Data analysts gather data, clean it, and study it to help businesses make informed decisions. As the business world becomes more reliant on data, a data analyst will remain a marketable course into the foreseeable future. If you wish to join this field, there are a number of ways as discussed below.

Before you start training to be a data analyst, it is good to check what tasks professionals in this field do in various disciplines. Additionally, you must be comfortable with numbers and have an eye for accuracy. Here are easy ways to start your career in data analysis.

Foundational Education

If you are new in the world of data analysis, it is important to start by developing foundational knowledge in this area. You get a broad overview of the course so that you are sure you have job-ready skills or are a good fit.

Some analyst positions require you to hold a bachelor’s degree. However, things have started to change. You can enhance your resume with data analysis qualifications if you hold a degree in a related science field like computer science, statistics, or math. Otherwise, you can also learn similar skills through alternative methods such as bootcamps, self-study courses, and professional certificates. You can also take one of the fully packaged courses to become a data analyst that carry all these essential skills.

Building Technical Skills

You need to have a number of technical skills so that you can undertake a data analyst job with ease. You can learn these skills through any of the programs that we have listed above. These essential skills include the following: Python or R programming, statistics, Structured Query Language (SQL), data visualization, cleaning, and preparation.

A good way to know what skills you need to have is to look at the adverts looking for a data analyst. Most recruiters will list the technical skills and the roles these analysts will undertake along with the soft skills required for the position. Some of the soft skills required include problem-solving, communication, interpersonal skills, and the ability to work with minimal supervision.

Why the Technical Skills

Each technical skill helps you understand an important facet in data management. Let’s break down the most important ones.

Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets: These two spreadsheet software options will be critical for functions like data manipulation, analysis, and visualization. As a data analyst, these will be the primary software to work with.

Python: Python libraries like NumPy, pandas, and Matplotlib are commonly used in various data analysis tasks and machine learning. You need to understand them before you can analyze any data.

R: This programming language is specifically designed for statistical analysis and data visualization. It offers specific capabilities to analyze data and get specific information from jumbled information.

Data Visualization: Data visualization is the task of actually presenting information in a way that it is easy to understand, shows connections between various variables, and is easy to interpret. There are two major data visualization tools, namely, Tableau and Power BI. However, you may meet several other programs that do the same thing out there, but their functionality is quite similar.

SQL: This is a data management language that helps with querying and managing data in relational databases. It is the most-used language in databases.

Gain Practical Experience

Before you can land your first job, you need to have worked with data and gotten the desired results. Fortunately, there are many opportunities out there that offer practical experience.

At the very start, you may help with analyzing a friend’s business data for a positive recommendation. There are also organizations out there looking for volunteers in the area. When you are confident with your skills, you may apply for a freelance data analysis task on various platforms like Upwork, People Per Hour, and Fiverr. You may also check if there are organizations in your vicinity that are offering internship opportunities.

Another interesting avenue to gain experience is working on data analysis projects in online coursework and challenges. You can find such datasets on platforms like Kaggle. Use them extensively to hone your skills.

Get Certified

If you wish to enhance your data analysis skills and stand out among other analysts, consider one of the many certifications out there. The good thing is that some of the certifications are free. Here are the popular ones:

Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate: This certification is offered by Google. It provides foundational data analysis skills, which include data visualization, analysis, and the ability to use such tools as Google Analytics and SQL.

IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate: This certification is offered by IBM and looks at such aspects of data analysis as analysis skills, visualization, and machine learning. This certificate also shows that you are good at tools like Jupyter Notebook, Python, and SQL.

Other popular certifications include Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate, SAS Statistical Business Analyst Professional Certificate, Certified Analytics Professional (CAP), and CompTIA Data+. Strive to have as many certifications as possible as time goes by.

Finally, like any other career, data analysis is a dynamic field. To be at the top of the game, you need to continue elevating your skills and practicing with different types of data. This field has so much potential, and you can get started at any point in life.