Have you ever considered a career as a data analyst? Your number one concern will be if there is demand for the position. Well, the answer is a resounding yes. Think about it this way. No sector or industry does not need data analysts.
Consulting, manufacturing, education, and government all work with data. There has to be someone with the right skill set to go through tons of information. They must do this in order to organize and glean relevant insights from all the information.
The next concern you may have is how much you can earn. The answer is it depends on the line you go into. The second factor is the job location. In the United States, on average, data analysts earn $70,033 per year. But, in North Carolina, for example, it can go as high as $85,000.
One final question you may have is which data analytics course you should take to ensure you get the best out of the career path. Allow us to give you some ideas to point you in the right direction.
Best Data Analytics Courses
Finding the most in-demand data analytics jobs should guide you in choosing the best course. And that is what we will base our recommendations on. But after the course, then what?
How can you find job placements without sending hundreds of applications to organizations? The answer is as simple as using the OnlyDataJobs online platform. All you need to do is register your details, stating the relevant qualifications. The platform will run through a list of potential employers and match you with the one that best fits your skill set.
Now, let’s look at some of the best data analytics courses worth taking.
Statistical Programming Courses
Statistical programming is one of the most in-demand data analytics job skills. Enrolling in a course will teach you statistical programming languages. What you get is the ability to write programs that give you more functionality than basic excel skills. With such, you can handle larger amounts of data with higher efficiency. Some of the languages that may be in your course outline include:
- Structured Query Language also goes by the name SQL. It is a powerful language for the management of relational databases and modifying schema. Indeed SQL is a must-have statistical programming language for data analysts.
- Python will introduce you to other complicated aspects of data analysis. Many beginners find the program easier to understand than other programming languages. Python is also finding great use in AI development. With the modern landscape leaning towards the adoption of such technologies, this coding language is a critical skill for any data analyst.
- R will provide great support for your data analyst jobs. Data organization, even for complex or huge amounts of data, will be a breeze with this useful coding language.
- MATLAB is a basketful of goodies for data analysts. It helps with data plotting, matrix manipulations, data analysis, visualization, and more. Its cross multiplatform functionality in executing machine learning further adds to its usefulness.
2. Econometrics
Econometrics brings together mathematics, statistics, and economics. Your work will be to use the data insights from historical data to forecast or predict future trends. The demand for the econometrics skill set is quite high in the financial sector. Expect to deal a lot with hedge funds, investment funds, and more.
3. Data Visualization and Cleaning
Do you know how much data we produce every day? A cursory internet search shows that it could be, at a minimum, 25 quintillion bytes. Imagine trying to write that out in numbers. You will need space for up to 20 characters.
Now, as you can imagine, companies are some of the largest contributors to this data. But, data is only good if there is a way to get insights from it. And, that is why a key, indispensable role of data science involves data cleaning and visualization.
Technology has improved the landscape for data science professionals quite a bit. AI and ML, for instance, use algorithms to sift through tons of data in seconds. But, the technologies depend on clean data to develop highly efficient algorithms. So, machines and technology are all good. But, it is impossible to remove the very critical human element.
Data visualization is presenting the data using visual cues like graphs and charts. The data analyst must look at patterns and translate complex data into simple language. The language that anyone, even those without analytics skills, can understand. The people in the driving seats of companies and governments need such insights for proper decision-making.
4. Machine Learning
We have talked quite a bit about AI and machine learning above. Data analysts can drive up their desirability by taking a course in the technologies. Machine learning (ML), for instance, is an integral part of AI.
Through algorithms and data, the systems can make predictions by learning patterns in the data. Such software removes the need for human intervention or manual processes. The data analyst can manage huge amounts of data within a short time. Further, the standard human errors that can interfere with the final results will no longer exist.
Signing up for a course will take you through an interesting journey of software engineering, math, and data science. You can find jobs in marketing, product development, social media, and more.
5. Business Intelligence and Communication
Data analysts must also have a high level of business intelligence. After all, how can you translate data and give workable insights if you don’t know what is going on in the market? Business intelligence requires a good understanding of technical skills and some advanced statistics. The insights you gather from the data analysis will be the basis of decisions that increase the company’s profit.
Brushing up on your communication skills is also important. You should be able to stand in a roomful of decision-makers and share the findings with them. You are the one who understands what all the data means. Together with the visualization, you should be able to translate what you mean into words.
Final Thoughts
Data analytics is an exciting career path. You could find yourself in any industry because your skills will always be in demand. Set yourself off in the right direction by enrolling in in-demand courses. We have shared some sure winners above.
