Career Path to Becoming a Data Analyst

Do you enjoy solving puzzles and finding numerical solutions? Becoming a data analyst might be a good fit for you.

If you are interested in the field, you may still be confused about how to get started with a career in this in-demand field.

Continue reading to find out how acquiring data analyst qualifications from Singapore can help you level up to the exciting job opportunities in the vast data sector.

What is data analytics?

Data analytics involves collecting and analysing raw data and applying quantitative and qualitative techniques in order to be converted into insights for enhancing business productivity.

The data analytics skills and qualities that you acquire by completing an academic programme here in Singapore can help you become a talented data professional in the eyes of potential employers around the world.

What is the typical data analyst career path?

The role of data analysts involves finding trends and transforming data into business insights.

Let’s take a closer look to add the most popular career paths that the data analytics industry has in store for you.

Business analyst

• The role of analysing business-specific data.

Reporting management

• Involves reporting business functions to stakeholders.

Data scientist

• Developing innovative data analyst tools by leveraging machine learning.

Budget analyst

• Focuses on specific budget analysis.

Data analytics consultant

• Conducting analysis on behalf of a consulting firm for a variety of clients.

What are the responsibilities of a data analyst?

A day in the life of a data analyst revolves around creating data visualisations and addressing customised issues through the analysis of various databases.

If you want to know what a data analyst does, then check out the following job functions related to the ever-evolving field.

Setting goals

• This involves establishing a price for new materials and estimating market shares.

Querying

• Data analysts leverage their critical thinking abilities to create creative solutions and compelling research insights.

Data mining

• This includes the process of discovering and extracting relatable patterns in large data sets.

Data cleansing

• This crucial process involves removing or fixing corrupted, incorrectly formatted, incomplete or duplicate data from a record set.

Data examining

• This refers to the statistical procedures implemented to assess distributed data.

Interpreting data trends

• Effective communication of data findings allows data analysis to gauge upcoming data impacts.

Preparing summary reports

• Data analysts ensure reaching correct conclusions and help the rest of the team to understand advanced modelling techniques, by presenting their findings in a simple manner.

Collaborating with other teams 

• To stay in line with the business objectives, data analysts are required to efficiently communicate complex ideas to different departments.

What are the qualifications of data analysts?

To become a data analyst you must be thorough with the steps required to analyse data, provide insights and be proficient in applying programming languages.

Here is a detailed description of data analyst qualifications that you should be aware of.

Degree and domain expertise

To start your climb to becoming a data analyst, you must first earn an undergraduate degree that includes relevant disciplines such as finance, mathematics, statistics, economics, information management and computer science.

Besides this, you may want to gain relevant work experience or take up early-stage career roles.

Essential skills

• Knowledge of programming – This will enable you to apply data science techniques and methods to conduct influential programming analysis.
• Soft skills – This includes transferable skills that can help you see through datasets and reach conclusions swiftly, as well as communicate your results to the non-experts.
• Practical skills - These prerequisite skills, required for application in machine learning and data science, involve the implementation of mathematical concepts based on real-time data.
• Technical skills - To understand the potential applications of data analytics you must be thorough with data modelling, regression, classification and SQL.

 What is the average annual salary of a data analyst?

How to become a data analyst?

With the already massive demand for data analysts continues to grow every day, candidates are expected to showcase an impressive resume when it comes to landing a lifelong career in this sector.

Here is a list of steps that can help you get started in the professional world of data analysis.

Step 1: Developing foundational knowledge in the field of data analytics and acquiring professional certificate programmes.

Step 2: Learning specific technical skills that can help you land job roles in almost any industry.

Step 3: Obtaining hands-on training for conducting projects using real-time data sets.

Step 4: Creating a portfolio demonstrating relevant skills that can help employers hire you as part of their team.

Step 5: Practising the art of effectively presenting your findings to the stakeholders and decision-makers of a company.

Step 6: Applying for an entry-level job or an internship to boost your qualifications list.

Step 7: Opting for an advanced degree that can help you acquire professional positions that come with higher pay grades.

How can studying at LSBF in Singapore help you become a data analyst?

The London School of Business and Finance, Singapore, is a great place to start gaining experience and acquiring data analytics skills that can make your portfolio shine.

The importance of data analytics courses offered in Singapore is more than just about the soft skills that are provided to students.

During the course, you’ll learn to make strategic business decisions based on real-life data, thereby transforming you into a suitable candidate for data-driven companies to recruit!

Frequently asked questions

Is coding required to be a data analyst?

Although all data analysts are expected to be proficient at using programming languages or Microsoft Excel to analyse data and provide insights, the requirement of coding skills generally depends on the type of employer you choose to work for.

How many years does it take to become a data analyst?

It can take somewhere between a few months to two years to kickstart a career as a data analyst, depending on the educational programme that you choose to dedicate your time to.

How to become a data analyst with no experience.

There are several options out there that can help you get started with handling data analysis tools without necessarily having any previous work experience.

It is usually advised to have at least completed a diploma course to help demonstrate a more in-depth domain knowledge during an interview.

The Diploma in Data Analytics programme offered by LSBF in Singapore will allow you to gain the required qualification to become a data analyst in less than a year.

To learn more about the entry requirements and curriculum outcomes log on to our website today!