What is a data analyst? What does a data analyst do and what kind of training does it take to become one? In this article, I’ll give you an in-depth look at the world of data analysts and demystify all the technical jargon that comes with it. By the end, you should have a basic understanding of what being a data analyst entails and what skills you need to pursue this career path.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| A data analyst plays a crucial role in analyzing and interpreting data to drive business decisions. |
| Pursuing a career as a data analyst requires a strong foundation in mathematics, statistics, and computer science. |
| Data analysts need to have strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. |
| Proficiency in programming languages like Python or R is essential for data analysts. |
| Data analysts utilize various tools such as data visualization software, statistical analysis tools, and database querying languages. |
| Data analysts are employed in diverse industries, including finance, healthcare, retail, marketing, and technology. |
| The career outlook for data analysts is promising, with a growing demand for professionals in this field. |
| Continuous learning and staying updated with industry trends are essential for a successful data analyst career. |
Why Become A Data Analyst?
If you’re considering a career as a data analyst, it’s important to understand how the job will fit into your ideal lifestyle. Let’s look at some of the most appealing aspects of this career:
- Salary: Data analysts are paid well, with entry-level salaries starting at around $60,000. As you gain experience and expertise in the field, your salary can easily exceed $100,000. Depending on where you live and work, it may be possible to have an excellent quality of life on an entry-level salary.
- Job prospects: Demand for data analysts is growing rapidly across the country and the world. As long as you have a solid grasp of statistics and programming fundamentals (and maybe some domain-specific knowledge), there should be no shortage of employers who want to hire you.
Plus, there are plenty of opportunities for advancement within companies or even switching fields if that’s what interests you most.
- Flexible options: Data analyst jobs are flexible in terms of hours worked per day or week as well as the location you could potentially telecommute on certain days or work at home in a remote area away from urban centers like New York City or Silicon Valley.
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With all these factors taken together good pay, and great job prospects both now and going forward into retirement age groups like millennials (ages 25–35) usually have few worries about where their next paycheck comes from once they find employment within this industry sector
What Is A Data Analyst?
Many people confuse data analysts and data scientists. While the two jobs have a few similarities, they differ in several ways. For example, data scientists conduct research, build and deploy machine learning models, and perform advanced statistical analyses. Data analysts use tools like SQL to extract and analyze data from multiple databases at once.
Although the roles of a data analyst and a data scientist are different, you can still be both! To learn more about what it takes to be a successful data scientist, check out our career guide here.
What Does A Data Analyst Do?
You probably already know that a data analyst is responsible for collecting, processing, and organizing data. This involves a lot of problem-solving and critical thinking to turn raw information into insights. But what exactly does that mean? Earlier, we mentioned some of the job duties expected from a data analyst. In this section, we’ll go into more detail about what you can expect to do daily as a data analyst.
Data analysts use computer software like Python or R to extract and analyze large amounts of numerical and text-based information from software platforms like Excel or SQL databases. By using statistical analysis tools like MATLAB, SAS, or Tableau, they’re able to create meaningful visualizations from large amounts of raw data that help companies identify trends in their business performance over time.
This process requires strong analytical skills and intuitive thinking because analysts are often tasked with translating complex technical information into something digestible for business leaders who don’t have any background in analytics or statistics. They also need exceptional communication abilities so they can help non-technical decision-makers understand why these insights matter and most importantly what actions should be taken because of them!
Data Analyst Job Description, Duties, And Responsibilities
The data analyst job description is varied and broad, which may lead you to wonder, what does a data analyst do? The primary function of a data analyst is to take that raw information and use their skills in math and statistics to interpret it. The information they glean from this raw data will help organizations make better business decisions.
Think of the Google Analytics dashboard for your website. It shows you basic stats like how many people have visited your site and what pages they’re visiting most often. A data analyst would take those numbers, along with other factors like customer behavior and sales figures, to give you insights into how you could improve your marketing strategy or increase revenue through your site. They might also work with physical datasets created by surveys or focus groups to get at insights that inform company decisions.
Data analytics professionals usually fall into one of two categories: statisticians or computer scientists. Statisticians are experts in math and probability while computer scientists are skilled programmers who enjoy working with large amounts of unstructured data (think Big Data).
