What is the Work of Data Analysts
How to Become a Data Analyst From Scratch. In brief, data analysts analyze and draw insights from the data and resources that a business or organization uses. It can include internal, competitor or other third-party data. Data analysts do four main types of analysis:
- Business modelling
- Strategic planning
- Process and workflow design
- Systems analysis
There is a great demand for data analysts today, and it’s overgrowing as other in-demand jobs in the USA.
People choose a career as a data analyst due to its impressive salary. The average salary is $92,467 in the USA. The more value you add to a business in terms of skills and knowledge, the more you earn. It makes sense when you realize that data insights have the power to boost productivity and profits considerably.
Steps to Becoming a Data Analyst From Scratch
1. Be Skilled
Most Data Analysts, such as Business Intelligence Analysts, need a bachelor’s degree in a business-related field. Many employers also accept degree courses in information’s systems or STEM subjects.
A bachelor’s degree may not be adequate to get a job independently. You also have to show some specialist skills to stand out amongst the other aspirants.
Another way to gain qualifications and demonstrate skills is to enrol on specialist e-learning courses. More and more employers recognize and value these qualifications as they know that the level of high knowledge and skills derived through e-learning can benefit their business.
2. Grow Your Skills and Knowledge
To increase your skills and knowledge, you can enrol on a master’s degree course that will teach you most of the everyday things you require for the role. A popular way is to study online or e-learning courses to acquire more focused skills.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Data Analyst
The process of acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to become a Data Analyst can take anywhere from 10 weeks to four years. This disparity is attributed to the fact that there are many different paths to a successful Data Analyst career.
Many data professionals have traditionally started off with a bachelor’s degree in computer science (that’s the four-year method), but data analysts can now apply straight for positions after taking data analytics boot camps and courses that can be completed in as little as 10 weeks.
Given Below are the Following Skills Required for a Data Analyst
Computing skills – Experienced in MS Excel. It may include programming languages and frameworks such as SQL, c#, Java, Oracle, etc.
Analytical skills – It is the capability to simplify and analyze data to showcase problems or areas for improvement in a company’s operations.
Research skills – mainly estimate reports and documents to inform the analysis. Mark operations and interview employees and stakeholders to obtain valuable insights.
Organizational skills – Those who can collate and record big data and information. They must also be punctual and prioritize tasks effectively.
Problem-solving skills – Recognize the trouble within a company, then work on potential solutions derived from research and data.
Communication skills – Data analysts must exhibit powerful verbal and non-verbal communication skills. They may be asked to write reports, action plans, present insights clearly, attend meetings and make presentations.
Negotiation skills – Data analysts will land themselves in disagreements over the importance of taking specific business actions or making significant decisions. The data analyst is anticipated to negotiate and mediate with various groups and present their works to resolve disagreements.
3. Attain Work Experience
Work experience is crucial for becoming a data analyst and getting the first job. It is wise to get some work experience alongside your studies. It means finding part-time paid or intern work within a company or volunteering to help non-profit and charity organizations. It is also better to enrol in courses that include workshops where you work on real-life projects. It will enable you to focus on developing specific skills. SuperDataScience offers a range of practical workshops to boost your skills and work experience level.
How to Become a Data Analyst With no Experience
If you lack the experience and skills to become a data analyst but can’t afford the time or money to take a degree or obtain a professional certification, here’s how to become a data analyst. Follow the steps to gain the knowledge required to become a data analyst:
- Start with Self-Study
- Try Out Data Analytics Projects
- Create a Portfolio
- Apply for Internships and Jobs
Below are Some of the Types of Work That Qualify as Good Work Experience for a Data Analyst
- Analyze business data to identify cost-saving opportunities
- Evaluate IT systems, and highlight improvements
- Evaluate present business systems and conceive strategic plans
Make sure to create a robust portfolio of successful projects, no matter how big or small.
Data Analyst Responsibilities
The day-to-day activities of data analysts vary depending on where they work and what tools they use. Some data analysts prefer statistical software and Excel over programming languages. Some analysts perform regression analysis or create data visualizations, and experienced data analysts are sometimes referred to as “junior data scientists” or “data scientists in training.
In some cases, a data analyst/scientist might write queries or address standard requests in the morning, and then create custom solutions or experiment with relational databases, Hadoop, and NoSQL in the afternoon.
Conclusion
The position of a data analyst is quite lucrative and highly paid. If, however, you want to be a data analyst without prior experience, you should first perfect your data analysis basics, take on some data analysis projects, and build your profile. With some project-work experience and a few more qualifications, your data analyst resume would stand out and help you land your dream job.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Should I Learn to Become a Data Analyst?
Data analysts use a variety of tools regularly, including business intelligence software. Python, R, Excel, and Tableau are examples of programming languages and tools that offer statistical and visualization libraries, while creative and analytical thinking, communication, data warehousing, and data cleaning are other skills.
Is Coding Required to be a Data Analyst?
Some data analysts can program in programming languages, while others rely on analytics software or Excel to analyze data and provide insights. Whether or not programming is required for a data analyst generally depends on the job or employer. Before applying, it’s important to read the job description and consider your background.
Is Data Analyst a Good Career?
Learning to become a data analytics expert could be an excellent way to ensure that you’ll always have the opportunity to hold a high-paying job. Data analysts are in high demand in today’s digitally evolving landscape, with the job being rated among the highest growth in the United States.
Is it Hard to Become a Data Analyst?
Becoming a data analyst requires a certain set of skills, beginning with a solid understanding of computer science and a knack for using different types of data. The skills required to excel in a data analyst career are extremely technical, making this position a little more complicated than some other tech fields.
Can You Become a Data Analyst Without a Degree?
If you have a head for numbers and a passion for extracting insights from data, you may be thinking of how to become a data analyst. When pursuing a career in data analytics, a professional degree may be preferred, but is not always a given.
