Did you know that data science experts are needed in every job sector not Just Technology and the demand is increasing but there is a shortage of qualified candidates to fill them.

Data analysis is an exciting field to get into and the career prospects are amazing.

Now, just to answer a common question that comes up: you don’t need to be a math/computer science expert to land a job in data analysis.

But how do you know if data analysis is something that you are interested in? And how can you kick start a career in data analysis if you have no background in it?

In this post, we will tell you everything you need to know about getting started with data analysis. What is data analysis? What possible jobs opportunities are available in the field? How can you start to learn data analysis and the tools and skills you will need to land a data analysis job? What data analysis courses you can take.

Let us get started!

What Is Data Analysis?

First of all, What is Data Analysis?

Data analysis involves sorting through large amounts of unstructured information and deriving key insights from it. These insights are very valuable for decision-making in organizations of all sizes.

Let us get something straight, Data Analysis and Data Science are not the same.

Although they belong to the same family. Data science is more advanced (has more programming, creating new algorithms, building predictive models, etc.).

Here’s an introduction to the data analytics process:

1. 1. Define the question or goal behind the analysis: what are you trying to discover?

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• 2. Collect the right data to help answer this question.
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• 3. Perform data cleaning to improve data quality and prepare it for analysis and interpretation–getting data into the right format, getting rid of unnecessary data, correcting spelling mistakes, etc.
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• 4. Manipulate data using Excel or Google Sheets. This may include plotting the data out, creating pivot tables, and so on.
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• 5. Analyze and interpret the data using statistical tools (i.e. finding correlations, trends, outliers, etc.).
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• 6. Present this data in meaningful ways: graphs, visualizations, charts, tables, etc. Data analysts may report their findings to project managers, department heads, and senior-level business executives to help them make decisions and spot patterns and trends.
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• The awesome thing about data analysis is that it is more of an entry-level role, meaning you can jump right in with basic knowledge after you take some data analysis courses for beginners and sharpen a few key skills.
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• Becoming a data analyst can also open the door to lucrative careers like data science and data engineering (just to name a few) as you gain more experience on the job.
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Why You Should Learn Data Analysis Skills?

To show you why it’s a great idea to learn data analysis and start a career in this field, let us take a look at the data!

1. 1. There is anticipated job growth for data professionals: The anticipated job growth for market research analysts (another term for data analysts) between 2018-2028 is 20%, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s a significant amount of new positions being created.

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• 2. Data analytics is in demand: According to Digital Learning Academy, creators of Introduction to Data Analysis and Statistics Using SQL, “There is a demand for people who can use data to perform reporting and analysis, thus helping businesses and organizations make important and critical decisions.”
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• 3. Data roles have higher than average salaries: Data analysts are paid well even if they don’t continue on to data science or engineering! How much do data analysts make? According to Payscale, entry-level data analysts will receive an annual salary between $40,000 – $73,000 (average of $55,000). Senior data analysts can bump that up as high as $108,000.
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• 4. There is a competitive advantage: According to Ian Littlejohn, instructor of Complete Introduction to Business Data Analysis, “The ability to ask questions of your data is a powerful competitive advantage, resulting in new income streams, better decision making, and improved productivity.”
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• 5. Universal need (all kinds of companies require data help): According to Symon He and Travis Chow, instructors of Intro to Data Analysis using EXCEL for Beginners, “Every business generates data. But [its value] depends on your ability to process, manipulate, and ultimately translate that data into useful insights.”

Popular Careers That Rely on Data Analysis

One really cool thing about acquiring data analysis skills is that you do not have to remain in one career. Certainly,  you could become a data analyst and stay there for years if you love it–but there is also the freedom to pivot in other directions if you choose.

Businesses in nearly all industries use data analytics to make decisions to gain a competitive advantage, boost sales, win new customers, improve internal operations, maximize profits, and so on. This makes data analysis skills useful in many roles.

Here are some top jobs that involve data analysis

1. 1. Data Analyst

2. Business Analyst

3. Quantitative Analyst

4. Operations Analyst

5. Marketing Analyst

6. IT Systems Analyst

7. Data Analytics Consultant

Learn Data Analysis Skills With These Data Analysis Courses for Beginners

Beyond great problem solving, communication, and creativity skills, you’ll also need some specific tech skills to succeed at data analysis.

Here are the most common skills/tools you’ll need to start a career in data analysis or grow your data analysis skills to help in another role! Plus, the data analytics courses where you can start learning them.

1. 1. Excel (Spreadsheets)

What it is: Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program that allows you to perform complex data analysis. Excel’s built-in pivot tables are one of the most popular analytic tools.

Why learn it: Learning Excel is essential for any professional or academic career based on data analysis. It is the most commonly used data analysis software both professionally and academically and it’s a solid foundation before learning any other.

2. SQL (Database Language)

What it is: SQL (Structured Query Language) is a language used to interact with databases that store data, allowing us to retrieve data quickly and easily.

Why learn it: SQL allows you to perform operations on millions of rows of data. It’s the 2nd most in-demand skill for data analysis jobs (only after data analysis itself!)

3. Power BI

What it is: Power BI is a collection of software services, apps, and connectors that work together to turn your unrelated sources of data into coherent, visually immersive, and interactive insights. Your data may be an Excel spreadsheet or a collection of cloud-based and on-premises hybrid data warehouses. Power BI lets you easily connect to your data sources, visualize and discover what's important, and share that with anyone or everyone you want

Why learn it: Data Analysts enable businesses to maximize the value of their data assets by using Microsoft Power BI.

4. Data Visualization

What it is: Data visualization helps key decision-makers in a business (usually non-tech senior execs) see analytics presented visually in graphs, charts, etc. so they can identify trends and patterns and understand complex information.

Why learn it: If you are creative, this may be the perfect skill to learn. Learning data visualization can give you an edge over other job applicants since employers are looking for people who understand both the science and art behind data analysis.

5. Python: (Programming Language)

What is Python: Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language with dynamic semantics. Its high-level built in data structures, combined with dynamic typing and dynamic binding, make it very attractive for Rapid Application Development, as well as for use as a scripting or glue language to connect existing components together. Python's simple, easy to learn syntax emphasizes readability and therefore reduces the cost of program maintenance.

Why learn it: Having a solid understanding of how to use Python for data analytics will probably be required for many roles. Even if it’s not a required skill, knowledge and understanding Python will give you an upper hand when showing future employers the value that you can bring to their companies.

Conclusion: What Is Data Analysis? It’s The Future

Today’s organizations are being flooded with so much data, and they are desperately in need of data analysts capable of making sense of it for them. As the Internet of Things comes into its own, those needs will only multiply.

If you’re unsure about which direction to take in tech, it’s a good idea to learn data analytics as a starting point.  If you are really interested in starting a data career today, you could be in a very lucrative position in a very short time.