What do you need to become a Data Analyst?

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It is a data-driven world today, where every organisation or company is working with data. However, data alone is not sufficient for decision-making, unless analysed for insights.

Data analysis is the very first step towards making sense of any data. It is very often an entry level job, which requires good computer skills and an understanding of data management.

Who is a Data Analyst?

At a basic level, a data analyst is one who compiles and analyses data and data-based information from multiple sources, including that contained in the database.

What does he do?

A Data Analyst applies data analysis tools to the unstructured and  structured data he compiles for his employers or clients to facilitate decisions. He may also be entrusted with the task of data accuracy, data compliance and make recommendations for database designs. His work is to present the analysed data in a compact meaningful format for indentification of trends, patterns and other insights.

Who hires Data Analysts?

Any company which collects data,  whether internal (employee performance, marketing ROI, etc.,) or external data (social media conversations, digital footprint of buyers, etc), hires data analysts. Companies hiring can range from government departments, healthcare, banking and financial,  to manufacturing, retail, telecommunications and more. Hirers may also be management consultants, contractual hirers or companies that have a dedicated department of systems analysis.

Salaries of Data Analysts

Salary levels depend upon the qualifications and skills sets of the applicant, as well as the job role, location and company policies and of the recruiting company. For instance, salary trends  are highest in Fiance and Banking, followed by Retail, Healthcare and Marketing.

According to Payscale research, the average pay for a Data Analyst is Rs 292,953 per year. You can even calculate your potential here.

Must-have Qualifications for a Data Analyst

  • A minimum Bachelors degree
  • Area of Qualification can be in any filed -Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Science, Social Sciences, Finance, Actuarial Science/ Risk, Management Information Systems or even BBA!
  • Computer savvy
  • Affinity for figures
  • Attention to details
  • A certification in Data Analytics

Skill sets Required

  • Analytical skills
  • Mathematical skills
  • Knowledge of Statistics
  • Knowledge of database, data manipulation, data  warehousing
  • Soft skills

Preferred Add-ons

In addition to the above, if you have quiet a few of these following add-ons, you may well expect to land a great job with a top notch company, with competitive salary and a scope to grow. So while you wait for your interview call, I would recommend you to utilise your time and free internet resources to add as much as you can to your application portfolio. Although these may not be not essential for the job you are applying for, but they will be advantageous to you.

  • Certifications / Diplomas in IT, especially database management
  • Knowledge / experience working with BI or data analysis softwarelike SAS
  • Experience of  0 to 2 yrs
  • Domain knowledge – marketing, econometrics, healthcare, software development, programming, and so on.

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