Book description
A valuable guide to a successful career as a statistician
A Career in Statistics: Beyond the Numbers prepares readers for
careers in statistics by emphasizing essential concepts and practices
beyond the technical tools provided in standard courses and texts.
This insider's guide from internationally recognized applied
statisticians helps readers decide whether a career in statistics is
right for them, provides hands-on guidance on how to prepare for such
a career, and shows how to succeed on the job.
The book provides non-technical guidance for a successful career. The
authors' extensive industrial experience is supplemented by insights
from contributing authors from government and academia, Carol Joyce
Blumberg, Leonard M. Gaines, Lynne B. Hare, William Q. Meeker, and
Josef Schmee. Following an introductory chapter that provides an
overview of the field, the authors discuss the various dimensions of a
career in applied statistics in three succinct parts:
-
The Work of a Statistician describes the day-to-day
activities of applied statisticians in business and industry,
official government, and various other application areas,
highlighting the work environment and major on-the-job challenges
-
Preparing for a Successful Career in Statistics describes the
personal traits that characterize successful statisticians, the
education that they need to acquire, and approaches for securing the
right job
-
Building a Successful Career as a Statistician offers
practical guidance for addressing key challenges that statisticians
face on the job, such as project initiation and execution, effective
communication, publicizing successes, ethical considerations, and
gathering good data; alternative career paths are also described
The book concludes with an in-depth examination of careers for
statisticians in academia as well as tips to help them stay on top of
their field throughout their careers. Each chapter includes
thought-provoking discussion questions and a Major Takeaways section
that outlines key concepts. Real-world examples illustrate key points,
and an FTP site provides additional information on selected topics.
A Career in Statistics is an invaluable guide for individuals
who are considering or have decided on a career in statistics as well
as for statisticians already on the job who want to accelerate their
path to success. It also serves as a suitable book for courses on
statistical consulting, statistical practice, and statistics in the
workplace at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Gerald J. Hahn
, PhD, worked at the GE Global Research Center for 46 years, where he
managed its statistics group for 28 years and was elected a Coolidge
Fellow, the organization's highest honor, in 1984. A Fellow of the
American Statistical Association (ASA) and American Society for Quality
(ASQ), Dr. Hahn is the author of numerous papers and the coauthor of
Statistical Models in Engineering
;
Statistical Intervals: A Guide for Practitioners
; and
The Role of Statistics in Business and Industry
, all published by Wiley. He has received many professional awards and
served as adjunct professor at various universities.
Necip Doganaksoy, PhD, is a Statistician and Principal
Technologist at the GE Global Research Center, where he has worked for
over 20 years; he is also an Adjunct Professor at Union Graduate
College. A Six Sigma Master Black Belt and a Fellow of ASA and ASQ,
Dr. Doganaksoy has written more than 60 articles on quality,
reliability, and productivity improvement and coauthored The Role
of Statistics in Business and Industry (Wiley). He received
ASQ's William G. Hunter Award in 2009.
