[Black_Shark]

Yes, I’ve researched this. There is a huge demand for data analysts due to the large amount of data that companies produce and the valuable conclusions that can be derived from such data.

In regards to the rest of your comment: The majority of people I know and associate with were/are on this track and they all started at similar if not greater salary ranges. The older ones (50’s and above) all have the same advice: If you’re not on the management/executive track by the time you’re 30, you ain’t going anywhere kid.

For a more concrete anecdotal example: a personal friend of mine is 27 and a VP of fixed income at a major bank. Another friend is currently well on his way to becoming VP by the time he’s 26.

Yes, it’s possible. Also, given that the average starting salary of a college graduate is $50,000+, I would assume that my expectations aren’t exactly crazy.

For further contemplation: If I started at $30K, I would be making $40K by the time I’m 30 and nowhere near management track most likely. Essentially, I’m screwed.

So yes, I do have expectations but I am willing to back up my expectations through hard work and results. After all, I don’t expect to get paid if I am not producing.

[Black_Shark]

Edit: The data analysis jobs are being taken by individuals with 2+ years of experience due to the vicious cycle that I mentioned above.

[Milton Miteybad]

You must realize, of course, that the banking industry hands out the title of "Vice-President" like the Nobel Committee hands out Peace Prizes, i.e., to anybody who's been there longer than about 45 days. Practically everybody working in a bank who isn't a teller (to the extent any of those actually remain, anyway) is a vice-president.

In my professional endeavors it is often necessary for me to have to deal with some of these "vice-presidents" at various banks and other financial institutions. Some of them appear to have reached their lofty pinnacle only because none of their superiors could find them long enough to fire them. Some of these people are passingly competent; however, many others appear to be dumpster-divers who have accidentally landed behind a desk and a nameplate at the local bank.

If being a VP at a financial institution is your aspiration, best of luck to you. I'm simply hard-pressed to understand why that might be a goal for a bright, energetic, ambitious individual.

[meadsjn]

Anecdotal examples can be extremely misleading.

A better set of anecdotal samples could be gathered by getting inside (meaning actually working inside, in any position) of one or more of the organizations in which you would like to work.

Then check out the individuals filling those upper-level positions that interest you. Then check out the listed requirements for the positions they have filled. Hint: There may be zero correlation between these two sets of data.

As the article at the top of the thread describes: ANY new college graduate getting ANY employment in their field, at ANY rate of pay, has finally won a 50/50 coin toss (perhaps after several, or several thousands of such coin tosses that came up tails).

[Chickensoup]

For a more concrete anecdotal example: a personal friend of mine is 27 and a VP of fixed income at a major bank. Another friend is currently well on his way to becoming VP by the time he’s 26.

__________________

Do you know anything about bank vps?

They are jokes. No money, just title.

We used to have a joke for them. He is the president of the left side of the bank..... fourth through tenth floors.

They were paid dog food.

Still are.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Move to Silicon Valley. There’s a hiring boom right now. “Big Data” is all the rage and they can’t find enough good people.

[Darth Hillary]

You’ll get your biggest salary bump when you quit your first job and move on to the next. Take the 30K or whatever is offered but keep gaining experience, meeting people and looking for better opportunities. Banks can hire and lay off like waves in the ocean, I used to work in the IT side of a major one. They also give out the title of AVP and VP all the time, and it doesn’t really mean much in the big institutions unless you’re planning on being a lifer. Like someone else posted programming skills like CSharp and Java are in demand but you might be more suited to Database Development/Analysis with database servers like SQL Server or Oracle.

[Tijeras_Slim]

It’s not too late to switch to a degree in Philosophy.

It worked for me.

[muawiyah]

I know you fella's imagine there's some sort of 'management track' ~ but there isn't.

And you don't need to be ON IT by the time you are 30.

Over my career I watched middle-managment DISAPPEAR. There were so many baby-boomers around with 'raw management talent" you could hire half a dozen of them as "project managers" and avoid hiring on the VP who'd cost you much more and was not as easy to outsource later on.

What you see today in terms of management structure is an echo of what there used to be! Technology has taken down those jobs first ~ much to the surprise of folks who thought they could move up into them.

You want to be a boss get your own company ~ and BTW, don't hire too many managers ~

[cynwoody]

Yes, I’ve researched this. There is a huge demand for data analysts due to the large amount of data that companies produce and the valuable conclusions that can be derived from such data.

Maybe Target is hiring.