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Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

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Re: Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

#41

Post by scandox »

jqpabc123 wrote: post #36
tailspin2019 wrote: post #19

I couldn't help chuckle at this one. I've known quite a few accountants over the years. Some fit this typical stereotype rather well, and others have been a bit more "dynamic". However, they are notable in that nearly all of them have been some of the nicest people I've ever met, with very high levels of integrity and authenticity. Very level headed, high attention to detail, professional, knowledgeable and kind. Obv…

a higher barrier to entry to become even a "junior" accountant I couldn't help chuckle at this one. When I was in college, engineering was known as "pre-accounting" --- those who couldn't handle the math went into accounting. This is not to say accountants aren't nice people but the math involved is what my engineering professors disparaging referred to as "kindergarten" algebra so the barrier to entry is really not…

I've known a lot of engineers I wouldn't trust to do my books though!

Re: Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

#42

Post by hef19898 »

ad404b8a372f2b9 wrote: post #29
hef19898 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Plus: I never saw a drama series about it

What about that documentary starring Ben Affleck?

Oh, that one. They always pick those special cases for those real-life documentaries, don't they? Maybe it changes when Netflix turns it into sequel series...

Re: Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

#43

Post by jqpabc123 »

ss108 wrote: post #39
jqpabc123 wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

a higher barrier to entry to become even a "junior" accountant I couldn't help chuckle at this one. When I was in college, engineering was known as "pre-accounting" --- those who couldn't handle the math went into accounting. This is not to say accountants aren't nice people but the math involved is what my engineering professors disparaging referred to as "kindergarten" algebra so the barrier to entry is really not…

He didn't mean in terms of skill or difficulty; he was referring to the bullshit one has to go through to actually be an accountant (certifications, etc).

Just like a lot of other professions --- only easier. Try passing a legal bar exam or becoming a licensed engineer.

Re: Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

#44

Post by toyg »

jimhefferon wrote: post #30

I was a math major in college. Now, math is not exactly stock car racing, or lion taming, but I never would have conceived of doing business with my life. It was obviously way dull and the only people I knew around the dorm who majored in it were dopes who were coasting through college and didn't know what else to do. (Everybody sees, right, that I am setting up to be proved wrong?) Twenty years later I got a subscri…

> I think they are so flooded with folks that it is not really of interest

I think they actually want to actively discourage people. They understand supply and demand.

Re: Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

#45

Post by tailspin2019 »

jqpabc123 wrote: post #36
tailspin2019 wrote: post #19

I couldn't help chuckle at this one. I've known quite a few accountants over the years. Some fit this typical stereotype rather well, and others have been a bit more "dynamic". However, they are notable in that nearly all of them have been some of the nicest people I've ever met, with very high levels of integrity and authenticity. Very level headed, high attention to detail, professional, knowledgeable and kind. Obv…

a higher barrier to entry to become even a "junior" accountant I couldn't help chuckle at this one. When I was in college, engineering was known as "pre-accounting" --- those who couldn't handle the math went into accounting. This is not to say accountants aren't nice people but the math involved is what my engineering professors disparaging referred to as "kindergarten" algebra so the barrier to entry is really not…

And yet all the accountants I’ve worked with have had to be able to prove their ability by way of recognised qualifications. Ie legally they have to have certain qualifications in order to do their job.

Whereas I dropped out of school at 17 after being on track to fail my A Level in Maths and yet I recently built an ERP system for a $100m revenue company. No one checked my (lack of) qualifications! (Nor did my lacking certain bits of paper impede my ability to do a good job)

I’m not as bad at maths as that failed A Level would have indicated, but I doubt I would have easily sailed through accountancy training/qualifications. Not for lack of intelligence but for lacking in other areas.

So raw “math ability” is only one element here and just focussing on that could risk minimising all the other skills required to be a good accountant (including organisation and people skills).

