What is a Data Analysis?
Data analysis is known to be a process where we glean several insights from data to make better business decisions. This process of analyzing data usually involves five iterative phases.
- The first step is to identify the data you wish to analyze.
- The next step involves collecting the data.
- Then you have to clean the data before analysis.
- After that, you analyze the data.
- Finally, you interpret the results of the analysis.
Who is a Data Analyst?
Data analysts in this matter are the ones who have to collect, organize, and interpret the different statistical information and help the organization make better decisions from it.
Key Responsibilities of Data Analyst:
A Data Analyst has a lot on his plate all the time and below we have listed down some of the tasks he does;
- Extract Data: He has to extract data from both primary and secondary sources using automated tools.
- Removes Corrupted Data: He has to fix all coding errors and remove corrupted data and solve all the relevant problems.
- Maintain Databases: It is a data analyst’s job to not only develop but maintain databases, data systems, and reorganize data in a readable format.
- Filter Data: He has to filter data by reviewing reports and use performance indicators for identifying and correcting code problems.
- Use Statistical Tools: He is required to identify, analyze, and interpret patterns by using statistical tools.
- Assess Business Performance: He has to assess the business performance by assigning a numerical value to essential business functions.
Other important Responsibilities include;
- Analyzing local and national trends that put an impact on organizations and industry as well.
- He has to prepare reports for managing trends, patterns, and predictions by using relevant data.
- Similarly, it is his job to prepare final analysis reports for stakeholders.
Required Qualification/Education:
A Bachelor’s degree in data analytics is a simple requirement to become. But know that not all universities offer this degree. So there has to be another way to land a job in data analytics right? Below you can find some alternative degrees that also teach data analysis skills. These are degrees in;
- Data Science
- Applied Mathematics or Statistics
- A Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Computer Science
- Finance or Economics
- Management Information Systems
Recommended Courses:
Data Analytics Professional Certificate
- Google via Coursera
- 6 months (10 hours weekly) of effort required
- 786,814+ students enrolled
- ★★★★★ (55,669 Ratings)
Data Analysis for life Sciences
- Harvard University via edX
- 4 Months (2-4 hours weekly) of effort required
- 4 Skills-building courses
- ★★★★★
IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate
- IBM via Coursera
- 11 Months (3 hours weekly) of effort required
- 64,369+ already enrolled!
- ★★★★★ (7,521 ratings)
What makes you qualified for this job?
Want to know what makes you qualified for this job? Well, to be able to become a successful data analyst, you need to possess both technical and hard/soft skills.
You need a strong background in subjects like;
- Mathematics
- Statistics
- Information Management
- Computer Science
- Economics
If you have a strong background in either of the above subjects then this can serve as a solid foundation to help build your career as a data analyst.
With that, there are some hard skills required like becoming proficient at;
- Structured Query Language (SQL)
- Predictive Modeling
- Microsoft Excel
- Building Data Sets
- Machine Learning Algorithms
- Decision-making
- Machine Learning Models
- Knowhow of Python and other Programming Languages
- Data Optimization
- Regression Analysis
And many others. And then there come some general skills which are also demanded;
- A very strong level of mathematical ability is required.
- A very good understanding of the ethics of gathering and working data is a must.
- Similarly, the ability to not only analyze but model and interpret data is very important.
- You need to possess written and verbal communication skills.
- Similarly, problem-solving skills are also required.
- Accuracy and attention to detail add value.
- Interpersonal and team working skills are also valued.
So this was a very brief breakdown of the different skills that are demanded and play a very important part in making a successful career as a data analyst.
General Desired Skills:
- A very strong level of mathematical ability is required.
- A very good understanding of the ethics of gathering and working data is a must.
- Similarly, the ability to not only analyze but model and interpret data is very important.
- You need to possess written and verbal communication skills.
- Similarly, problem-solving skills are also required.
- Accuracy and attention to detail add value.
- Interpersonal and team working skills are also valued.
Data Analysis and Fundamental Statistics
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- Coventry University via Futurelearn
- 475+ already enrolled!
- 4 weeks (4 hours / week) of effort required!
