9 Basic Steps to get Started as an Analyst

1. Intentions ➡️ inputs ➡️ activities ➡️ outputs ➡️ outcomes ➡️ impact.

2. Look at the different dimensions of impact: the what, the how much, the who, the contribution, and the risk.

👉 Take your understanding of the impact to the next level by reading the article Step 1: Understand Impact.

1. Go to the Topic Selector. You may select a topic based on interest on a particular subject or company.

2. Choose a topic that has not been written about or an angle that hasn’t been addressed.

3. Focus on a singular topic - an analysis that assesses multiple topics will be rejected.

4. Add up to 7 tags to describe the topic you are working on.

👉 More about the topic selection in this article: Step 2: Choose a relevant topic.

1. Start with the company you wish to cover, look at which topics are or aren't covered, and use online research tricks for successful research.

2. Make sure to use various sources, prioritising primary sources over secondary ones.

3. Check the sources toolkit and build your own list of favourite websites to use.

4. Verifying the credibility of sources is important. For this, make sure to question timeliness, accuracy, authority, relevance, and purpose.

👉 For a more in-depth guide on effective research, check out the article Step 3: Do research the smart way.

1. Introduce the broader impact issue, tailor it to the industry and SDG of your choice, and disclose how the topic affects society or the environment.

2. Provide an in-depth analysis of the impact, try to be as granular as possible, include impact data, and assess the impact compared to the broader issue.

3. Provide an impact statement, and sum up the main points without adding new information.

👉 For a more detailed guide on structuring your analysis, including tips and examples, make sure to read Step 4: Build a good structure.

1. You must first select 1 of the 3 impact categories that best defines the impact: Products, Processes or Philanthropy.

2 Based on your IMP analysis, you must evaluate the value of the impact from -5 to +5 based on how positive or negative the impact is.

3. Scale is assessed from 1 to 5, following an exponential rate. It should be evaluated by looking at the breadth, depth, and persistence of the impact.

👉 Step 5: Assess scale and value is a must-read article before you start rating analyses and writing your own. If want to improve your rating skills why not join our next Certified Impact Rater Training? It will give you the detail and skills to better rate the impact in each analysis.

1. Whenever you are unsure about adding: quotations, in-text citations, units, or numbers, make sure to check this list.

2. The most basic standards you must follow are: writing in English, using the International System of units, spelling out abbreviations, and converting currencies to euros or US Dollars.

3. If you have any doubts, always refer to this list, which is regularly updated.

👉 Not sure what our standards are? Read the detailed article, Step 6: Use the right standards.

1. All analyses need to contain sources with working URLs.

2. You must first add all your sources and second add the corresponding footnotes in the body of your analysis.

3. Analyses that contain no sources or footnotes will be rejected.

👉 Our referencing style can be hard to master at first. Read Step 7: Reference like a pro to learn more.

1. Follow a 3-part structure: company name ➡️ action made ➡️ a quantitative impact.

2. Always insert your most important metric.

3. Add dates and locations when needed.

👉 Remember, a catchy title will get your analysis read and rated more frequently by our community! Check out Step 8: Write a catchy headline for best practices.

1. The picture chosen needs to come from a license-free, open-source website. These include Unsplash, Pixabay, and Pexels.

2. Select an image that represents best and most accurately the topic discussed.

3. Make sure that the image is of good quality, thus not pixelated or blurry.

👉 Do you want your analysis to stand out from the others on the platform and social media? Check out Step 9: Choose your cover photo.

Follow these steps, and you’ll progress and achieve your certification quickly and efficiently!

If you want to level up your writing and critical assessment skills from apprentice to expert, your next objective is to check the 9 golden rules for an outstanding publication.