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What Is The Average Salary Of A Data Analyst?
Aside from the obvious need to understand how to use data analytics tools like Excel, Python, and Tableau (more on those later), what kinds of other skills should you have in your back pocket? Above all else, you must possess an analytical mind.
Data analysts are problem solvers if a company wants to solve something about its business operations or strategy, it’s likely going to be the job of a data analyst to figure out what data can help answer that question. A strong command of mathematics is also key. Most successful data analysts have at least a bachelor’s degree in math or statistics.
But let’s say you’re starting from scratch and you don’t have any relevant education or experience. What do you do first? Start by diving into some online coursework. The gap between someone with no knowledge of data analysis and someone who knows how to use the best software for analyzing big data can be daunting, but there are plenty of resources out there that can help students get started.
For example, Northwestern University offers a comprehensive certificate program in analytics through their online learning platform called Coursera; courses cover topics such as using Python for statistics and becoming proficient in SQL querying language (which is particularly useful if your role involves pulling information directly from databases).
Required Skills And Competencies For Data Analysts
Here are the skills you can expect to need as a data analyst:
- Coding. Many data analysts use coding languages like SQL and Python to manage and manipulate data. This includes selecting specific portions of datasets, joining multiple tables together, or cleaning up messy data.
Fortunately, these skills can be learned on the job if you don’t have them already.
- Data visualization. Data analysts also need to know how to visualize data (i.e., create charts and graphs). This skill enables them to communicate important insights and trends in a way that’s easy for others to understand.
You can learn this skill on your own by taking some free online courses from our friends at [Datacamp](https://www.datacamp.com/), who help people become skilled in the art of creating beautiful visualizations using tools like Tableau and RStudio.
- Communication skills + soft skills in general. As mentioned earlier, there’s a strong emphasis on storytelling with data analytics jobs these days that is, using bits of information from all over your organization (and beyond) to tell an interesting story about something that’s happening within your company or industry as a whole (for example, new competitors entering the space or changes in customer preferences). These stories often involve collaborating with other teams within your company, so having good communication is extremely important here too.
For example, you might need to reach out via email or Slack message when you’re stuck trying to get access to certain spreadsheets that belong to another department, or perhaps you need someone else’s help connecting one dataset with another because they weren’t originally uploaded into your database correctly!
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How To Become A Data Analyst
Congratulations, you now know what a data analyst does! But do you have the skills necessary to succeed in this career? Let’s look at some of the skills that are needed for a job as a data analyst:
- Analytical Skills: A data analyst needs to be able to take information from different sources and draw conclusions from it. A good analytical mind is required for this task.
- Technical Skills: Many of the tasks performed by a data analyst will require some knowledge of computer programming languages such as Java or Python. It is also helpful to have strong SQL and database knowledge.
- Communication Skills: Being able to communicate with others about your findings is an important part of working as a data analyst. This can include writing reports, giving presentations, and working with other team members such as programmers and business analysts.
Now that you know what it takes to become a data analyst, how do you get started? Here are some steps on how to become one:
Take courses in statistics or programming (if required). While not everyone will need these skills when they start working as a data analyst, having them will make the transition into this career much easier.
Also, consider taking courses in business administration if possible since many employers prefer candidates who have at least some experience with running projects before they apply for jobs related to project management roles within their company.
Get certified by completing training programs offered by organizations like SAS Institute Incorporated or IBM Corporation which teach people about various software packages used by companies around the world today including SAS Enterprise Miner Suite Software Suite – Data Science Certification Course for Professionals.
IBM Business Analytics Professional; Microsoft Office 365 Power BI Desktop Training Course (MSBI); Tableau Introduction Course; Talend Open Studio for Data Integration – Windows Edition Course; Google Analytics Courses – Learn How To Use Google Tools For Your Online Business Successfully With These Hands-on Tutorials from scratch till completion so that they can be ready soon after graduating college instead of going
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Finding A Job As A Data Analyst
There are several ways you can start looking for job opportunities as a data analyst. Some of the most effective strategies include:
Using online job boards and recruitment websites, like Indeed and LinkedIn. These are particularly useful because they allow you to filter results by location, desired salary range, experience level required, and more.
