How To Hire Big Data Executives

Even though the idea of “big data” has only been around for a relatively short period of time, the history of large data sets can be traced all the way back to the 1960s and 1970s, when the world of data was just beginning to emerge with the establishment of the first data centers and the creation of the relational database.

In the early 2000’s, people started to become aware of how much data users generated through the use of online services such as Facebook, YouTube, and other platforms. Around the same time, the open-source framework Hadoop was developed with the express purpose of storing large data sets and performing analysis on them.  NoSQL was also emerging as a valuable tool.  The growth of big data was greatly helped by the creation of open-source frameworks like Hadoop and, more recently, Spark, which make big data easier to work with and cheaper to store. Since then, the amount of big data has gone through the roof. Users still make a lot of data, but it’s not just people doing it anymore.

What to Look for when Hiring Big Data Executives/Leaders

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Look for people who have a passion for data.  They should be able to talk about it excitedly and easily explain what they love about it.  This passion will drive them to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies, which will in turn. benefit your company.
• Big data leaders should be able to see the big picture.  They should understand how data can be used to improve various aspects of your business, from marketing to product development to customer service.
• Hire people who are problem solvers.  The best way to use data is to solve problems.  Look for candidates who have a track record of using data to solve problems in their previous roles.
• Make sure your big data leaders are good communicators.  They should be able to explain complex concepts in simple terms and present their findings in an easy-to-understand way.
• Big data is always changing, so you need leaders who are adaptable.  Look for people who are comfortable with change and are always learning new things.  They should be able to quickly adapt to new technologies and trends.