How to Become a Data Analyst

What is Data Analytics?

From a bird's eye view, the term “analyse” can mean scrutinizing something to derive useful information from it. Hence, data analytics can be defined as the process in which meaningful insights are drawn from raw data by scrutinizing it. Such insights can be your business information, product innovations, market trends, etc.

Data analytics can be compared to how you make a jigsaw puzzle. Your first step is to gather all the puzzle pieces and then fit them correctly to bring out the final picture. Similarly, in data analytics, you have to analyze data collected from several sources, clean it, and then transform it into information that humans can interpret. 

The collected data can be structured, semi-structured, or unstructured in nature. The final result can be visually represented as graphs and charts which provide precise results of the analysis. Several tools and frameworks are used in the analysis process. 

There is a high requirement for professionals who can help organizations convert raw data into meaningful information, which in turn can help the growth of the business. There are several job roles in the field of data analytics, and among the job pool, becoming a data analyst offers the most amazing career opportunities. So what’s next: understanding how to become a data analyst.

Who is a Data Analyst? 

A data analyst collects, processes, and performs analysis of large datasets. Every business, be it small or big, generates, and collects data. This data can be in the form of customer feedback, accounts, logistics, marketing research, and so on. 

A data analyst is a professional who takes this data and figures out numerous measures, such as how to improve customer experience, price new materials, and how to reduce transportation costs, to name a few. Data Analysts deal with data handling, data modelling, and reporting. 

And once you know who is a data analyst, it's paramount to know the roles and responsibilities of a data analyst.

Responsibilities of a Data Analyst

The data analyst designation comes with a bunch of roles and responsibilities. And the first step to becoming a data analyst in understanding the responsibilities of one! Some of the common and expected responsibilities of a data analyst are:

1. Understanding the Goal

First and foremost, a data analyst must identify the organization’s goal. They must assess the available resources, comprehend the business problem, and collect the right data.

2. Querying

Data analysts write complex SQL queries and scripts to gather, store, manipulate, and retrieve information from relational databases such as MS SQL Server, Oracle DB, and MySQL.

3. Data Mining

Data is mined from a plethora of sources and organized to obtain new details from it. By doing so, data models are built to increase the efficiency of the system.

4. Data Cleansing

Cleaning and data wrangling is the vital duties of a data analyst. The data gathered initially will often be messy and have missing values. Hence, it’s crucial to clean the collected data to make it ready for the analysis purpose.

5. Data Examining

Data analysts use analytical and statistical tools, including programming languages, for carrying out a logical examination of data.

6. Interpreting Data Trends

Data analysts use various packages and libraries to spot trends and patterns from complex datasets, thereby discovering unseen business insights.

7. Preparing Summary Reports

Data analysts prepare summary reports with the help of data visualization tools These reports guide the leadership team to make timely decisions. 

8. Collaborating with Other Teams

Data analysts interact with the management team, development team, and data scientists to ensure proper implementation of business requirements and figure out process improvement opportunities. 

And now that you’re well aware of the roles and responsibilities of a data analyst, you are ready to unlock the secret - how to become a data analyst.

Data Analyst Skills

To fulfill the responsibilities (mentioned above) a data analyst must possess a vast and rich skill set. From domain expertise to various tools, here’s all you need to become a data analyst.

1. Degree and Domain Expertise

You must hold a degree in any relevant field, and should have domain knowledge in the area you are working in. If you are from a different background but wish to become a data analyst, it is possible if you have the required skill set.

2. Knowledge of Programming

You should have hands-on experience with programming languages such as Python, R, and JavaScript. Writing programs will help you solve complex problems.

3. Knowledge of Data Analysis Tools

You should be experienced in working with databases and data analysis tools. You should be proficient in writing SQL queries and procedures, know Microsoft Excel, Matlab, and IBM SPSS to analyse trends and plan to drive accurate insights.

4. Understanding of Statistics and Machine Learning Algorithms

You must know concepts like probability distributions, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, and various classification and clustering techniques.

                                

5. Knowledge of Data Visualization Tools

A data analyst must be able to create different business reports using several data visualization tools. You should know to use tools like Tableau, QlikView, and Power BI. In addition to that, you must have good communication and presentation skills too. This will help you convey your ideas to stakeholders and clients.

Once you possess the skills mentioned above, you are a good fit to become a data analyst. Data analysts have a lot of scope in today's times, as companies are on the lookout for professionals who can efficiently and effectively handle their data.