Networking with peers or colleagues in your field who might be able to introduce you to hiring managers or recommend you for open positions.
Cold calling companies that interest you to ask about potential openings.
Applying for relevant internships or entry-level jobs directly through a company’s website. This is another effective method because it means your application will go directly to the person who needs it most without being filtered through a third party like a recruiter or career board.
Attending career fairs in search of employers who may be interested in hiring someone with your skill set and background.
Looking to expand your freelance opportunities beyond data analysis? Our guide on Becoming an Experienced Freelance Data Entry Employee provides valuable insights and tips for individuals seeking to enhance their skills and explore freelancing opportunities in data entry.
Closing Thoughts
The data analysis field is growing quickly thanks to the proliferation of data generated by businesses, consumers, and governments. Becoming a data analyst offers you an opportunity to enter a challenging career with high earning potential. This guide will provide you with an overview of position requirements and responsibilities, as well as a detailed look at what this career path entails.
If you have always been interested in data but are unsure of which career best suits your interests, then this article is for you. You will learn what skills are required to become a data analyst, how much money analysts make, and how becoming an analyst can help you turn your passion for numbers into a profitable profession. In addition, there is information on other careers that use similar skills as well as options for continuing your education to become qualified for these positions.
I hope you enjoyed this article. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources for further reading on the role of data analysts:
Data Analyst Job Description: Learn about the responsibilities, skills, and qualifications required for a data analyst position in this comprehensive article.
What Does a Data Analyst Do?: Gain insights into the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities of data analysts, along with the skills and tools they use to analyze and interpret data.
What Does a Data Analyst Do?: Discover the key roles and responsibilities of data analysts, as well as the importance of their work in various industries.
People Also Ask
What Is The Average Salary Of A Data Analyst?
The average salary for a data analyst varies widely depending on experience level and location, but the median annual wage for all data analysts was $81,590 in May 2018 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In some areas of the country (like New York City) you can expect salaries closer to $50K annually while other areas (like Indianapolis) will pay significantly less than that amount annually even after accounting for cost-of-living differences between cities where these jobs exist today (such as San Francisco or Seattle).
What Is Data Analysis?
Data analysis involves using statistics to examine large amounts of data to identify trends and patterns. Data analysts use their skills to analyze data from many different sources, including websites, surveys, and scientific experiments. They may also be responsible for creating new ways to collect data or analyzing existing data sets in new ways.
Data analysts work with many types of software applications that help them analyze large amounts of information quickly and effectively. These include tools like Excel spreadsheets (which are used by most businesses), as well as specialized software packages like SPSS or SAS (which are used by researchers).
How Do I Become A Data Analyst?
There are many different paths into this field; some people go directly from college or university into their first job as an analyst while others start in another role and then move into analytics later on. Most analysts start by taking classes in database management, statistics, or computer science at the undergraduate level before moving on to graduate school where they can specialize in this area further.
What Kind Of Education Do I Need?
You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis on math and statistics (or similar subject areas) if you want to become a data analyst. Because this field is so broad, however, many employers will look favorably upon candidates who have additional experience in areas such as business administration or computer science as well.
What’s Involved In The Job?
The first step is collecting relevant data from multiple sources. This is often done through a variety of methods including surveys or experiments. Once collected it must be organized into an understandable format such as tables or charts so that it can be analyzed effectively by the analyst.
The next step is analyzing this data using statistical techniques like regression analysis or cluster analysis to find patterns or relationships within it. This step often involves creating visualizations that show important trends within the data which can help identify areas where improvement could be made based on those findings which will lead us into our final step: communicating those findings back out again through reports or presentations which can then be used by others within their organization.
How Do I Get Started In This Field?
First, decide whether you want to go down the path of becoming a full-time employee or an independent contractor. Then, decide what type of role you want to specialize in. Is there a particular industry or company that interests you? Are there certain skillsets that you hope to develop?
Once you know how you want to approach the job market, start researching companies and positions that match your interests. You can find these by searching job boards like data entry jobs, LinkedIn and Indeed, or by talking with friends who are already working in this field.
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