When people think of a career in data analysis, they often imagine a person being given a ton of data and then, through the magic of “analysis,” creating strategies and providing insights that double the revenue of a business.
While that can happen, data analysis is a field that involves much more. There are many roles and responsibilities that may be different from what you might have expected. Some who go into the field end up disappointed to learn that a large part of the job involves data cleaning and dealing with unrealistic deadlines from clients.
However, the field can also be highly engaging if you know where you want to go and what you want to do. With that in mind, let’s explore three important tips that will help you get started on your data analyst journey.
Breaking Into the Data Analyst Field
An interesting trend that you may notice in a lot of modern careers is the shift of emphasis away from conventional education in the form of 4-year college degrees to a more skills-focused path.
One of the reasons for this is the rapid speed by which information, techniques, and approaches shift and change in the modern world. We live in a time of constantly changing variables, and by the time colleges come up with a comprehensive syllabus, the field has already moved on with new approaches to data analysis.
As a result, businesses looking for skilled data analysts won’t favor someone just because they have a college degree. What matters is if you actually possess the skills needed to get the job done.
This trend started developing as there are many who have never attended a single college lecture but manage to outdo graduates in terms of raw skills.
The realization that skilled individuals exist outside the college system led businesses to switch their approach. Many of them now focus on hiring the most skilled people out there and not just those with college degrees. Once you have learned the skill then, you can perform Data Analysis for Business as a Service.
This means that those wanting to go into the field of Data Analysis can manage perfectly fine by attending data analytics bootcamps. These are short-term courses that can range from a few weeks to several months.
Fullstack Academy offers data analytics boot camps that take you through how to use Microsoft Excel, SQL, Python, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). The boot camp also teaches you how to present, which is a critical skill to have as a data analyst
Refresh Your Communication Skills
If you thought data analytics was a field where you could batten down the hatches and work with numbers all day, then you are only partially correct. A significant part of your role will involve presenting and communicating your analysis to clients or team members.
We haven’t reached the age where people report to computers yet, so you can’t just rely on the numbers speaking for themselves. However, communication isn’t just about presenting. It also involves listening carefully to instructions, client expectations, and more.
In this field, you will often need to re-master the fundamentals of communication. Are you comfortable asking questions? Well, you will need to learn how to ask tough questions. Do you know how to listen? Do you listen to understand or listen just enough to respond?
Some clients might prefer brief reports with key points emphasized, and some clients want to hear the details. Do you have the ability to switch back and forth as needed for different clients? Have you ever considered what those skills might be and how to develop them?
These are all aspects that you would need to seriously improve if you felt unsure when answering any of the above questions. Remember that you may not be able to learn many of these skills in conventional ways. A lot of it is learned through real-life experience, so seek out opportunities wherever you can find them.
If Job Hunting, Build a Robust Portfolio
Think of this as your extended resume. Simply having a potential employer read out a list of your skills and experience is not that impressive anymore. Employers would prefer to see actual proof of skills.
Thankfully, it can be relatively simple to create a portfolio. You would first need to choose a focus area, which might depend on the type of job you are hoping to get.
For example, the focus area you choose might be tool-specific, such as Python or SQL, or it could be business or methodology focused. You have the freedom to decide this.
Next, you would need to collect and clean data that you can find via publicly available datasets or, better yet, create your own data through surveys. After cleaning the data, you would begin analyzing it to extract insights and create visualizations.
Once you have analyzed the data, create an engaging narrative that ties the insights and visualizations together. This step is as important as every step before it, so don’t treat it lightly.
If it all looks good, you will need to find a proper format to present your work. This can be a PDF document, a PowerPoint presentation, or even a YouTube video
Final Note
Breaking into the world of data analysis does require some preparation in order to be successful. From the way you learn the skills to the portfolio you create, you want to put in 100%.
Remember that every step of the way, quality is far more important than quantity. There is no point in creating an ambitious portfolio if it fails to impress an employer due to lackluster presentation or overlooked errors.
The internet holds a wealth of knowledge that can get you started with data analysis, so try to put in some time every day to better prepare yourself.