Re: Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

#46

Post by hef19898 »

jqpabc123 wrote: post #36
tailspin2019 wrote: post #19

I couldn't help chuckle at this one. I've known quite a few accountants over the years. Some fit this typical stereotype rather well, and others have been a bit more "dynamic". However, they are notable in that nearly all of them have been some of the nicest people I've ever met, with very high levels of integrity and authenticity. Very level headed, high attention to detail, professional, knowledgeable and kind. Obv…

a higher barrier to entry to become even a "junior" accountant I couldn't help chuckle at this one. When I was in college, engineering was known as "pre-accounting" --- those who couldn't handle the math went into accounting. This is not to say accountants aren't nice people but the math involved is what my engineering professors disparaging referred to as "kindergarten" algebra so the barrier to entry is really not…

Nobody said accounting math is particularly hard so. Everything around it is. Once you fail to be able to publish SEC required balance sheets because those mathematically highly skilled engineers screwed up your books by ignoring every single accounting standard, you might come to realize the value of good accountants. Well, after those good accountants left, that is..

Re: Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

#47

Post by technobabbler »

spacemanmatt wrote: post #16
s0teri0s wrote: post #10

There are vastly worse things to be than boring.

Young people definitely make decisions about things based on perceived social appeal. It's kind of a thing.

Can you blame them? Social appeal has significant mating and survival consequences.

I think the whole lonely geek thing has gotten better in the last decade, but it used to be really bad. Like the Lone Gunmen in the X-Files (really dating myself now).

If you're in that stereotype, either you end up finding a lucky niche that appreciates your talent (easier these days) or you can easily end up ostracized and terribly lonely, with fewer friends, mates, opportunities, etc., which can in turn lead to severe depression and other mental health consequences.

"I'm smart, I'm nice, why doesn't anyone like me"... used to be a common complaint of the geeky types. Thankfully it's a bit better these days.

Re: Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

#48

Post by hef19898 »

scandox wrote: post #41
jqpabc123 wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

a higher barrier to entry to become even a "junior" accountant I couldn't help chuckle at this one. When I was in college, engineering was known as "pre-accounting" --- those who couldn't handle the math went into accounting. This is not to say accountants aren't nice people but the math involved is what my engineering professors disparaging referred to as "kindergarten" algebra so the barrier to entry is really not…

I've known a lot of engineers I wouldn't trust to do my books though!

Honestly, I have yet to meet an engineer I would trust with that. Nor did I meet an accountant I would trust with my development. It's almost like they are two different professions...

Re: Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

#49

Post by jqpabc123 »

tailspin2019 wrote: post #45
jqpabc123 wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

a higher barrier to entry to become even a "junior" accountant I couldn't help chuckle at this one. When I was in college, engineering was known as "pre-accounting" --- those who couldn't handle the math went into accounting. This is not to say accountants aren't nice people but the math involved is what my engineering professors disparaging referred to as "kindergarten" algebra so the barrier to entry is really not…

And yet all the accountants I’ve worked with have had to be able to prove their ability by way of recognised qualifications. Ie legally they have to have certain qualifications in order to do their job. Whereas I dropped out of school at 17 after being on track to fail my A Level in Maths and yet I recently built an ERP system for a $100m revenue company. No one checked my (lack of) qualifications! (Nor did my lackin…

Ie legally they have to have certain qualifications in order to do their job.

No, they don't. Only about half the accountants in the USA are licensed CPAs. And you don't need a college degree to become one in many states.

Re: Study show that people think that data analysts and accountants are boring

#50

Post by spacemanmatt »

technobabbler wrote: post #47
spacemanmatt wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Young people definitely make decisions about things based on perceived social appeal. It's kind of a thing.

Can you blame them? Social appeal has significant mating and survival consequences. I think the whole lonely geek thing has gotten better in the last decade, but it used to be really bad. Like the Lone Gunmen in the X-Files (really dating myself now). If you're in that stereotype, either you end up finding a lucky niche that appreciates your talent (easier these days) or you can easily end up ostracized and terribly…

> Can you blame them?

Can't and don't. It's just a measurable fact of the human condition. I'm not sure why you thought I would.

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