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Career Opportunities After Completing a Data Analytics Program

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A data analytics career often starts with an entry-level data analyst job. Yet what’s next? What comes after the first position?

Fortunately, data analysis covers many areas, including IT, business analysis, project management, and others.

This means that the career paths of individual data analysts can be considerably different from one another based on their personal interests. In this guide, we will discuss the typical career paths for data analysts as well as how individuals can improve their prospects in this field.

Is Data Analytics a Good Career Choice?

Yes, it is. Individuals who are good at critical thinking and want to grow professionally over time should consider pursuing a career in data analytics.

Starting salaries for entry-level positions often exceed $50,000, while experienced professionals may earn up to $100k, depending on location and role.

With current trends focused on data-driven strategies and decision-making, one could assume that data analytics ranks among the most desired professions in today’s job market.

Data analysts are highly rated professionals who work in leading tech companies, e-commerce platforms, pharmaceutical firms, and manufacturing industries.

Is the Demand High for Data Analysts in 2024?

When you think about becoming a data analyst as your career choice, you need to understand the bigger picture.

We live in an age where people generate massive amounts of information. This information is very important to businesses since it provides insights into consumer behaviour concerning their products or services. 

Owing to our heavy reliance on digital technologies, there has been an increase in information creation, highlighting the importance of organisations’ interpretation of it for effective use.

The Growing Need for Data Skills

Think about how big the big data market will be—it is projected to reach $229.4 billion by 2025.What does this mean for you? In short terms, it implies that demand for data analysts is soaring with the increasing rise of the information industry.

This is backed up by the Jobs of Tomorrow report from the World Economic Forum in 2020, which singled out data and AI as one of the seven fastest-growing professions. Data and AI lead among these, with the highest growth rates projected at 41% per annum. 

However, there is currently a lack of experts to process all this information. In fact, recent studies show that employers struggle hard to fill positions involving data science, analytics, and cybersecurity.

The Ascendancy of Big Data

In today’s world, the most effective products, services and strategies have a basis in data. Think about the COVID-19 pandemic or personalised recommendations from Netflix and Spotify, for instance – data drives all these. Nevertheless, skilled data analysts are still in high demand due to the continued massive generation of information within shorter periods.

The Era of AI Emergence

The rise of generative AI, typified by big language models (BLMs) such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, has held out the promise of a paradigm shift. It is not just the tech industry that is affected by this technological breakthrough; its applications extend into varied domains. 

Therefore, professionals who can understand and use these advancements are urgently required. The machine learning engineer is an expert in data who knows how to command LLMs and use generative AI to benefit businesses. This surge is evident from over 15,000 open jobs for ML engineers on Indeed.com.

What Skills Are Needed to Become a Data Analyst?

Let’s examine what it takes to become a data analyst. In this section, we will highlight important hard and soft skills that employers look for when hiring data analysts and what you can gain from a data analytics program.

We will also discuss some commonly used tools and programming languages by data analysts. These are not necessarily must-have skills/technologies for every role, but they are frequently enumerated in job adverts for the position of Data Analyst.

 

 

Data Analyst Roadmap: Soft Skills

  • Effective Communication, Collaboration, and Presentation Skills

  • Strong Problem-Solving Abilities

  • Research Skills

  • Attention to Detail

  • Analytical Thinking

  • Numerical Aptitude

  • Good Organizational Skills and Meeting Deadlines

  • Basic Commercial Knowledge or Business Understanding

  • Methodical and Logical Approach

 

Data Analyst Roadmap: Hard Skills and Tools 

  • Expertise in Microsoft Excel 

  • If you use programming languages such as SQL, Oracle, or Python daily, they should be at your fingertips.

  • It is crucial to master Business Intelligence (BI) tools like Tableau or SAS, which can be used for Analytics purposes.

  • Many organisations need a person who has experience with data mining, analysis, modelling, and interpreting numbers.

  • An analyst’s ability to handle different types of datasets, including big ones, is a very significant skill.

  • Data Profiling and Requirement Gathering Processes’ understanding 

  • They also need to have expertise in visualising data using various tools available. 

  • Furthermore, they should be able to present findings convincingly and make recommendations based on them. 

  • Lastly, the person should know how to develop Statistical Models that can help businesses flourish commercially.

Conclusion

By honing both soft skills and hard skills, aspiring data analysts can position themselves for success in this dynamic field.

As technology continues to advance and businesses increasingly rely on data-driven insights, the demand for skilled data analysts remains high. With the right combination of skills and tools, data analysts can uncover valuable insights, drive informed decision-making, and ultimately contribute to the success of their organisations.

Whether you are just starting your journey or looking to advance in your career, the roadmap outlined in this guide provides a solid foundation for aspiring and seasoned data analysts alike. By continuously learning and adapting to evolving technologies and industry trends, data analysts can thrive in an ever-changing landscape and make meaningful contributions to the world of data analytics.