DATA ANALYST SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

What does a Data Analyst do?

To become a data analyst, you’ll need to learn a number of hard and soft skills.

Hard skills include:

Data mining
Data cleansing and preparation
Data warehousing
Data visualisation
SQL
Machine learning
Spreadsheets
Dashboards and reports

Soft skills include:

Communication skills and the capacity to communicate data insights to a non-technical audience
Ability to rank data assets and resources, as well as make data-driven decisions
Problem-solving
Working to deadlines
Collaborating with or leading a team

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How can someone learn essential Data Analyst skills

Bootcamps, online training courses or university degrees can all help you to get familiar with key Data Analyst skills. Looking to upskill? Hays Learning for IT professionals offers free tech courses online across a wide array of topics which can be completed at your own pace.

You can also pursue formal training in a relevant field, such as computer science or information technology, before enrolling in a graduate program specialising in data analytics. You should also consider developing data visualisation skills by studying data design concepts. HTML, CSS, Javascript (jQuery), and sketch are all excellent places to start learning.

The skills required for a career in data analytics can vary with experience. As a Data Analyst, you should aim to specialise in one area of data analytics - such as behavioural data analytics or data mining - or seek out learning opportunities on-the-job within your current organisation’s data team.

What qualifications does a Data Analyst need to have?

In most situations, expected Data Analyst qualifications include a background in statistics, data analysis, or computer science. The position is multidisciplinary, and professionals must have expertise in data mining, statistics, data visualisation, and some programming knowledge.

There are several Data Analyst certifications available that can enhance your chances of getting a job. Two of the most well-known Data Analyst certifications are IBM Certified Analytics Professional and the SAS data analytics certification. It’s worth considering obtaining these Data Analyst qualifications if you feel they’re relevant to your professional goals.

Do you need to study or go to university to become a Data Analyst? You need to do some level of study, but a degree may not be necessary to get a job if you have proven experience. With that said, most working Data Analysts will have a university education in information technology, computer science, mathematics or a related discipline.

How can a Data Analyst upskill throughout their career?

It’s critical to stay data-driven and upskill as a Data Analyst. Therefore, you should read blogs, attend seminars and workshops, and subscribe to industry newsletters. You may also join mailing lists for up-to-date information on the latest topics.

As experience increases, so does the job’s complexity. As a result, as Data Analysts gain expertise, their duties will grow more complex; therefore, they must upskill by learning new visualisation, presentation, and strategic skills. Of course, data professionals should also keep current with the most recent technologies relating to their role.

Upskilling has traditionally been time consuming and expensive, but with Hays Learning, our free innovative e-learning platform brought to you in partnership with Go1, we are frequently adding more online courses to make sure you always have in-demand skills for a successful future. Sign up now for free.