We talk regularly about the many advantages of being a Queen consultant. But don’t just take our word for it. Some of our current and former consultants have agreed to share their experiences with us. Today we talk with Data Analyst Dan Freeman, who started as a Queen consultant before being hired full-time by our client in April 2020.

What is a typical day like?

I write code in R to manipulate and analyze data, primarily for life insurance and annuity policies, as well as customer demographic data, in order to facilitate building customer profiles. I also assist with writing and programming surveys in Qualtrics and analyzing the data that comes from the surveys. This is all done to identify insights and inform the business lines in their decision making.

What is the most rewarding thing about what you do?

I would say the opportunity to use and continuously develop my skills to drive business strategy and decision making. There’s real value in that. Consumer Insights is a very important function in a large organization such as ours, and its perception across the enterprise reflects that importance.

What would you say to someone considering going into your role for the first time?

Understanding the business – which I am still learning – is just as important in determining the success and influence of the role as the analytical skills. That being said, the business can be learned far more easily than the analytical skills, the mindset, and the attention to detail that goes along with that. So, if you’re naturally analytically inclined, like/love using those skills in your job, I would say, “Go for it!”

Why is working with a consulting firm like Queen beneficial?

Because it can lead to a full-time gig!  When I started out as a contractor, I had no idea where it would ultimately take me – and it certainly had more than its fair share of twists and turns – but it allowed me to showcase my worth to my boss, the team, and the organization at large. That helped me convert my contractor status into a full-time, permanent position. It can also be beneficial if you want to work as a contractor for the long-term and have no desire to be brought on to a company full-time. However, my goal from day one was always to try to make the most of the opportunity and see if I couldn’t turn it into something permanent. And it worked!

What would you say to someone considering a contract role for the first time?

Be prepared for uncertainty and don’t expect it to convert to a full-time role, even if the role is considered “temp-to-perm.” Just do the best job you can and always keep your options open until your long-term future is secured. Only good things can come from that.