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It may seem obvious, but we can't emphasize it enough: a passion for numbers and statistics is really essential if you want to become a data analyst. But don't let this scare you too much. To become a data analyst, you don't necessarily have to be the new Einstein who can solve all kinds of difficult formulas. Even if you've never done anything with data, it's possible to make your retraining as a data analyst a success. The most important thing is that you enjoy working with numbers.
You probably see data in excel sheets during your work or training. What is your first reaction to this? Do you prefer to click on the cross because the numbers scare you or do the numbers immediately pique your interest and would you prefer to convert this data into useful information? If these numbers scare you, a career as a data analyst is probably not for you. Does the data actually make you curious? Then you would most likely do well to retrain to become a data analyst.
As a data analyst, you need to be able to work well together and communicate with different types of people with different backgrounds. Being communicative is almost as important as having an affinity for numbers. It's not enough to just have the technical know-how to interpret, analyse and visualise data. It is also extremely important that you, as a data analyst, have good communication skills. As a data analyst, if you are unable to effectively convey to colleagues how you came to a certain conclusion, no one will work with your advice. Of course, this is a waste of all the hours you've put into it. As a data analyst, you will therefore need to be able to substantiate your research results to your audience. In addition, you must of course also be able to motivate how your insights can improve certain processes.
What communication skills do you need to have as a data analyst? Well, among other things, you need to be able to present and convince well, be good at storytelling and be able to write down your findings in understandable language.
Without a doubt, we can tell you that programming is an essential skill for any future data analyst. If you can program, you have a better chance of getting a job as a data analyst. And this is not the only advantage. You can see programming as a data analyst's tool so that he/she is able to do magic. Programming data analysts are able to collect and analyze data faster, can make better data visualizations of difficult datasets, and are able to automate a lot of their work.
Of course, data analysts are not expected to master as many programming languages as full stack developers. HTML, CSS and javascript, for example, are not very useful. So which programming languages are important for data analysts? In almost all cases, mastering SQL is a must. You would also do well to be able to work with Python.
Problem solving is essentially the core of data analytics. If you want to become a data analyst, it's important that you enjoy taking on complex challenges. An important part of the role is that you can find out what data is needed when and what the most appropriate analysis method for the research question is. Suppose you don't have the right data 'yet'. Then it's up to you to find a way to still get this data and to then process this data properly.
If you enjoy solving all kinds of puzzles, you'll feel completely at home in the role as a data analyst.
As a data analyst, you will have to dive deep into the data to discover patterns and trends. A good data analyst is a type of detective who can make a story out of a lot of “still” meaningless data. You should be curious about the story behind all the data. In order to make a selection of relevant data and then arrive at a solution.
Have you found out that a job as a data analyst is right for you? Are you already looking forward to working with Data Analytics Tools, learning Python and creating your first data visualization? Beautiful! Then it's time to roll up your sleeves and get the skills you need to find a job as a data analyst.
Do you want to make sure you learn all the skills you need as a data analyst? Then sign up for the Data Analytics course with Python. After completing this course, you are ready to work as a Junior Data Analyst.
Would you like to delve a little more into data analytics first? Then follow our free webinar 'One Hour of Data Analytics'. Or take the course Data Analytics with Power BI where you learn how to gain valuable insights with the help of data analysis in Power BI.
