Career as Data Analyst

Last Updated On 08 Sep, 2023

How to Become a Data Analyst

About Data Analyst

Becoming a Data Analyst requires examination of data to uncover critical insights about a company's consumers and how the data may be utilized to address problems. They also share this information with corporate executives and other stakeholders. In the current time of digitalization where companies crores of business is online Data Analyst job scope is lucrative. To become a Data Analyst in India, a candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree like BTech in CSE, BCA, or BTech in IT, or in relevant fields. In addition, a candidate must be well-equipped with various technical skills like programming languages, data visualization, data cleansing, data management, etc.  The Data Analyst provides a wealth of benefits, ranging from excellent pay to diversified job options, making it an appealing domain for individuals seeking a data-driven career. Data Analysts can work in a variety of fields such as business, finance, criminal justice, science, medicine, and government.

The following posts highlight how to become a Data Analyst, the entrance exams, skills required, salary, etc. 

Who is a Data Analyst?

A Data Analyst gathers, processes, and analyzes huge datasets. Every business, large or small, creates and gathers data. Customer feedback, accounting, logistics, marketing research, and so on are all examples of data. A Data Analyst is a specialist who uses this data to determine a variety of metrics, such as how to enhance customer experience, price new products, and cut transportation costs, to name a few. Data Analysts work with data, modeling data, and reporting. 

How to Become a Data Analyst in India?

In India, students must plan to become data analysts from the early time they join high school. After completing the Class 10 board examinations, one should preferably pursue the Science stream, along with certain compulsory disciplines such as Mathematics, Economics, Statistics, or Computer Science.

Step 1: Acquire a Bachelor’s Degree

To become a data analyst, you must first acquire a bachelor's degree like BTech in Computer Science and Engineering, BTech in Information Technology, Bachelor in Computer Application, or other related bachelor’s degree in computer science, information management, mathematics, statistics, economics, finance, or business information systems. 

A postgraduate degree can help you obtain practical experience in real-world settings.

Step 2: Improve your technical knowledge.

A profession in data analysis often necessitates a set of particular technical abilities along with a bachelor’s degree. Whether you're learning through a degree program, a professional certificate, or on your own, a candidate must have proficiency in programming language, data visualization, data cleansing, relational databases, and machine learning.

Step 3: Work on Projects that use real-world data.

Working with data in real-world contexts is the greatest approach to learning how to identify value in it. Look for degree programs or courses that include hands-on projects using real-world data sets. 

Step 4: Start with an internship

To get exposure to a data analyst job, you can do an internship part-time or full-time as per your availability time as it will help you prepare for the job and also provide you with a first-hand understanding of the field. Through an internship, candidates will discover how things work in the real world.

Step 5: Get a career as an entry-level data analyst.

After you have acquired your bachelor’s degree and little working experience through an internship or projects it's time to polish your CV and apply for entry-level data analyst positions. Don't be scared to apply for jobs for which you don't feel completely qualified. Your talents, portfolio, and excitement for a career are frequently more important than checking every bullet point on the credentials list.

Step 6: Pursue a Master’s Degree

After gaining substantial working experience as a data analyst, individuals can choose to return to college and acquire a Master's degree in a related profession, which will allow them to progress in the job and see a large rise in their pay. As you get more experience through college or work experience, your salary will most certainly rise.

Step 7: Acquire certificates.

A certification might help you stand out to potential employers. Certification will indicate that you have the abilities required for the job. Among the highly regarded certificates available are:

  • Open Certified Data Scientist
  • Google Certified Professional Data Engineer
  • SAS Certified Advanced Analytics Professional Using SAS 9
  • Microsoft Certified Data Analyst Associate
  • SAS Certified Big Data Professional Using SAS 9
  • Microsoft Certified Azure Data Scientist Associate

Exam Required to Become Data Analyst in India

To become data analyst in India, securing a bachelor’s degree is important. The admission data analyst courses like BTech and BCA will be done mostly entrance exams like 

BTech Entrance Exam

  • JEE Main
  • JEE Advanced
  • BITSAT
  • SRMJEEE
  • BITSAT
  • WBJEE

BCA Entrance Exam

  • IPU CET
  • KITEE
  • SET
  • BUMAT

Skills Required to Become Data Analyst

A good data analytics professional must have strong analytical and numerical skills. Aside from that, a complete grasp of computer software(s) such as Querying Language (SQL, Hive, Pig), programming Language (Python, Matlab), Statistical Language (R, SAS, SPSS), and Excel is required. Data analytics experts must also have strong interpretative, communication problem solving skills in order to explain the data analysis process and its results.

