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“Big Data” Defines Next Generation Jobs

February 13, 2018 | Graduate Management Admission Council

There’s increasing demand for graduates with the analytical and decision-making skills needed to evaluate multiple information streams.

If you are reading this YOU are part of the data explosion that is transforming the nature of global commerce and training yourself to handle multiple sources of information to make decisions. Every time you use Facebook, Twitter, Google, the Web, YouTube, a tablet device, a mobile phone, GPS, email, or any digital social media platform to communicate, make purchases, or conduct business, you are maneuvering the virtual tsunami of data bytes washing across the globe. 

With so much information, there’s increasing demand in both private industry and public policy arenas for MBA and master’s graduates with the analytical and decision-making skills needed to process what’s critical and evaluate these multiple information streams.

Wanted: Millions of Good Decision Makers 

For companies to realize the potential benefits of big data they need managers who can sift through information, solve business problems, and strategize. But companies are facing a shortage of such management talent. According to a 2015 MIT Sloan Management Review, 40 percent of the companies surveyed were struggling to find and retain the data analytics talent. 

In response, hiring demand for business school graduates to fill data analytics roles keeps on growing. Overall, 69 percent of employers who participated in the 2017 GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey indicated that they plan to hire recent business school graduates to fill data analytics positions.

At the same time, Master of Data Analytics programs continue to grow in popularity. GMAC’S 2017 mba.com Prospective Student Survey highlights that the percentage of candidates considering applying to Master of Data Analytics programs grew from 7 percent in 2009 to 11 percent in 2016.  Data collected from February through May 2017 shows an even greater share of candidates are now considering these programs (16%).

Test Your Big Data Skills 

Your success in the workplace of tomorrow hinges mightily on your performance in the classroom today. The skills measured on the recently introduced Integrated Reasoning (IR) section of the GMAT exam represent the requisite analytical training and knowledge you will need to grow and succeed in a data-rich world. 

The IR section of the GMAT exam was developed over several years with your future in mind, based on feedback from 740 b-school faculty worldwide who identified skills important to the academic success of today’s incoming students. We know these skills that are now being tested in the GMAT exam with Integrated Reasoning are critical to your future success: Management programs want students who can bring these skills to the classroom, and employers worldwide agree that the skills match their talent needs. 

Discover, Innovate, and Create with Data 

There’s no denying we live in an information-based economy. To succeed in it, you need to be adept not only at managing massive amounts of information, but also at determining what is relevant, knowing how to incorporate it into strategic decision-making and problem-solving, as well as building off of it to develop new products, improve service and productivity. This is true no matter where you chart your career path.

You are the “next generation” of business leaders! So, use the GMAT exam as your ticket to the future. Challenge yourself to put your best self forward and show schools and future employers you have what it takes to succeed in the classroom and on the job. Visit the Integrated Reasoning section of mba.com to learn more.