Get Started in Data Analytics with an Online Degree
Friday, September 13, 2024
Data analysts use, review, interpret and manipulate large data sets to provide insights to businesses on their essential goals. They form a critical part of the team, communicating effectively between teams and senior leadership.
What does a data analyst do?
The Big Data technologies and services market in India is set to grow to USD 3.38 Billion by 2029. Data analysts form an essential part of this market. As customers’ demands become more complex, businesses must keep up with more sophisticated products and offerings. Before making any decision about their business, leaders tend to look at customer insights to understand the company’s performance and the future market. At each step, data analysts provide vital information to leaders to help them make decisions.
If data and numbers interest you, read on to find out how you can make a career in this industry.
The traditional career path toward becoming a data analyst includes a bachelor’s degree in a related field like business management or engineering, followed by an additional course in data analytics. However, relevant degrees offered by universities in the US can provide a more direct pathway to becoming a data analyst. The online Bachelor of Science in Data Analytics is one such degree offered by SNHU that allows you to study at home and gain an equivalent degree from the US.
What is a Data Analyst?
Data analysts are like detectives in the business world. They look at extensive data, draw patterns, identify problems and recommend solutions. They work across industries and sectors and can contribute to several critical business roles like:
- Strategic, data-based decision-making
- Measure the performance of the current business and suggest steps to improve
- Identify insufficiencies and bottlenecks and optimize resources
- Discover patterns in customer behavior
What are the job responsibilities of a data analyst?
Depending on the seniority level and the organization, Data analysts’ responsibilities are wide and varied. Let’s take the example of a data analyst working for a sizeable e-retail company supporting the marketing team on customer data. Typically, the responsibilities will include:
Data Organization: If the analyst has to draw reference patterns from customers across diverse geographies, the first step to consider is segregating the data. It can be split up into countries and cities to give a granular view of how customers in each city are purchasing products and services.
Most data analysts do not engage in data entries. However, any data they receive must first be sorted impactfully. Only then can they start making sense of the data.
Data Analysis: Once the data has been segregated appropriately, the analyst will then start interpreting the data for any apparent and hidden patterns. The data might reveal some interesting habits, such as customers of a particular country preferring to buy only certain products.
Data analysts may use several simple and sophisticated statistical tools to analyze the data. Some commonly used tools are:
- Tableau
- Bower BI
- RapidMiner
- KNIME
- Datawrapper
Recommendations: Consider that the company is interested in understanding how it can grow its presence in other locations. The data analyst can compare competitor strategies and company resources to recommend a well-thought-out and research-backed approach to the problem statement.
A bachelor's degree in data analytics can help prepare you and equip you with the correct set of skills for your first job in the field. Read on below to find out how you can leverage a degree in analytics in your career.
What skills are needed to be a data analyst?
Data analysts are an essential bridge between the ground reality and the company’s goals and aspirations. They can not only understand the problems, opportunities, and limitations, but they can also provide guidance and recommendations to senior teams. Analysts, hence, need a combination of technical and soft skills:
- Statistical Knowledge: Statistics is the bread-and-butter of data analysts. An analyst must understand statistical concepts in depth, where to apply them, and which tools will be used.
- Programming: To an extent, analysts also use programming languages like Python and SQL to manipulate and analyze data.
- Machine Learning: Understanding machine learning algorithms, predictive modeling, and data mining techniques is essential for analysts.
- Data Organization and Manipulation: Analysts often need to clean up and organize the data before further manipulating it.
- Storytelling: A good analyst will also know how to effectively present the story behind the numbers. Data visualization and storytelling skills are necessary for analysts.
- Attention to Detail: Sometimes, more minor data points might add up to a larger picture that is worth telling. Analysts, hence, need to develop an eye for detail.
Data analyst vs data scientist
You may have also heard of data scientists. While they might seem similar, there are some differences between the two job roles. A data analyst is concerned with collecting and interpreting data. Data scientists create technical and statistical models that can provide further insights like predicting forecasting based on existing data. For example, a data analyst will identify customer buying patterns and present the data with recommendations to senior leadership. A data scientist will use statistical models to predict future consumer behavior with the help of advanced analytical tools.
Generally, to become a data scientist, one might need an advanced degree or a master’s degree in the field. If you are just starting out on your journey in data science, find out how you can get a head start with a bachelor’s degree in data science from the US.
Is Data Analytics the right Career Path for You?
Ask yourself these seven questions:
- Do you like mathematics and working with numbers?
- Do you like to learn about new tools and technologies that can interpret and work with numbers?
- Are you comfortable with software tools like Python and SQL, or do you wish to learn and become proficient in such tools?
- Are you detail-oriented and methodical in your work?
- Do you enjoy presenting facts and figures while stating a problem or a solution?
- Are you comfortable working with ambiguous problems?
- Do you enjoy working in a collaborative environment?
The average salary of a fresher data analyst is INR 3.60 L per annum. With more experience, the salary is expected to increase from INR 5.50 L to anywhere up to over INR 15 L.
How to become a data analyst?
If you are ready to become a data analyst, start by researching courses that might be the best fit for you:
- Education standards: While many courses are on the market, ensure that the course you pick is from a well-reputed institute.
- Budget Constraints: Consider your budget constraints and financing options while choosing the right course.
- Flexibility: Several courses today allow for flexible schedules with online learning. If you plan to work or have other family commitments that don’t allow you to study full-time, you can consider an online degree in data analytics.