How to Become a Data Analyst in Abroad?

Aside from India, a number of other countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia, provide data analytics courses. A number of famous colleges and universities also provide undergraduate and graduate-level Data Analytics courses completing which you can complete a job but make sure that you have a proper valid visa or work permit for that.

Step 1: Finish Class 12th

Candidates must have passed the 12th class or an equivalent test, as well as grades in mathematics, physics, and chemistry.

Step 2: Pass English Language Test

To study and become a data analyst candidates must have passed one of the English language proficiency examinations, such as the TOEFL or IELTS. Candidates planning to study postgraduate data analysis programs must have a Graduate Examination score of at least 80%.

In addition to the English proficiency examinations, candidates must take the GRE.

Step 3: Choose a Course

Look for data analytics or similar programs at universities or institutions. Check the respective college’s rankings, teacher expertise, and course offerings.

Step 4: Prepare Your Application

Prepare your application documents, which should include academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and an excellent résumé or curriculum vitae (CV). Scholarships and financial help are available for overseas students. Many institutions provide merit-based scholarships, so aim for academic success. Complete and submit your applications to the colleges of your choice by the deadlines. 

Step 5: Get a Student Visa

Investigate the visa requirements for the nation of your choice and apply for a student visa. Be prepared to give evidence of admittance, financial means, and any other documentation that may be necessary. 

Step 6: Finish Your Course

Complete the enrollment procedure at your university, attend orientation sessions, and meet with academic advisers to arrange your course of study once you arrive.

Step 7: Internships and Work Experience

During your education, look for internships or part-time work in data analytics to obtain practical experience and build your resume. 

Step 8: Work Possibilities for International Students

Many nations, particularly those with strong educational institutions, provide work possibilities for international students both during and after they complete their studies. Internships, co-op programs, and post-graduation work permits are examples of such options.

Several nations, like Canada and Australia, offer work permit schemes that allow overseas students who have finished a degree or diploma program to work in the country for a set period of time following graduation. 

Step 9: Visa and Work Authorization

 In order to work abroad after graduation, foreign students must often get a work visa or permission that permits them to work lawfully in the country. The particular requirements and procedures for acquiring a work visa differ per nation.

Some employers may be prepared to sponsor overseas students for work visas or work permits, allowing them to stay and work in the country for a longer length of time.

Exam Required to Become Data Analyst Abroad

To work as a data analyst in another country, you may need to pass standardized examinations such as IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), especially if you are a non-native English speaker.

As part of the admission process for data analytics programs, certain nations or institutions may demand standardized tests such as the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) or GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) in addition to language competence assessments. 

Skills Required to Become a Data Analyst in Abroad 

To work as a data analyst in another country, you must have both technical and soft skills. The following skills are required:

  • Analytical Skills
  • Programming Skills
  • Statistical Knowledge
  • Data Cleaning and Preprocessing
  • Critical Thinking: 
  • Communication
  • Attention to Detail
  • Data Visualization
  • SQL and Database Skills
  • Problem-Solving

How to Become a Data Analyst After 12th

Candidates who want to join the career path of data analyst after 12th class must follow the detailed steps given below on how to become data analyst.

Step 1: Pass the Entrance Exam for a Bachelor’s Degree

Several colleges and universities hold entrance tests to choose individuals who want to work as data analysts. Students must prepare for and take admission tests. There are several additional institutions and institutes that provide admission based on a 10+2 passing percentage.

Step 2: Pursue Bachelor’s Degree

Study in a bachelor's degree program in a relevant discipline, such as mathematics, statistics, computer science, or economics. During your undergraduate studies, focus on developing excellent mathematical and statistical skills. Learn computer languages such as Python and R, which are crucial for data analysis.

