How to become a Data Analyst

Every business collects data - this could be on their target audience, performance, or marketing success. A data analyst uses this data to unearth how the company can grow and improve.

Data analysts gather and present information about a business. This could be data about anything: the spending habits of customers, the costs of transportation, or the increase of profits year on year. Similarly, the data could be used for any purpose to help the business run and develop. Data analyst’s findings could assist the business when working out how many new staff they need to hire, if they need to order more stock or whether they should change their opening hours. 

A data analyst’s role is thus very important; it is often the main factor in business decisions that could significantly impact how it runs. There are four types of analytics that data analysts will work with: descriptive (talking about what happened in the business), diagnostic (discussing why something happened), predictive (talking about what is likely to happen) and prescriptive (discussing what should be done). Analytics from the past will detail the answers to these questions; it is up to a data analyst to work out what they mean. 

A data analyst job description: 

• Collecting data using various web programmes.
• Pooling together data and looking at it from an objective perspective. 
• Looking for trends and patterns which can help plan for the future.
• Producing reports detailing the findings of the analysis – these need to be understood by people who are not into data. 
• Presenting to people from other departments – including the marketing, sales and customer service teams – as well as people in managerial roles. 

Data analyst education requirements are generally a minimum of a degree in maths, statistics, computer science or a related field. Advanced jobs need a masters degree in a similar subject. It is possible to apply to graduate jobs after gaining an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, although it takes a while to work up to the more senior positions. 

Excellent maths knowledge is obviously essential, but so are written and presentation skills; data analysts turn numbers into words, so aptitude for both is essential! It’s also important to have critical thinking and attention to detail, as well as being someone who is highly competent when it comes to technology.

Data analysts can work in many industries; candidates wondering how to become a data analyst would benefit from having some background knowledge of their particular industry. Analysts can work across the industry that they have chosen, or in a specific niche.