Your persona
Congratulations on taking this step towards expanding your data knowledge!
You might be new to using data, or it's currently less relevant to your role or part of your working culture. You might be starting your journey exploring how and why being data-driven can positively impact your work.
It can be tricky to figure out where to begin, but you're not alone. You've done this quiz because you see the value of data and are excited to embed it further into your own professional practice. That mindset is critical and puts you in a strong position to develop your skills.
Build your skills and knowledge
Create a checklist summarising what constitutes 'good quality data'. Share it for discussion with a data-experienced colleague.
When working with data, question the sources and methods used for data collection. Be critical of data that may be biased or unethical.
Download a sample dataset and practise simple data visualisations (eg bar charts, pie charts) using available tools (eg Excel or GoogleSheets). Put together some basic insights and share them for discussion with a colleague.
Check the policy on your department's data classifications (e.g., confidential, internal, public) and ensure you know how to label documents and files accordingly.
Familiarise yourself with your department's incident reporting procedure.
Carve out time for professional development. Diarise a chunk of time each week where you can take an Apolitical course, explore community articles, or anything else that aligns with your motivations.
Create a community of practice
Share this assessment with your line manager. Discuss your outcomes and strategise which priorities might align with your departmental objectives.
Identify a data champion or superuser in your workplace and get some time with them - they might be able to suggest some practical opportunities for you to get involved with using data.
Explore the Apolitical Q&As - questions posed by members of the Apolitical community. Build your network by connecting with others starting their exploration into data skills.
Here's a link to a Q&A to get you started: What type of data needs to be collected for business process improvement?
Keep exploring
Apolitical members have submitted many articles on the subject of data. Take some time to search and consider the bigger picture of the role of data in government. Here’s one to get you started: Why data literacy is a key skill for public servants.
If you’re looking for inspiration for structured skill development, take a look at our Learning Plans where we have stitched together disparate educational resources into rich, diverse, cohesive and enlightening learning journeys which can have a transformative impact on both our professional and personal lives.
Apolitical regularly hosts events — keep an eye on what’s upcoming, and catch up on recordings to learn at a time that suits you. How to use data effectively in the public service is a good place to start.
What's next?
Not sure if this is the right persona for you? This diagnostic and its suggested outcome have been designed for illustrative purposes and may not reflect your level of awareness or competency.
Find a guide to the statements covered plus the scenario questions here: Data Self-Assessment and Scenario Summaries.
Explore the other personae using the links below:
Leadership: Data Explorer, Data Consolidator, or Data Trailblazer
Non-leadership:Data Explorer, Data Consolidator, or Data Trailblazer
⬅️ Government Skills Impact Tracker | Digital and Data Skills Hub ➡️