SAS - anyone here work with it etc?
- Thread starter tcfreer
- Start date
I agree people should strive to improve, but for me their actual analytical ability always comes first - spelling & grammar (assuming it wasn't to the level they were unable to communicate) wouldn't be a consideration at the interview stage.
If we can find people who are skilled in the software/modelling methods & are capable creative problem solvers that's all we need - the rest is just an added bonus.
And, as has been pointed out by the OP, almost all programs these days have some sort of spell checker, or at least the ability to install / activate one. If he spends the extra time checking his work with one to ensure that it is of a professional level, why can't other people as well? If you can't spell correctly but use a spell checker to correct your work, then that's good. But if spelling isn't your strong point and you don't bother using a checker, well again, that's just sloppy to be honest.
CHokka - I agree in terms of the way the written language is being degraded by 'text' speak etc - Nokia has a lot to answer for in my view.
There is a generation now w(h?)ereby the written word means very little to them - the a totally reliant upon spell check and electronic assistance. But there peer groups are so used to seeing short hand abbreviations that they see this as the normal way.
Yes some have the issue I have, but I have also had others use it as a excuse when they don't or haven't been proven to have this.
Numbers and data presentation, graphical, vocal and written don't worry me - my biggest fear is what I write is correct and makes sense.
The reason I posted the thread was I was intrested to see where this has taken other people in terms of jobs, travel, life etc. I've wanted to learn it for a while and every role I looked into wanted experiance so to finally get the learning and experiance at the same time is a major goal for me - know I can try to look at the future were it might take me
There is a generation now w(h?)ereby the written word means very little to them - the a totally reliant upon spell check and electronic assistance. But there peer groups are so used to seeing short hand abbreviations that they see this as the normal way.
Yes some have the issue I have, but I have also had others use it as a excuse when they don't or haven't been proven to have this.
Numbers and data presentation, graphical, vocal and written don't worry me - my biggest fear is what I write is correct and makes sense.
The reason I posted the thread was I was intrested to see where this has taken other people in terms of jobs, travel, life etc. I've wanted to learn it for a while and every role I looked into wanted experiance so to finally get the learning and experiance at the same time is a major goal for me - know I can try to look at the future were it might take me
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Just words - numbers don't seem to phase me, though it doesn't hurt to check everything
From a jobs perspective it's a transferable skill-set which is both highly sought after & desirable.
A few in my team used to work as long term contractors in this field & have spent the last ten years travelling the world working for a huge variety of different companies uses the same kind of skill-set (obviously with a range of different software).
Cheers elmarko
I hoped as much that would be the case - I started off with excel / Innate if anyones heard of that. then added VBA to the excel, and then moved on to SQL as well, then COGNOS, and now finally SAS (which I'm getting to learn Base, Enterprise Guide, Design Studio, Web Studio etc)
So I'm hoping I can get to travel with this as well as learn more as I go as well
I hoped as much that would be the case - I started off with excel / Innate if anyones heard of that. then added VBA to the excel, and then moved on to SQL as well, then COGNOS, and now finally SAS (which I'm getting to learn Base, Enterprise Guide, Design Studio, Web Studio etc)
So I'm hoping I can get to travel with this as well as learn more as I go as well
Well, I find it admirable that you're able to push forward and find yourself something that you're really excited to be doing, and not let yourself get held back. Many should take a leaf out of your book
Thank you very much for that.
Similar to my progression really.
I started off in excel/VBA then moved onto Business Objects/COGNOS - dabbled briefly in SAS then more recently plunged heavily into SQL, SPSS & Tableau. It's most certainly worth pushing for the training & investing the time - as personally, I studied music & art (not that useful for this kind of job). So building up a portfolio of skills (methods/systems) you can use effectively is well worth the investment.
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 8,920
hahaha. thought this was a joke but you are actually serious? and yes that sounds boring as hell.
Yep sure am red and white
Each to there own - though I do envey my brother sometimes as he's a joiner.
He couldn't make a pc do anything like I can, but give him a few bits of wood and a day later he'll give you a table and chairs - now that I really admire
Each to there own - though I do envey my brother sometimes as he's a joiner.
He couldn't make a pc do anything like I can, but give him a few bits of wood and a day later he'll give you a table and chairs - now that I really admire
I've been working with SAS for the last 3 years now, coming from a SQL Developer background and moving into Credit Risk/Predictive Analytics.
Don't want to be negative here, just honest. I've found SAS to be excruciatingly painful at times. It is an application with a series of procedures, which can provide insightful and statistical outputs. It is by no means a coherent language though. Coming from SQL which is logical and readable to SAS, which has just a whole host of batsh** crazy syntax's going on.
The salaries for people with the SAS skill set and other associated skills is very favourable though. If you are a logical thinker who gets kicks out of data, statistics and analysis, then SAS will help you massively working in that field.
Don't want to be negative here, just honest. I've found SAS to be excruciatingly painful at times. It is an application with a series of procedures, which can provide insightful and statistical outputs. It is by no means a coherent language though. Coming from SQL which is logical and readable to SAS, which has just a whole host of batsh** crazy syntax's going on.
The salaries for people with the SAS skill set and other associated skills is very favourable though. If you are a logical thinker who gets kicks out of data, statistics and analysis, then SAS will help you massively working in that field.
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 8,920
its not that bad but when you mention the SAS it seems quite a bit duller than the first thing that springs to mind.
Nice elmarko,
Not too dissimilar from myself. My degree is in Maths & Stats and moved into the BI world initially just excel/VBA type stuff. Then moved into the SQL world working on huge data warehousing projects with the Microsoft BI stack. SSIS/SSRS/SSAS and ProClarity (as it was at the time). From there I've moved to credit risk and used SAS heavily as well as some Powershell stuff.
Just filled out an internal application form for a sideways step into the DBA world. Need some new challenges and want to get into the core IT realm.
Yeah I did SQL as well, found it to be very intuative to pick up.
SAS is a little bat**** crazy, but I'm loving working with massive data and getting out puts for people.
Cheers for the honest view though, when I first saw a SAS code, I was massively confused by it, but after 6/7 months its starting to make a lot more sense
