what is a data analyst?
As a data analyst, you spend most of the day organising data and helping various stakeholders draw conclusions from the information. Regardless of the industry you work in, your job is to collect and interpret data. For instance, in sales and marketing, you translate sales figures into tangible evidence that helps the company make better decisions.
A data analyst may examine historical data from an organisation like quarterly sales, monthly income or annual web traffic and identify trends or spot patterns. You apply your knowledge in descriptive and diagnostic analytics to explain certain occurrences or outcomes in a business. Aside from understanding the past, data analysts also assist organisations with forecasting. You can use descriptive data to detect tendencies and trends to base your predictions. Predicting the outcomes allows companies to take proactive actions to avoid adverse consequences.
job description of a data analyst
When a business wants to determine a course of action, they rely on data analysts to provide data-driven evidence to help them decide. Using prescriptive analytics keeps you ahead of industry trends. As a data analyst, you have to use complex algorithms, statistical methods and machine learning technology to organise and evaluate data. Sometimes, you need proficiency in data visualisation and database programming languages to aid in managing data sources and databases.
Would working as a data analyst suit your analytical skills and love for numbers? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a data analyst role.
Data analyst CV and interview advice:
data analyst jobsaverage salary of a data analyst
According to National Careers, a data analyst starting their career earns £23,000 per year. With additional qualifications and years of experience, your earnings increase to £70,000 per year. Since the work is quite demanding, you have many opportunities to increase your take-home salary. For instance, you can work extra hours for overtime pay or bonuses. Depending on your specific duties, you may also be eligible for various allowances and benefits.
what factors affect your salary as a data analyst?
A career as a data analyst offers competitive salaries and generous benefits. However, the industry, educational background and experience are the driving factors that determine your take-home pay. For instance, if you have a degree, your earnings will be lower than that of a data analyst with a master's or PhD. A degree is the bare minimum requirement, and you need more qualifications to command a better compensation package. Specialisation in statistical modelling or information design also enhances your salary prospects.
Salaries also depend on the industry and your employer's resources. For instance, finance, healthcare, insurance and information technology rely heavily on data analysts to make decisions and pay more. Location is also a driving factor due to the high demand for data analysts in metropolitan areas compared to suburbs.
types of data analysts
Some types of data analysts include:
- business intelligence analyst: your job is to identify patterns and interpret data gathered from the company systems. Aside from internal data, you also collect and evaluate external data from competitors and the market to identify patterns and potential issues that could affect the business.
- logistics analyst: as a logistics analyst, you gather and organise data from supply chain processes. You use the information to create strategies to optimise the processes, lower expenses and enhance efficiency in production and distribution.
- business systems analyst: you are responsible for evaluating and leveraging data to improve the functions of a company's information technology systems. You also find strategies to improve the systems.
- marketing analyst: your job is to use data to help the sales and marketing team understand the market and customers. You analyse the organisation's target market information and develop the best marketing strategies.
working as a data analyst
Data analysts are number-driven and can use data to derive or explain technical ideas and concepts. Read on to identify some of the daily tasks and career progression of data analysts.
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duties and responsibilities
Some of the tasks of a data analyst include:
- mining data: as a data analyst, your primary role is to mine data from secondary and primary sources. That means collecting relevant information from the company's database or gathering it from external sources. For instance, you can carry out surveys or track users' actions on your company's website. You also structure the raw data using various tools and software.
- pruning and cleaning data: after extracting data, you should correct and organise it for analysis. Sometimes, data contains outliers, duplicates and errors that influence interpretations. The cleaning process also involves removing any information that may distort the evaluation process or lead to skewed conclusions.
- modelling data: as a data analyst, you design the database to store data securely. Your programming skills come in handy in organising the databases, like establishing data categories and relationships. You also determine the appearance of the data in the storage spaces.
- interpreting information: your role is to use analytical tools to explore facts from the data collected. The results should provide answers to specific questions. It requires logical thinking to examine data components or statistical tools to identify trends and patterns that explain outcomes.
