Am I a Good Fit for a Career as a Data Analyst?

 So you’re thinking about becoming a data analyst—but is it the right career path for you?

It's widely predicted that data analysts will be one of the most sought-after digital talents in 2020, and employers will be willing to pay a premium for them. Since a career in data offers good opportunities for advancement, it's no wonder that an increasing number of people are considering making the move. It's important to remember, though, that a career shift isn't only about money and stability; you also want to be sure you'll enjoy your new position.

So what does it take to thrive in this burgeoning industry? How do you really know if it’s the right career for you? Before you drop everything and commit to a career change, there are some key questions you need to ask yourself. In this post, we’ll help you figure out if you’ve got what it takes to become a data analyst—and, perhaps more importantly, whether a career in data aligns with your own goals and aspirations.

1. What does a data analyst do?

The first step toward deciding if you’re well-suited to a career in data analytics is to understand exactly what the role entails. You’ll find a comprehensive introduction to data analytics and the data analyst role in this guide, but we’ll cover it briefly here, too.  Watch this video for an introduction to data analytics, and keep reading to learn more about the specifics of the role.

In a nutshell, data analysts analyze raw data in order to draw out meaningful insights. They then turn these insights into actionable recommendations, enabling the company they work for to make smarter business decisions. As a data analyst, you can expect to do the following:

Develop, implement, and maintain databases on an ongoing basis.

Collaborate with key business stakeholders to identify specific business challenges which need to be solved.

Collect and organize raw data from internal sources (such as CRM databases) and, where necessary, from external open data sources (for example, government portals and tools such as Google Trends).

Clean the raw data and prime it for analysis.

Analyze large datasets using the most appropriate technique. You can learn more about the different types of data analysis here.

Interpret your findings, turn them into visualizations (such as graphs and charts), share them with key stakeholders, and advise on strategies and actions for the future.

As you can see, the role of the data analyst relies heavily on statistical analysis, problem-solving, and communication, so you’ll need to be comfortable with each of these elements. We’ll take a closer look at the necessary skills and qualities of a data analyst in the sections that follow.

At this stage, it’s also important to distinguish the role of the data analyst from that of the data scientist; although they’re often used interchangeably, they are two separate career paths. If you’re not quite sure where one ends and the other begins, we’ve written in detail about the difference between a data analyst and a data scientist here.

2. Are you a good fit for a career as a data analyst?

When considering a new career path, it’s important to think about your innate qualities and intrinsic motivators. Aside from external rewards such as salary, what drives you to reach your full potential? Is data analytics a field that will tap into your natural talents and leave you feeling satisfied at the end of each day? Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Are you naturally curious and inquisitive?

The role of a data analyst is to delve deep into data and seek out patterns and trends. It’s not just about crunching numbers; a good data analyst is like a detective, piecing the story together and figuring out the meaning behind the data. A natural curiosity should drive you to get to know the business and its various challenges—and to find answers.

2. Do you have an analytical mindset and a logical approach to your work?

All of us rely on both intuitive and analytical thinking, but some of us lean more towards the analytical side when it comes to working and problem-solving. If you’re an analytical thinker, you’re more likely to draw conclusions based on facts and information (data!) as opposed to gut feeling or intuition. Do you look carefully at the evidence before taking action? Do you tend to work methodically from A to Z, questioning everything rather than making assumptions? Are you hungry for information when solving a new challenge? If so, it sounds like you have an analytical mind—and an excellent asset for a data analyst!

3. Are you a keen problem-solver?

Problem-solving is at the very core of data analytics, so it’s essential that you enjoy tackling complex challenges. A key part of the role is knowing what data is required for a given problem and determining the most suitable method of analysis. If you don’t have the necessary data to hand in, you’ll also need to figure out where and how to get hold of it—a problem-solving exercise in itself. If you relish the thought of solving all different kinds of challenges, you’ll find yourself quite at home in this role.

4. Are you interested in business strategy?

Data analysts bring immense value to organizations by showing them how data can be used to make smarter decisions and optimize certain processes. To really excel in this role, it’s essential not only to get hands-on with data but also to bridge the gap between the numbers and the real-world implications for the business. If you’re interested in how businesses operate and enjoy working closely with key stakeholders, you’re well-positioned to occupy that crucial space between data and business strategy.

5. Do you have an affinity for numbers and statistics?

It may seem obvious, but it would be remiss not to mention that a passion for numbers and statistics is absolutely essential. You don’t necessarily need to be an expert mathematician to make it as a data analyst—all the key tools and techniques can certainly be learned from scratch. However, it is important that you enjoy working with numbers. If your first instinct is to run for the hills when presented with a spreadsheet, a career in data analytics might not be for you. If, on the other hand, you’re not afraid to get to grips with complex analysis, you’re right to be considering a future in the field.

A competitive salary

Based on data submitted by over 5,000 data analysts in the United States, the average base salary for a data analyst is around $75,000 USD per year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for workers in the United States in the first quarter of 2020 was $49,764 per year. So, a career as a data analyst could see you earning a well-above-average salary.

Not only that: Data analysts can expect strong salary growth as they accrue more experience in the field. Analysts with less than one year of experience earn, on average, $70,229 USD per year, while those with more than ten years of experience report an average yearly salary of $87,714 USD.

Check out Syntax for more information about data analytics-powered education, certification, and career opportunities. Syntax technologies offer certification in data analytics courses, such as a business intelligence Certification Course and many more. Enroll now to boost your data analytics career!