How To Become a Data Analyst

Data analytics is a growing field, with modern businesses increasingly having a demand for those who are experienced and educated in collecting and analyzing data. This is particularly true of tech companies, where a high level of competition means accurate analytics can be extremely valuable. However, a growing number of industries are now seeking qualified data analysts who can help lead the organization to consistent success through data-driven decision-making.

If you’d like to become a data analyst, there are a lot of options available to you. Luckily, it’s now easier than ever to find courses and become a qualified analyst, but it will still take a lot of hard work. Many well-respected schools and universities offer online courses, which are ideal if you prefer a more flexible approach to learning. A data analysis course will give you the necessary skills you need to succeed in your career, although there are other ways to get started too. Here’s a full guide to becoming a data analyst.

Skills Needed To Become a Data Analyst

Practical skills are the most important part of data analytics, and you’ll need to have the right skills to get started. A lot of these skills can be gained through formal education, but you can also learn them through practice and self-study. Before gaining a job in the field, you’ll need to be able to prove that you have these skills, which is why a degree is so useful. However, having a portfolio of work can also help.

Programming skills, particularly in languages such as R, SAS, and Python, are some of the most important skills for data analysts to have. These are necessary for anyone looking to start a career in this field, so studying them is crucial. They’re useful for gathering data, as well as cleaning, analysis, and visualization. Other programming languages that can be useful include database querying languages.

Different job titles and roles will have different skill requirements. Therefore, you should look at available jobs before you start studying. Take a look at the common skills required for most data analyst roles, and then make sure you learn these skills fully. Aside from technical skills, soft skills are also important. These can include communication, problem-solving, and general knowledge of the industry.

Building a Portfolio

One of the best ways to get hired as a data analyst is by building a strong portfolio of your work. Educating yourself and learning the right skills is one thing, but you need to show potential employers what you’re capable of, too. You can work on your own personal projects, using real-world data to analyze certain situations and can come to conclusions.

You can find plenty of free data online. Just be sure to pick a topic that interests you. For example, if you’d like to work in the tech industry, you can find data on tech usage. If you want to be a sports data analyst, find some sports data to build your portfolio with. Your chosen project should ideally show off all of your skills, particularly those that are relevant to the job you want. This includes being able to collect and scrape data, clean it, and visualize it.

Most importantly, it also includes being able to draw conclusions from the data. These projects can be worked on during your time in university, as part of a group, or by yourself. Finally, you’ll want to practice presenting your findings from the data. Being able to draw conclusions from data is important, but you should also be able to present these conclusions to decision makers within the organization you work.