Step 3: Do Internship

Gain hands-on experience in data analysis through internships or projects. Learn how to use data visualization tools such as Tableau or Power BI. You can do part-time internships while you are studying bachelor's degree to become a data analyst.

Step 4: Apply for Jobs

You can get a job as a data analyst through your college placements depending upon the college you are studying. Some colleges have excellent placements through which candidates get good packages. In addition, you can create your own portfolio and apply for jobs on your own through various platforms or by giving in-house interviews at companies. 

Exam Needed to Become Data Analyst After 12th

Candidates who want to become data analysts after Class 12 have to pass the entrance exam to get admission to a bachelor’s degree. Following are the entrance exams conducted for the data analyst degree that the candidate must qualify for. 

  • JEE Main
  • JEE Advanced
  • BITSAT
  • WBJEE
  • COMEDK UGET
  • KCET
  • SRMJEEE
  • IPU CET
  • KITEEE

Skills Required to Become Data Analyst After 12th

Following is the skill set a candidate must acquire or pertain to become data analyst after 12th Class:

  • Machine Learning Skills
  • Econometrics
  • SQL Language
  • Statistical Programming Knowledge
  • Data Management Skills
  • Communication Skills
  • Time management Skills
  • Attention to details 
  • Probability and Statistics Knowledge

How to Become Data Analyst After Graduation

Candidates who have related degrees like BTech in IT, BTech in CSE, BCA, etc can become data analyst simply by applying for jobs. Do an internship and build a portfolio of data analysis projects during your internship to showcase your skills to potential employers. After graduation and gaining internship experience, start applying for data analyst jobs that match your skill set. Attend industry events, join professional organizations, and network with professionals to discover job opportunities and stay informed about industry trends.

If you want to improve your skills and job chances, consider acquiring industry-recognized certifications or pursuing a master's degree in data science or a similar discipline.

Exam Needed to Become Data Analyst After Graduation

Candidates who want to pursue a master’s degree in data analyst after graduation have to clear an entrance exam to get admission depending upon which college they are applying to. Following are the entrance exams for admission into the master's degree in data analyst.

  • GATE
  • TANCET
  • AP PGECET
  • BITS HD 
  • SRMJEEE PG
  • OJEE
  • WB JECA
  • VITMEE

Eligibility to become Data Analyst

Becoming a data analyst typically requires a combination of education, skills, and experience. Here are the key eligibility criteria that a candidate must fulfill to become a data analyst:

Educational Qualification: The candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree in BTech CSE or BTech IT or Bachelor's Computer Application degree or degree in related fields like mathematics, computer science, statistics, economics, engineering, or related fields. Some employers may prefer candidates with a master's degree for more advanced positions.

Essential Skills: Having technical skills and knowledge is very important to become a data analyst. Employers look for data analysts who have the following skills 

  • Analytical Skills: Data analysts must be able to assess data, detect patterns, and develop relevant conclusions. 
  • Statistical grasp: A solid grasp of statistics is required for data analysis. Knowledge of hypothesis testing, regression analysis, and probability is required.
  • Programming Skills: Knowledge of programming languages such as Python or R is frequently required for data analysis. SQL is also used for database queries.
  • Data Visualization: Data analysts are frequently required to present their conclusions via graphics. Skills in technologies such as Tableau, Power BI, and Matplotlib are highly valued.
  • Data Cleaning and Preprocessing: Because real-world data is frequently dirty and incomplete, the ability to clean and preprocess data is critical.
  • Database Knowledge: Understanding databases and SQL for data extraction is essential.

Types of Data Analysts

There are various types of Data Analysts and specializations from which candidates can choose as per their field of interest. Following are some of the types of Data Analyst jobs that candidates can go for: 

Marketing Analyst

A Marketing Analyst analyzes data to assist businesses in better understanding their consumers and developing marketing strategies. They study client behavior, demographic data, and market trends to help businesses target their marketing efforts more effectively. They may also create marketing performance measures to measure the effectiveness of marketing efforts.

Business/Data Analyst

A Business/Data Analyst is in charge of gathering, analyzing, and interpreting large amounts of data to assist businesses in making sound decisions. They collaborate with stakeholders to establish business needs and provide supporting data models. In addition, they may create reports and dashboards to provide data insights to decision-makers.

