In the last few years, the meaning of data is completely changed. It didn't only mean a huge amount of details. But data means hidden insights for the companies. With lots of emails, videos, and text we share, every business, whether large or small, needs a person that can make sense of and gather insights from the data.
The person responsible for making sense of data is called a data analyst. So if you're interested to know what is data analysis and how to become a data analyst, this detailed blog will help you to know about the skills required, roles & responsibilities of data analysis, necessary tools, and much more. Let's start with the basics and see what is data analysis.
What Is Data Analysis?
Data analysis is the strategic process that involves cleaning, filtering, classifying, and transforming the data to get actionable insights for the business and decision-making process. The process of data analysis is performed by every individual on small levels in their day-to-day life. For example, an aspirant preparing for the exams analyzes past question paper patterns and decides which portion of the syllabus is of utmost importance.
Let's quickly see the process of data analysis that is used by the businesses:
Identification: The first step is the identification of a problem or a query. What questions are needed to be answered?
Collection: The next step is collecting the relevant data that is related to the problem. The data can be collected from internal and external sources.
Cleaning: As all the data collected will not be relevant and needed, the next step involves cleaning the data.
Analyze: Next comes analyzing of data using a variety of tools by the data analyst to come to possible outcomes.
Interpret: The next and last step is making an evaluation and recommendation regarding the problem of the business.
Let's see the next part of our blog, which is the data analyst job description: roles and responsibilities.
What Does A Data Analyst Do?
The person that performs the process of data analysis is titled a data analyst. The data analyst is responsible for collaborating and teaming up with the business leaders and decision-makers, showing them the data results, and recommending solutions to them. Well, it might sound simple, but being a data analyst is very responsible work. So, let's see what a data analyst does in detail.
Data Analyst Responsibilities
Creating and maintaining databases and data systems, which includes resolving coding issues and other data-related issues. Reorganizing the data after it has been mined from primary and secondary sources so that it can be read by humans and machines.
Applying statistical methods to analyze data sets, giving particular attention to trends and patterns that could be beneficial for the organization. Creating executive leadership reports that use suitable data to communicate trends, patterns, and projections. Collaborating with programmers, engineers, and corporate leaders to find process improvement possibilities, suggest system changes, and create data governance policies.
These were some of the roles and responsibilities of a data analyst. We hope that your question about what does a data analyst do is answered. Other such responsibilities of a data analyst depend upon the type. Yes, you read it right. There are different types of data analysis. Let's see them quickly.
Types Of Data Analysts
Knowing how to gather, classify, and analyze data has turned into a key component of practically any sector due to the rapid expansion of the types and quantities of data we can collect as a result of increasing technology. Different industries like fashion, food, and manufacturing. Technology, etc., all employ data analysts. Some of the common titles of data analyst that you'll see are:
Business Analyst
Market Research Analyst
Intelligence Analyst, etc.
Now that you know so much about data analysis and the data analyst job description, you might wonder how to become a data analyst. Worry not; this is exactly what we're going to cover in our next topic.
Data Analyst Skills Required
Making sure you have a solid foundation in math, technology, business intelligence, data mining, and statistics is the first step in becoming a data analyst. Also, you must have a few data analytics abilities that are both technical and non-technical.
Let's start by seeing what technical skills are required for the field.
Analytical skills
As the name suggests, it is obvious that data analytics expertise is crucial for data analysis. These data analytics abilities refer to the capacity to compile, view, and thoroughly analyze all types of information. They also refer to the capacity to approach a problem or circumstance from various angles.
Programming languages
The most popular statistical languages are R and Python. They make it simple and rapid to study big data collection. Moreover, enhanced and predictive analytics employ them. For you to be a serious candidate for a career as a data analyst, you must be proficient in at least one of these computer languages. You can learn these languages by enrolling in a variety of certification courses. Moreover, certifications enhance your resume and show potential employers how dedicated you are.
Cleaning the data
An important aspect of a data analyst's job is data cleansing. Data from various sources must be retrieved and then prepared for analysis. Data may be inaccurate, make errors, missing fields, or be in a variety of formats. The data needs to be corrected before any insightful analysis can be performed.
Apart from these, few non-technical skills are required for the position; let's see that too:
Communication skills
Your ability to communicate well is a requirement of the data analytics job. To absorb new knowledge, you must be able to lead meetings, make the appropriate requests, and engage in active listening. Your ability to communicate should span a variety of digital channels, including the Internet, conference calls, and SMS, among others.
Critical thinking
Looking at data isn't enough; you also need to comprehend it and consider its implications in light of more than just the statistics. When you can think critically, you can analyze data, spot trends, and draw out knowledge and ideas that can be put to use. You have to put in extra effort and commit yourself to think rather than just processing.
Problem-solving
In your position as a data analyst, issues, defects, and obstacles will be present all the time. Due to this, effective problem-solving is essential. You must be quick and creative in your thinking. Recruiters frequently ask interview questions about problem-solving because it is a crucial talent. They can ask you, for instance, from the past when you had to find a solution.
Along with the above-mentioned skills, there are a few tools that data analysts work with. Let's have a look at what these tools are:
What Tools Do Data Analysts Use?
Data analysis tools examine datasets, carry out calculations, and provide data insights. These technologies are used by data analysts to efficiently examine large datasets and derive insights. Let's find out what they are.
Python
You can use Python as a tool for data analysis by using it as a programming language. The built-in tools provided by Python make it simple for users to identify trends, gather data, and assess performance. Python may also be a simple programming language to pick up, making it a good option for people who want to start doing data analysis right away.
Tableau
Any dataset you can think of can be connected with Tableau Public, a free tool. Microsoft Excel, corporate Data Warehouse, or web-based data all qualify. Additionally, it develops data visualizations, maps, dashboards, etc., all of which are provided online in real-time. They may also be communicated to your client or posted on social media.
Microsoft Excel
Excel is used by many companies as a tool for data analysis since it is easily accessible. Individual users can download and utilize the software with ease as well. Data organization is made simple by Excel's spreadsheet design.
There are various tools available, but the tool you select to perform a particular task makes a difference. While choosing a tool, keep in mind the type of data you will be using. Certain tools function better with some types of datasets than others. Consider a program made to quickly analyze big batches of data, for instance, if you're working with a really large dataset.
After knowing so much about the field and job, one might want to start a career in the field. But, I assume, you're still wondering what the career benefits of the field are. How much salary do the data analysts earn, and much more? All these questions will be covered in our next and last topic of the guide.
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Data Analyst Salary: How Much Does a Data Analyst Make?
One of the most looked career paths and among the highest-paid individuals in the IT sector is a data analyst. Companies generate a lot of data every day. Thus there are many career chances for these experts in this field. Due to high demand, data analyst salary is also on the rise and you might wonder how much do data analysts make. The average pay for a data analyst in India is Rs 4,64,928 a year, according to PayScale. The salary, however, can vary for several factors, as was previously mentioned. The factors could include expertise in the field, skill level, and a variety of other factors.
Conclusion
According to Forbes, the career in this field is only going to rise high. The demands for the professionals in the field will be more compared to the available skilled professions. Now that the subject "What is data analysis?" has been addressed, if you're interested in a career in data analytics and want to know about a data analyst job, you should first look into what it takes to become a data analyst. You should continue by enrolling in specific data analytics courses.
