#  SDP Hiring Resources 

 



After more than 15 years of recruiting, screening, placing, and training analytic talent, we have some lessons learned. We share these lessons openly because hiring data talent well is a collective challenge in education. Our reflections and resources below are meant to be practical, adaptable, and grounded in real hiring decisions, not abstract ideals.



 

Full Resource

### Hiring for Data Talent: What We've Learned 

 

Access the combined PDF of all resources associated with this series. We encourage you to read the linked reflections below for a richer picture.



 [ Access the narrative arrow\_circle\_right ](https://sdp.cepr.harvard.edu/resource/sdp-hiring-resource-toolkit) 

 



      ![Finding the right hire](/sites/g/files/omnuum4446/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2026-03/Untitled%20design%20%283%29.png?itok=XL-cjSqj) 

 

 

  

 



 

 

 

##  Hiring Resources 

Access the individual components of this hiring series' resources.

 

 



  [### Before You Hire: Role Clarity Conversation

 ](/resource/you-hire-30-minute-role-clarity-conversation)A facilitation guide for a 30-minute conversation to design an education data role before hiring.



 

   ![Before you hire thumbnail](/sites/g/files/omnuum4446/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-03/Screenshot%202026-03-02%20at%208.00.22%E2%80%AFAM.png?itok=Y5TtO3_N) 

 

 

 

  [### Hiring for Humility and Integrity

 ](/resource/hiring-humility-and-integrity-checklist)A checklist for hiring managers screening for humility and integrity in education data candidates.



 

   ![Humility Integrity Thumbnail](/sites/g/files/omnuum4446/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-03/Screenshot%202026-03-02%20at%208.02.09%E2%80%AFAM.png?itok=75Z1ggIg) 

 

 

 

  [### Hiring for Analytic Entrepreneurship

 ](/resource/hiring-analytic-entrepreneurship-checklist)A checklist for hiring managers screening for analytic entreprenurship in education data candidates.



 

   ![Analytic Entrepreneurship Thumbnail](/sites/g/files/omnuum4446/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-03/Screenshot%202026-03-02%20at%208.03.45%E2%80%AFAM.png?itok=4teHVSVp) 

 

 

 

  [### Hiring for Data Communication

 ](/resource/hiring-data-communication)A checklist for hiring managers screening for communication in education data candidates.



 

   ![Communication Thumbnail](/sites/g/files/omnuum4446/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-03/Screenshot%202026-03-02%20at%208.05.34%E2%80%AFAM.png?itok=bUzCxfz-) 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

   

The future of public sector data will be shaped less by who has the flashiest résumé, and more by who can do the slow, human work of continually learning and turning evidence into action.

 

Miriam Greenberg

Senior Director, Strategic Data Project

 

 



 

 

 

##  Reflections 

Reflections after 15 years of recruiting, hiring, and placing data talent in education organizations.

 

 



  [### We’re Sharing Our Secret Sauce…Well, Some of It (Hiring Series Part 6)

 ](/news/2026/03/were-sharing-our-secret-saucewell-some-it-hiring-series-part-6) March 26, 2026 

 

   [### On Hiring Data Translators: Lessons From My Seven-Year-Old Mandarin Teacher (Hiring Series Part 5)

 ](/news/2026/02/hiring-data-translators-lessons-my-seven-year-old-mandarin-teacher-hiring-series-part) February 24, 2026 

 

   [### The Problem with “Hit the Ground Running” (Hiring Series Part 4)

 ](/news/2026/02/problem-hit-ground-running-hiring-series-part-4) February 17, 2026 

 

   [### Screening for Humility and Integrity (Hiring Series Part 3)

 ](/news/2026/02/screening-humility-and-integrity-hiring-series-part-3) February 10, 2026 

 

   [### The Omitted Variable in Data Hiring: Job Design (Hiring Series Part 2)

 ](/news/2026/02/omitted-variable-data-hiring-job-design-hiring-series-part-2) February 03, 2026 

 

   [### Hiring Education Data Talent: What We've Learned (Part 1)

 ](/news/2026/01/hiring-education-data-talent-what-weve-learned-part-1) January 27, 2026 

 

  

 

 

 

 

   

Of course, we ruthlessly assess technical skills. Strong data analysis, statistics, coding, and visualization skills are all necessary. But technical skill alone is not enough. What matters just as much is how someone uses those skills in relationships with others, and what they do when data doesn't cooperate.

 

Ali Guerriero

Associate Director, Strategic Data Project

 

 



 

 

 

##  Become an SDP Partner Organization 

 



 [ Schedule a call arrow\_circle\_right ](https://calendly.com/alison_segal/sdp-partner-opportunities) [ Contact us arrow\_circle\_right ](mailto:alison_segal@gse.harvard.edu) [ Learn more about becoming a partner arrow\_circle\_right ](https://sdp.cepr.harvard.edu/partnerships)