Healthcare Analyst

A Healthcare Analyst analyzes data to assist healthcare companies in improving patient outcomes and lowering expenses. They may do trend and pattern analysis on healthcare data such as patient records, clinical trials, and insurance claims. They may also create prediction models to assist healthcare providers in making better judgments.

Financial Analyst 

A Financial Analyst analyzes data to assist businesses in making financial choices. They may examine financial data such as sales, costs, and profitability to assist businesses in identifying opportunities for development or improvement. Economic models may also be developed to estimate future performance and assist strategic planning.

List of Colleges Which Provides Courses to Become Data Analyst

There are a number of colleges that offers data analyst course. Following are some of the colleges that offer courses to become a data analyst.

  • IIM Amritsar
  • IIM Kashipur
  • IIT Bangalore
  • MATS University, Raipur
  • IIM Kozhikode
  • Goa Institute of Management (GIM)
  • VIT Chennai
  • Vishwakarma University
  • Lovely Professional University (LPU)
  • IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
  • Christ University

Types of Job Roles Data Analyst

Often, candidates find it hard to decide on what type of Data Analyst he/she wants to become. To choose a designated Data Analyst type, candidates must understand the broad classification of the same. Read in detail the Data Analyst job profiles and choose the one that suits you.

Data Analyst: This is the most common type of data analyst role. Data analysts collect, clean, and analyze data to help businesses make better decisions. They may work in a variety of industries, including finance, healthcare, retail, and technology.

Business Intelligence Analyst: Business intelligence analysts focus on using data to help businesses improve their performance. They typically work with data from a variety of sources, including customer data, financial data, and operational data.

Data Scientist: Data scientists are responsible for developing and implementing data-driven solutions to business problems. They typically have a strong background in statistics and machine learning.

Data Engineer: Data engineers build and maintain the infrastructure that data analysts and data scientists use to collect, store, and analyze data. They typically have a strong background in computer science and engineering.

Data Visualization Specialist: Data visualization specialists create interactive visualizations of data to help businesses understand their data. They typically have a strong background in design and user experience.

Employment Opportunities for Data Analysts

Data analysts are in high demand across many industries. Some of the sectors which hire Data Analyst along with their work descriptions are listed below:

  • Finance: Financial institutions use data analytics to make investment decisions, manage risk, and combat fraud.
  • Healthcare: Healthcare organizations use data analytics to improve patient care, manage costs, and develop new treatments.
  • Retail: Retailers use data analytics to understand customer behavior, optimize inventory, and personalize marketing campaigns.
  • Technology: Technology companies use data analytics to develop new products and services, improve customer experience, and identify security threats.
  • Media and entertainment: Media and entertainment companies use data analytics to understand audience behavior, optimize advertising, and create personalized content.
  • Manufacturing: Manufacturing companies use data analytics to improve efficiency, optimize production, and reduce costs.
  • Logistics and transportation: Logistics and transportation companies use data analytics to optimize routes, manage inventory, and improve customer service.
  • Government: Government agencies use data analytics to improve public safety, manage infrastructure, and make policy decisions.
  • Non-profit: Non-profits use data analytics to track donations, measure impact, and improve efficiency.

Top Recruiting Companies for Data Analysts

Some of the top recruiting companies that give opportunities for candidates to become Data Analyst are listed below:

  • Accenture
  • Deloitte
  • EY
  • KPMG
  • Amazon
  • Microsoft
  • Google
  • SAS Institute
  • IBM

Planning to choose Data Analyst as your career?

Pay Scale/Salary of Data Analyst

In India, the average Data Analyst Salary is INR 5.50 LPA. Data Analysts with 5 to 7 years of experience can expect to earn an average income of INR 8 LPA. The average yearly Data Analyst Salary based on specialization is shown in the table below.

Job Profile

Average Annual Salary

Financial Analyst

INR 5.01 LPA

Database Engineers

INR 6.00 LPA

Social Media Data Analyst

INR 3.30 LPA

System Analyst

INR 6.60 LPA

Insurance Underwriting Analyst

INR 5.20 LPA

Healthcare Analyst

INR 4.67 LPA

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