Mathematics and Statistics: You will have a mathematical mind. You may even have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in applied mathematics, statistics and computing. However, while qualifications are useful, they are not always necessary if you are new to the field. As long as you have good math skills, for example, algebra and calculus, they may be sufficient.
Programming skills: To create or fine-tune algorithms that automate data analysis tasks (such as parsing or restructuring large data sets), programming know-how is a must. Scripting languages like Python or MATLAB and statistical computing like R or SAS are all popular in data analysis.
Database knowledge : As well as programming languages, you will need some south africa phone number data understanding of database warehousing software, for example, Hive , and analytics engines like Spark . You will also need to know about query languages like SQL.
Excel Skills: Commonly used to transform raw data into a readable format or to automate complex calculations, MS Excel is an essential part of any data analyst’s toolkit. Be sure to familiarize yourself with its key analytical functions.
Visualization Skills: A central aspect of data analysis is the ability to visualize data with graphs and charts. These help us identify patterns, correlations, and trends. At a minimum, you should be able to create plots using Python, or tables and charts using MS Excel .
Check out our video showing how to create a plot using Python:
Machine Learning Basics : As a beginner, no one will expect you to be an expert in machine learning; it is a discipline in itself. However, machine learning principles underpin many data analyses. You should familiarize yourself with the theoretical aspects, such as supervised versus unsupervised learning.
Non-Technical Skills for Data Analysts
While soft skills can be improved with practice, they are generally considered more inherent to you as a person. You will need to have a natural aptitude for the following skills:
Communication: Communication is key to any job, but especially in data analysis. Gaining accurate insights is the priority, but being able to communicate these effectively to a large audience is vital. You must have excellent interpersonal skills, be able to communicate complex concepts in simple terms, and be confident in giving presentations and answering questions from laypeople.
Critical Thinking: Definitely the most important skill in data analytics, critical thinking is the ability to question what is in front of you in order to gain a better understanding. You should naturally have a mindset of questioning things, not accepting things at face value, and approaching tasks using deduction and logical reasoning.
Creativity in problem solving: Problem solving means applying your thinking about the world to questions related to data and problems. You should take a step-by-step approach when defining a problem, and create an approach and perform the tasks to solve it. What you do will be different each time you face a new problem.
Ethics: You must understand the importance of data privacy, be aware of your biases, and be comfortable presenting your findings, even when they are undesirable or unlikely to be credible. Having a strong code of ethics is extremely important. Without it, data can easily be misused, which can negatively impact the individuals and groups that are affected by your work.
If you’re thinking about getting into data analysis, ask yourself: Do these skills describe me? If not, don’t worry. While it’s important to honestly assess your skills, the most important thing is to be enthusiastic about the field and willing to develop the skills you need. No one will expect a beginner to be an expert right away.
