to what the data school and TIL is, and what we’ll be doing for the next two and a half years, as well as collecting our laptops and setting up the relevant software.
The Training begins
The second day followed with getting into the nitty gritty. The focus was on learning more about data and how a consultant uses data to answer questions. It wasn’t until the third day until we started getting practical with software. The key tool for the week was Tableau prep to learn how to clean data and prepare it for analysis. We were essentially given exercises to “play around” with to work out how to use Tableau prep.
The learn by doing approach is something I can always appreciate, because it lets you find out for yourself how the software works, the problems it solves, and the 'aha' moments you wouldn't get from just a lecture. One thing that is real is the imposter syndrome you may feel when trying to work out one of the exercises and you’re not getting it as quick as you may like. Times like these is when you really appreciate how supportive the coaches and the rest of the staff are, because they encourage asking for a hand rather than trying to dig your way out of a whole.
The Friday Challenge
The Friday challenge was a major lesson in the importance of planning. We were given messy datasets and tasked with not just cleaning the data, but meticulously documenting our process and creating a clean file ready for analysis. Eager to start, I jumped straight into Tableau Prep, spending the morning wrestling with spelling errors and joining fields. As I worked, I realized I hadn't taken the time to create a proper plan or consult with my "stakeholder." My presentation that afternoon made it clear that I had missed the most crucial step. While I had cleaned some of the data, I hadn't delivered on the core objective of planning and documentation. This was a valuable failure that taught me the most important work often happens before you even open a tool, and that in consulting, a clear plan is the foundation for success.
Key Takeaways
Despite the challenges, my first week was a huge success in terms of personal growth. I quickly learned that the most important skill isn't just knowing the tools, but knowing when to take a step back and plan. The biggest lesson was the value of a strong plan and the importance of consulting your stakeholders before you begin. The supportive environment made it a safe space to fail and learn from my mistakes, which is incredibly reassuring. Looking ahead, I am excited to dive deeper into Tableau and Alteryx, and I'm particularly looking forward to our next client project.