What skills do you need in order to become a data analyst?

Now we're getting down to the nitty-gritty of what it takes to be a data analyst. We'll go over some of the major hard and soft talents that employers seek when recruiting data analysts in this section. We've also included a list of tools and languages that data analysts may use. Although not all of these skills and tools are required for every data analyst position, we've selected those that are regularly mentioned in job descriptions.

Data analyst soft skills

  • Communication, collaboration, and presentation skills
  • Problem-solving
  • Research
  • Attention to detail
  • An analytical mindset
  • An affinity for numbers
  • Good organizational skills and an ability to meet deadlines
  • Some commercial knowledge or business acumen
  • A methodical and logical approach

A data analyst's hard skills and tools

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel
  • Knowledge of programming and querying languages such as SQL, Oracle, and Python
  • Proficiency in business intelligence and analytics software, such as Tableau, SAS, and RapidMiner
  • The ability to mine, analyze, model, and interpret data
  • The ability to work with large, complex datasets
  • Solid understanding of data profiling and requirement gathering processes and principles
  • Expertise in data visualization
  • The ability to communicate findings and to make actionable recommendations for the business
  • The ability to deploy commercially viable statistical models

Technical skills employers want from data analysts:

  • SQL
  • Tableau®
  • Data warehousing
  • Python®
  • SAS®
  • Microsoft Power BI®
  • Project management
  • Extraction Transformation and Loading (ETL)
  • Oracle® Database
  • Data mining
  • Data modeling

It’s important to note that data analysts can work in pretty much any sector—from finance to healthcare to marketing and beyond. Most organizations gather raw data and hire analysts to turn it into actionable insights. This means that, in addition to the core skills outlined above, each company will come with its own unique set of requirements. You’ll get a good idea of the kinds of companies hiring data analysts and what they’re looking for simply by browsing through job ads. We recommend searching “data analyst” on sites like Indeed and LinkedIn. And, for a more in-depth look at the skills you’ll need as a data analyst (and why they’re so important), have a read this guide: What are the key skills every data analyst needs?

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A TYPICAL JOB DESCRIPTION FOR A DATA ANALYST

Understanding The Differences Between Data Analytics, Big Data, And Data Science

Examples of Big Data's Advantages in Different Fields