There’s no denying that data is the new gold. With the rise in technology, collection of useful data has become possible. But what’s the best way to collect this data? How do organisations make sense of it? This is where a Data Analyst steps in. A Data Analyst doesn’t only collect the data but also analyse it by using advanced statistical tools.
Due to the pandemic, most businesses have started online activities and the demand for data analysis has skyrocketed. Data Analysts help organisations understand how raw data can be used to find solutions for some of the most challenging questions.
If you are looking to build a career in the field of data professionals, now is the time. A study conducted by IBM and Burning Glass Insights showed that in 2020 alone there were 2.7 million job openings for data professionals.
This goes to say that a career in the field of the data profession has grown and is only growing.
Let’s look at the Indian job market. According to a study by AIMResearch, close to about 93,500 new job openings were available by the end of August 2020.
This sharp rise in the job openings is testament to what an important role a data Analyst plays in any organisation. Needless to say, the role of a data Analyst cuts across all divisions of an organisation. For example, in the field of marketing, a data Analyst may help brands tap into new audiences. Likewise, in the case of the manufacturing department, a data analyst will be able to find out the reason for delays or spillage, so the right management decisions should be made.
Responsibilities of a Data Analyst
By now you know the crucial role that a Data Analyst plays in any organisation, which makes it a dream job for many. Next, you must know all the responsibilities and challenges that may come your way in the job.
1. Reporting
One of the main responsibilities of a Data Analyst is to maintain timely reports. These reports essentially give the major business insights to the top management on which they can make necessary decisions. Now these reports need to weave a story, they need to be crisp and they must answer all the questions that the decision-making team may have.
2. Collaboration
While it may appear as an independent department, this isn’t the case. It is important for a Data Analyst to collaborate with teams. Good collaboration ensures proper data collection, one may collaborate with campaign managers, sales people, operations executives etc. Another level of collaboration occurs within the data professional teams, to ensure smooth functioning.
3. Setting processes
The duties of a Data Analyst are vast. It starts from collecting the data and ends by drawing conclusions. One must be able to set up seamless processes to understand this complex world of data. The complexity doesn’t just end in the vastness of data collection, but also remains in the fact that there are multiple teams with multiple requirements.
Learn on your own
If you are just starting out your career as a Data Analyst, you need to gather knowledge. This job requires analytical skills and the use of some advanced tools. If you have decided to learn on your own, start by making a list of tools that you must learn. Now, understand that there isn’t a ‘must know’ tool for every data analyst. Some tools that are useful include – Microsoft Excel, SQL, SAS software, Google Analytics. Start by reading up on how to use them, followed by testing them with a hypothetical set of data.
Another way to learn on your own is by reading books written on the subject. Some of the best in the field are; Data Analytics Made Accessible by Dr Anil Maheshwari, Python for Everybody: Exploring Data in Python 3 by Dr Charles Russell Severance.
Once you have garnered the required skills and knowledge, take up small projects to build your portfolio and test what you learnt. This will help you come closer to what actual work as a Data Analyst would be like.
Specialised online course
Another great way of gaining all the knowledge is by doing a specialised online course. There are many crash courses perfectly designed for some starting fresh and making a quick shift to Data Career. Here’s a list of advantages of taking an online course:
- Well researched and thoroughly planned curriculum.This saves a lot of your time which otherwise would have gone to researching the best reading material, finding the right books, or planning your study days.
- Acclaimed faculty. While in the case of self study, you may have to read a variety of different books to be able to learn from different individuals. Coding Invaders does this job for you, because the course is taught by trainers working in the pioneer organisations like Google, Microsoft and Facebook.
- Real life tasks. That is something that makes Coding Invaders stand out is the simulation training provided during the course. These simulations are based on real life case studies which give you an upper hand when looking for a job.
- Ask about the percentage of placement students? If the education platform hides these numbers, then run away from it.
- Lastly, you don’t only get amazing trainers but also become a part of a close group of other students. Here you can collaborate and learn from each other. This isn’t possible when you are learning on your own,
- Ask somebody who has passed the course and gets a placement. Ask them about your fears? Tell him your story and ask if the course is suitable for you personally.
A career in the field of Data Analysis can be very beneficial. Especially in the times where data plays the most important role in every business decision. Taking this leap may be scary, but the fruits of your labour will indeed be sweet. So take the leap and we will be here to help you.
[“source=indiatoday”]
