How to Become a Data Analyst

Become a source of crucial business insight

Today, big data is big news for data analysts. “Big data” describes the massive amounts of data that businesses deal with on a daily basis, and data analysts are people who sort through that information to find key insights to help drive smart business decisions. Data analysts use a mix of critical thinking, problem-solving skills, math, and software systems to help companies find new opportunities and inform business goals and strategies.

If that appeals to you, you may wish to explore a career as a data analyst. Here are three steps to help you get started:

• Know the role
• Get educated
• Start your career

1. Understand the role of a data analyst

Data analysts gather, organize, and interpret data – such as sales figures, inventories, internet logs, and operating costs – and look for patterns or trends. Based on their findings, data analysts then provide suggestions that can be used to guide strategic business planning and decisions.

Data analyst duties often fall into three key areas:

• Data mining: Gathering necessary information for initial review.
• Data cleaning: Removing errors or discrepancies before looking for trends, patterns, and relationships.
• Data visualization: Organizing the data in a way that is easily viewed and understood in order to help develop business goals and strategies.

There are four types of data analysis: descriptive (looks at the past), diagnostic (looks at the “why”), predictive (looks to the future), and prescriptive (looks to the best course of action). Data analysts may focus on one or all of these.

Some of the requirements needed to become a data analyst are: analytical, critical thinking, and basic math and communication skills. In addition, having experience in computer applications like spreadsheets, databases, data management programs or visualization software are important.

While it is possible to get a data analyst job without a degree, a bachelor’s degree can really help you qualify for entry-level jobs. Not only does an undergraduate degree in data analysis provide a strong foundation in data management and database applications, it can help prepare you for additional networking certifications. This can help expand your job opportunities as well as your earning potential.

2. Start your data analyst education

Some students begin with an undergraduate degree in data analysis, while others who already hold a degree choose to switch careers and pursue a graduate degree or post-graduate certificate in data analytics.

Bachelor of Science in Data Analytics

A Bachelor of Science in Data Analytics is a degree that prepares students a variety of data analyst positions in both the business and IT sectors. Generally, courses include data analytics and management, as well as some IT-focused classes. These courses cover computer networks, fundamental analytics concepts, and programming language such as Structured Query Language (SQL), which is used to communicate with databases that hold large amounts of information.

For graduates who are new to the data analytics field, it can be helpful to pursue an internship, where you can get hands-on experience in the field of study. Another option is to build a portfolio. Whether you are a recent grad or you are an experienced data analyst, an online portfolio can help bring your work to life – and showcase your talent to employers. A good data analytics portfolio should show:

• Your ability to find new information in data
• Your ability to communicate the information succinctly to various stakeholders

Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics

You may also consider choosing a bachelor's degree education in business analytics. This is a more business and management-oriented curriculum than a data analytics curriculum, and puts less emphasis on hard technical skills like programming as you'd find in a computer science bachelor's degree program, and greater emphasis on skills needed to solve problems for important stakeholders. As part of our bachelor's degree program in business analytics, you can potentially earn dual credit towards a Master of Science in Business Analytics and continue climbing the ladder in the field.