What you do today affects what you build tomorrow. I recently came across this quote, and it made me realize there are many talented people out there who grind it out day in day out.
Who show up and get the job done.
Who always find the answers no matter what.
Who figure things out.
And what’s more, they keep to themselves, quietly improving day in and day out. They always find a way by turning those small wins into huge gains. To me, these are the unsung heroes of the data world.
As someone who’s worked with data in some shape or form over the last 15 years and worked with countless professionals from analysts to architects, I’ve been in the trenches long enough to notice those who have “it” and those who don’t.
What is “it”?
It’s the “je ne sais quoi” of the data world — those subtle qualities that make someone great. These are qualities that might not even be obvious to you; they may just come naturally to the point where you don’t even know you are doing them, but they make you stand out.
Some make it look easy, and others have to work hard at it every day, but the greats out there have to make it happen regardless. They also know the best way to improve tomorrow is to do your best today. While not always immediately apparent, these “quiet signs” can be indicators of your potential when working with data.
Here are five signs that I think show you are destined to be a great data engineer.
1. Curiosity that Knows No Bounds
If you want to work with data, curiosity will serve you well. In my opinion, it’s a vital skill to have in any workplace, whether or not you work directly with data.
Curiosity sparks learning and the exchange of ideas, enabling better communication with one another, fuels innovation and collaboration. When we are curious, we view tough situations more creatively. Whether it’s exploring a new feature, diving into a problem, or reading up on the latest technology, your curiosity fuels your continuous learning journey.
2. Meticulous Attention to Detail
Small problems like to become big problems — In data and in life. How do you avoid the small problems? Meticulous attention to detail.
When I worked in the finance industry, I learned that little mistakes can have a big impact on your company, especially at the data level. You couldn’t afford to mess up when dealing with people’s money, and if you did, you got nailed for it. No excuses.
Learn to scrutinize data with meticulous precision, spot inconsistencies, outliers, and patterns that others may overlook. Integrity and accuracy of the data pipelines are key to building reliable and trustworthy insights for data consumers.
3. Tenacity in Problem-Solving
No company is without its problems. From top to bottom, everyone will face challenges that can’t be answered by a simple Google search (or ChatGPT, sorry folks). Data Engineering is no exception; it has its challenges. Tight deadlines, changing variables, intricate architectures, and unforeseen issues can be a common occurrence.
However, with great problem-solving, analytical, and creative thinking, you can tackle challenges head-on and ultimately navigate your way through the toughest of obstacles, delivering solid data solutions.
4. Effective Communication
While data engineering often involves working behind the scenes, the importance of great communication is vital, and I don’t just mean face-to-face conversations. Since the emergence of remote work, communication skills via email, slack, and video chat are just as important if not more so.
Having a talent for communication means better collaboration, with everyone you deal with. From data scientists and analysts to stakeholders.
As a data engineer having solid communication skills builds a positive work environment, not just for you but for everyone you deal with. It helps to bridge the gap between the data and the business.
5. A Passion for Continuous Improvement
Data engineers are lifelong learners. They have to be.
To forge your path and achieve the results you are looking for, you have to put in the work. That means playing the long game, constant improvement, and marginal gains. Those gains compound over time and build you up.
Good data engineers nurture their skills and knowledge by practicing and learning every day. Read up on topics that are unfamiliar to you, exploring new concepts by getting hands-on, building and testing solutions.
Commitment and continuous improvement are key.
The successful people I’ve worked with over the years show up every day and grind it out. Some days are better than others, but if they have one skill, it’s the ability to recognize what’s not working, adjust, and show up just like they did yesterday and the day before that.
They quietly forging their path in the data world, these five signs traits whatever you want to call it, I believe, make the difference between an average data engineer and a good one. Remember, it’s not only about your technical ability but also about having the right mindset and work ethic.
Thanks for reading! If you want to get in touch, feel free to find me on LinkedIn.
