Data Analyst as a Career
Description of the Job
Data Analysts record, investigate, and employ data to attain essential resolutions. The work they do varies depending on the data utilized, client specifications, and the research field. Companies can use the insights reached by Data Analysts to identify strengths and weaknesses and other information that can help them improve.
Data Analysts can expect to spend their time developing systems for collecting data and compiling their findings into reports that can help improve their company. They can be involved in any part of the analysis process. In a data analyst role, you could be included in everything from setting up an analytics system to providing insights based on the data you collect.
Fast Facts
- Number of hours per weekBetween 40-60, depends on company & role
- Average starting pay$69k Nationally, $95k in the Bay Area
- Amount of travel requiredUsually no travel
Roles & Responsibilities
- Establish data-collecting infrastructure with the assistance of software or web developers.
- Collect and clarify large data sets for analysis.
- Identify and record trends or patterns in data.
- Produces data-driven reports to aid decision-making.
- Present findings using visualization tools, such as graphs or reports.
- Collaborate with various departments and provide them invaluable information.
Skills Needed
- Moderate Computer Science Knowledge: Data Analysts should have a moderate knowledge of computer science, specifically an understanding of SQL and R or Python.
- SQL helps Data Analysts manage and store data, which is used consistently in Data Analysts' everyday work
- Data Analysts can use R or Python to simplify their work, as these languages can perform advanced analyses.
- Critical Thinking Skills: Data Analysts must be able to understand the meaning behind the data they collect. Having critical thinking skills will enable a Data Analyst to recognize and define trends and crucial data.
- Basic Presentation Skills: Data Analysts are expected to share their analyses, and therefore should have basic presentation skills.
- Moderate Communication Skills: Data Analysts work closely with members of other departments and must be able to convey their research to members of those departments. Miscommunications or misunderstandings may be costly, so they must be able to articulate their findings properly.
- Strong Attention to Detail: Data is exact, and one mistake could disrupt the data set. Data Analysts should notice small details, which allow them to take every variable into account and catch any errors.
- Strong Operational Knowledge: Data Analysts often need to compile reports and present their findings. Therefore knowledge of presentation tools such as Microsoft Powerpoint will be crucial. A thorough understanding of tools like excel is also a must for data analysts.
Steps to Enter The Field
- A Bachelor’s Degree is recommended to become a Data Analyst. Common majors for this field include mathematics, computer science, computer engineering, and statistics.
- A Master’s degree in one of the above fields can also be extremely beneficial for Data Analysts. Entry level data analysis internships are also highly recommended for prospective Data Analysts.
- Universities may have clubs related to data analysis, which can help one to learn skills and complete projects that can help get a job as a data analyst.
- Building a portfolio of small projects can be a great way to stand out when applying for a Data Analyst position. These projects should utilize data collection or skills specifically related to data analysis.
- Build a strong understanding of Excel, programming languages (SQL, R, Python, etc.), and statistics to increase chances of landing a role as a data analyst
- Some sites to improve ones programming skills include Udemy, Coursera, Codecademy, DataCamp, and other learning platforms.
- It may also be beneficial to receive a certification, such as an aCAP or CCA. A list of other respected certifications can be found here.
Landscape of the Field & Companies in the Field
- Top players in the industry include large technology companies, such as IBM, Oracle, Amazon, Google and Microsoft.
- Other major players in the industry include Xplenty, Indium Software, Sumatosoft, and iTechArt.
- Many companies have Data Analysts in their IT department. Even companies that do not specialize in the collection of large data may still need data analysts. Banks, entertainment companies, and government agencies are examples of companies that may hire data analysts.
External Resources to Learn More & Develop Skills
- Codecademy: an online interactive platform that offers free coding classes in 12 different programming languages including Python, Java, Go, JavaScript, Ruby, SQL, C++, C#, Swift, and Sass, as well as markup languages HTML and CSS
- Simplilearn: A website containing a plethora of available opportunities for prospective Data Analysts. Some examples include post-graduate programs, master’s courses, and certification courses.
- Meetup: A website that displays various groups related to Data Analytics. There are communities all over the world, all interested in sharing their stories and knowledge. It also contains groups for other similarly related topics, such as machine learning, data visualization, and data science.
- Data Science Central: An online blog covering various topics, ranging from big data to data visualization to job opportunities. Experts from the data science industry contribute their stories and advice on how to succeed in the field.
- No Free Hunch: The blog of the data science website, Kaggle. They often host data science competitions, as well as providing various projects. Winners of competitions are occasionally offered interview opportunities through Kaggle, where they ask them to detail their processes.