USER STORIES

Q: What was your motivation to take SAS Certification?

I found the tools that were shown in the SAS workshop very interesting and intuitive, so I was drawn to learn more about them. During the workshop we were introduced to SAS Skill Builder for Students and how it would enable us to prepare for Certification. Judging by the career opportunities available for SAS certified professionals, I felt this was an opportunity not to be missed.

Q: You learnt everything needed for free, by using the SAS Skill Builder for Students. Can you tell us more about the learning experience? Learning on your own and passing the exam in one month is just amazing!

I think the tutorial videos are very well-filmed and thorough, so if you follow them and solve the given problems, you cover everything and more that is required to pass the certification exam. I like to make my own notes that summarize key points and each section as it is covered, these really helped to consolidate my knowledge and were invaluable when it came to revision.

Q: Do you have tips for other students who may be preparing for SAS Certification?

Working on the practice problems between the tutorial videos was a good way to check if I had learnt everything before moving to the next section. Reviewing the questions helped guide my learning of anything I needed to cover in more detail. I worked on solving problems by myself without looking at the solutions until I was sure I had completed the task. Working through tasks independently is probably the most effective way to learn and retain knowledge of a new skill.

Q: What are your next goals? And what is your dream job? And, how does being SAS certified provide an advantage as you embark on pursuing your dream job?

I still have over a year remaining to complete my university course. In that time I hope to identify which field of computer science I would like to pursue further as a career choice.  Data Science certainly appeals to me and it would definitely be a work path I will explore further, I believe that the SAS certification provides a perfect foundation for this.

Q: You claimed your badge and shared it on social media. Do you have any advice for other students on why they should do likewise?

Building up your LinkedIn profile has become an important part of enhancing your chances of employability. Many employers review your LinkedIn profile prior to the interview phase, having a SAS certification badge will ensure you stand out.

I also realized that having the badge includes metadata which enables you to connect with companies looking for individuals with your qualifications.

Q: Do you have any advice or guidance for students considering taking a SAS certification exam?

Don’t put it off for too long, have a goal date in mind to complete the material in SAS Skill Builder for Students. I found that helped to keep me on track. Follow the steps outlined in the video tutorials and go through the practice examples, it will not be as hard as it sounds.

Q: You participated in the 2023 edition of the SAS Curiosity Cup. What is it?

The SAS Curiosity Cup is global student competition organized by SAS. The competition invites participants from around the world to solve real-world problems using SAS.

Q: How did you participate in the SAS Curiosity Cup?

I entered the competition by submitting a 5-page paper together with my classmate where we explained a problem, described the data we used and then we applied some of the analytical methods that we have learned in our degree to analyze the problem. The topic we introduced was food price inflation in Europe. To take part in this competition the students must use SAS software and register their Educator Advisor from the Faculty.

Q: How did you perform in the SAS Curiosity Cup?

I am happy to say that we finished in the top 15 teams of the SAS Curiosity Cup, which is a great achievement considering the large number of participants from around the world, (52 teams). I believe our analysis of the food inflation problem was innovative and effective, demonstrating our analytical and problem-solving skills.

Q: What did you gain from participating in the SAS Curiosity Cup?

I had the opportunity to work on a real-world problem, using state-of-the-art data science tools, and interact with other data science professionals both from SAS and other universities. The opportunity enabled me to gain valuable experience and exposure. The competition also helped me to showcase my skills and build my professional network. Overall, it was a challenging and rewarding experience and I encourage other students to enter next year.