How To Become A Data Analyst

If you enjoy working with numbers, solving using algorithms and solving puzzles, a career as a data analyst sounds like a perfect fit for you! Data analysts review data to identify key insights into a business’s customers and ways the data can be used to solve problems. You can find data analytics jobs in all sorts of industries, and there’s more than one path toward securing your first job in this high-demand field. Whether you’re just getting started in the professional world or pivoting to a new career, here are some steps toward becoming a data analyst.

Steps to Becoming a Data Analyst

1. Get a Foundational Education

If you’re new to the world of data analysis, you’ll want to start by developing some foundational knowledge in the field. Getting a broad overview of data analytics can help you decide whether this career is a good fit while equipping you with job-ready skills. It used to be that most entry-level data analyst positions required a bachelor’s degree. While many positions still do require a degree, that’s beginning to change. While you can develop foundational knowledge and enhance your resume with a degree in math, computer science, or another related field, you can also learn what you need through alternative programs, like professional certificate programs, boot camps, or self-study courses.

2. Build Your Technical Skills

Getting a job in data analysis typically requires having a set of specific technical skills. Whether you’re learning through a degree program, professional certificate, or on your own, these are some essential skills you’ll likely need to get hired.

1. Statistics
2. R or Python programming
3. SQL(Structured Query Language)
4. Data visualization
5. Data Cleaning and Preparation
6. Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Take a look at some job listings for roles you’d like to apply for, and focus your learning on the specific programming languages or visualization tools listed as requirements.

3. Work on Projects With Real Data

The best way to learn how to find value in data is to work with it in real world settings. You can find a variety of free public data sets you can use to design your own projects.

4. Create a Portfolio of Your Work

As you play around with data sets on the internet or complete hands-on assignments in your classes, be sure to save your best work for your portfolio. A portfolio demonstrates your skills to hiring managers. A strong portfolio can go a long way toward getting the job.

If you’ve worked on any group projects through the course of your learning, consider including one of those as well. This shows that you’re able to work as part of a team.

If you’re not sure what to include in your portfolio (or need some inspiration for project ideas), spend some time browsing through other people’s portfolios to see what they’ve chosen to include.

5. Practice Presenting Your Findings

The technical components of data analysis can easily take up all of your attention, but don’t undervalue your communication abilities. Presenting your findings to decision-makers and other company stakeholders is a crucial part of working as a data analyst. Making sense of the data might help you assist your company in making data-driven decisions.

Practice presenting your findings as you finish tasks for your portfolio. Consider the message you wish to deliver and the images you will use to bolster it. Practice maintaining eye contact and speaking carefully. Practice in front of your peers or the mirror. To see where you may make improvements, try recording your presentation so you can view it again.

6. Get an entry-level Or Internship Data Analyst Job

Once you have some experience analyzing data and presenting your conclusions, it’s time to update your resume and start applying to employment as an entry-level data analyst. It’s okay to apply for jobs for which you don’t feel fully qualified. In many cases, your abilities, portfolio, and excitement for the position will be more important than checking off every box on the requirements list.

Inquire about internship opportunities through the career services office of your university if you are still enrolled in classes. You may apply what you’re learning on the job and begin building real-world experience for your CV with an internship.

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