- creating data reports and visualisations: as a data analyst, it is crucial to translate raw data into information that assists decision-makers and other stakeholders. Reports help businesses monitor performance based on the prediction and ensure it does not fall outside the expected range. You can use charts, graphs and other data visualisation tools to explain your findings.
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work environment
As a data analyst, you work in any industry, from finance and insurance firms to healthcare institutions and IT companies. You utilise your analytical skills to help in improving efficiency and optimising business processes. You work for both the public and private sectors. While your work is home or office-based, you can expect a comfortable environment conducive to undertaking complex tasks.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on your industry, your colleagues are likely to include data scientists, data engineers and quantitative analysts. Data scientists assist with interpreting information while data engineers, (graduate) business analysts, financial business partners, focus on optimising tools used in analytics. You are also likely to work with project managers, operations managers, advisors and other specialists, including IT systems analysts, data analytics consultants, typist post and logistics specialists.
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work schedule
As a data analyst, you work around 40 hours a week in a full-time position. However, working long hours is the norm for data analysts, and you can work over the weekends or evenings. Some data analysts work on short-term contracts, while others find part-time opportunities. The data analyst position doesn't involve travelling unless you are making a presentation to clients or attending conferences.
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job outlook
Technological advancement expanded the amount of data companies collect from internal and external sources. Hence, data analysis is a priority for many industries. Becoming a data analyst is a promising career with a clear career progression. For instance, when you start from a junior data analyst position, you can easily become a senior data analyst after gaining a few years of experience or an additional qualification. Data analysts also have various specialisms to focus on, including market research, business intelligence and logistics. Some data analysts take up a career in IT like database administrator or management roles like operations manager.
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advantages of finding a data analyst job through randstad
Finding your data analyst job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a data analyst is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education and skills
A data analyst needs the following educational qualifications:
- university degree: you need a degree or postgraduate qualification in statistics, economics or mathematics to become a data analyst. Other related subjects include psychology and operational research or fields with training sessions in statistics.
- college courses: you can become a trainee data analyst if you complete a T-level digital business service diploma. You need 4 or 5 GCSEs, including maths and English, to join the programme.
- apprenticeship: completing an apprenticeship in data analysis makes you a junior data analyst. The programme combines 30 hours of on-the-job training with studies for you to earn a data analysis higher apprenticeship.
skills and competencies
A data analyst requires the following transferable skills:
- programming languages: as a data analyst, you will handle massive amounts of data and perform complex equations. Learning a statistical programming language improves your competitiveness. Python and R are popular statistical languages, but you can find others that suit your role. You also need database management programming skills to organise and store data in databases.
- proficiency in using data visualisation tools: as a data analyst, it is vital to present your findings convincingly. Using charts and graphs helps your employers understand your interpretation. Hence, you need to learn data visualisation using various tools like Excel, Notebook and Tableau.
- maths and statics knowledge: a data analyst should understand statistical techniques and mathematical concepts to interpret data. Having a solid grasp of maths and statistics helps you decide on the best tools to use and improves your understanding of results.
- problem-solving skills: a data analyst should understand the problem that needs solving or the questions that the information gathered aims to answer. Problem-solving skills assist you in finding patterns and trends on various data sets or identifying gaps and mistakes in your interpretation methods.
FAQs
FAQs about working as a data analyst
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what does a data analyst do?
A data analyst gathers and studies data sets to logically explain business outcomes and processes. They also report and present findings to the top management, which helps in decision making.
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what is a data analyst's salary?
As a data analyst, your salary ranges from £24,000 to £70,000 per year. The exact pay depends on your qualifications and experience level.
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is data analysis a good career?
Data analysis is a great career with various specialisms and opportunities for career growth. With the increasing demand for data analysis, your job prospects and salaries are also promising.
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what are the top 3 skills for data analysts?
As a data analyst, you need knowledge in maths and statistics to compute complex equations. Programming and visualisation skills also help you organise information and highlight patterns and correlations.
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how do I apply for a data analyst vacancy?
Applying for a data analyst job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area.