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In-demand Certifications:
Want to know some of the very best data analyst certifications you can take? Below are the names that can be of good help;
- Tableau Certified Data Analyst
- CompTIA Data+
- Cloudera Certified Associate Data Analyst
- Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate
- Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)
Top Companies/Organizations Hiring Data Analyst
If you are a skilled data analyst then know that you are among some of the most sought-after professionals in the world. Sadly the number of people who can truly do this job is very limited and this can turn out to be a great opportunity for you in terms of salary and perks.
Top companies like Bloomberg, Capital One, Accenture, IBM, IBEX Global, Google, Cisco Systems, and Amazon etc. are most likely to hire data analysts at a very high pay scale.
Similarly, many popular industries like business intelligence, finance, sharing economy services, entertainment, and healthcare etc. are hiring data analyst every day.
Data Analyst Roadmap
We have developed a comprehensive roadmap to become a data analyst. It’s a step by step guide that helps learners of any skill level (Entry-level, Mid-career or Senior-level) to start and become a successful data analyst. Data analyst roadmap discusses about skills required at each level with resources to gain those skills.
Data Analyst Salary Statistics
Below table summarizes the average annual salary of a data analyst in five different countries. Further salary details are also available as per glassdoor.
| Country | Average Salary (Yearly) |
| United States | $80,109 |
| Canada | CA$70,175 |
| United Kingdom | £38,123 |
| Australia | ₹672,500 |
| India | A$95,500 |
USA:
The average annual salary of a data analyst working in the United States is around $80,109.
Canada:
If you are working as a data analyst in Canada, then you can expect to make an average annual salary of CA$70,175.
UK:
In United Kingdom, data analysts can make an average annual salary of £38,123.
India:
In India, data analysts can make around ₹672,500 per year.
Australia:
Working as a data analyst in Australia can help you make around A$95,500 per year.
Data Analyst Vs Data Scientist:
Even though both Data Analyst and Data Scientist work with data, yet their job description is quite different from one another.
| Data Analyst | Data Scientist |
| Data Analyst examines large data sets for identifying trends and develop charts. He creates visual presentations for helping the business make more strategic decisions. | On the other hand, Data Scientist designs and constructs new processes for data modeling and production by using prototypes, algorithms, predictive models, and custom analysis. |
Data Analyst FAQs
How long does it take to become a data analyst?
It can take as little as six months to as long as 4 years or even more depending on the type of skills you plan to gain. You can become a data analyst in six months and many career paths are ahead of you with this skill set. Then there is the option of gaining a proper 4 years bachelor’s degree of full-time study that will give you an edge over all those who don’t have one. But yes, the shortest way to become a data analyst is through self-study or enrolling in a boot camp or different online courses that allow you to study at your own ease and pace. At takethiscourse.net you can find the best data analyst courses.
What degree do you need to be a data analyst?
If you want to become a data analyst through a proper channel then you need a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. That can either be in statistics, mathematics, computer science, or other relevant ones.
Do data analysts code?
Not particularly as coding is not in the job requirement of a data analyst. But there might be some organizations that can ask data analysts to also code as part of their day-to-day work. But this would be a very rare case. Generally, data analysts don’t need to code.
What to study to become a data analyst?
- First, you need a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis on statistical and analytical skills. This includes majors in Math or Computer Science.
- Then you need to develop important data analytical skills. For this purpose, you can always enroll in an online course of different levels. (Find one for yourself by clicking here) link to our site.
- You can also go for certification as it is mostly preferred by employers.
- Drop your CVs in both small and large-scale organizations and wait.
- Gain some work experience and then further your career by earning a Master’s degree in data analytics.
- Keep updating your knowledge and skills by enrolling in different data analytics courses from time to time. Below you can find some very suitable courses to learn from:
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- Learn SQL basics for Data Analysis
- SQL: Data Reporting and Analysis
- Advanced Relational Database and SQL
- The Advanced SQL Course
- Databases: Advanced Topics in SQL
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Concluding Remarks:
Working as a data analyst can be a rewarding career only if you work hard enough to get the required degree and the skills to become the best. The above article has almost everything you need to know about a data analyst and what the requirements are.
References/Sources:
- https://www.glassdoor.com
- https://www.northeastern.edu
- https://targetjobs.co.uk
- Please note that published salary stats are as of September, 2023.
