Where Could a Career in Data Analytics Take You?

by Anannya Agrawal professional trainer for mobile and web applicatio

The technology shift over the last 20 years has helped organizations generate enough information to make better decisions. The same data has them derive better insights to take their business forward.

If data and analytics excite you, know that some exciting career prospects lie ahead.

Why Data Analytics?

Career Advancement Opportunities
Be Part of the Faster Growing Industries
Work Alongside Skilled Professionals
Companies Pay High Salaries

However, the opportunities within this space are plenty & there are multiple career choices that you can make. In this article, we will help you understand where this hottest job can take you.

1. Data Analytics
The role of a data analyst requires the skills of data analysis. Data analysts are experienced in working across a wide range of sectors from marketing, insurance, finance, IT tech, media & healthcare, to name a few. When you enter this space, you will start as a “frontline” data analyst to extract data, clean it, perform analysis and share your learnings. Since it’s a very hands-on role, you will be working alongside business stakeholders and have a say in the decisions they make.

When you begin your search for a data analyst role, you will most probably on the lookout for junior or entry-level positions. However, there are a lot of companies out there who might offer you a slightly higher role. The reason is that they would provide on-the-job training opportunities, especially since there is a huge talent gap. Once you have had two to three years’ experience, you will be more confident to take on senior roles. Here are the requirements and salaries for each of these roles.

Entry Level or Junior Level Analyst

Years of Experience Required: Entry-level or junior analyst positions that don’t require industry experience as long as you are ready to go the extra mile to learn. Fundamentals of mySQL, Python and Excel are required.

Data Analyst
Years of Experience: Data analyst positions will require you to have six months to three years. The requirements will vary depending on the sector and the company you work for.

Senior Data Analyst
Years of Experience: Data analysts can reach a senior position in as little as two to three years. Once you get a more senior role, you will be responsible for defining best practices and working closely with stakeholders to identify key performing indicators.

2. Business Analyst
Another prevalent position is that of a business analyst and one that requires the skills of data analysis. The terms data analyst and business analyst are often used interchangeably, especially in smaller companies.

On the contrary, in large organizations, these are two very distinct roles. Business analysts primarily focus on analyzing and optimizing overall business functions. It would include getting a more in-depth understanding of the existing business model, determining employee distribution across the organization and cutting costs where possible. Your role as a business analyst won’t be limited to sourcing and analyzing data but being primarily involved in strategic decision-making and steering the company’s journey ahead.

3. Data Scientist
Suppose your long-term goal is to secure a position as a data scientist, then mastering data analytics skills. So, are you wondering what a data scientist does? Just like data analysts, data scientists specialize in collecting and analyzing data to derive actionable insights. Additionally, data scientists are experts in machine learning and advanced programming. Data scientists identify patterns and trends to answer particular questions, data scientists design write algorithms, design new processes for data modeling and create predictive models to forecast future trends.

Data scientists usually require two to three years of experience in the field. Once you have gained some hands-on experience and mastered data analysis basics, you will delve deeper into machine learning, programming and algorithms.

4. Healthcare Data Analyst
Big data and data analytics play a critical role in the healthcare industry. This is one sector where data analysts can bring immense value. The healthcare data analyst is a term that people recognize. Your role will require you to equip physicians, clinical researchers and key decision-makers with data-driven insights.

5. Data Analytics Consultant
Suppose you’re looking for a job that is not restricted to your desk and allows you to work flexibly. In that case, a data analytics consultant is a role that you can certainly consider. Data analytics consultants, just like data analysts, work for multiple agencies or even freelance.

What Lies Ahead for Me?
Are you ready to take your career forward and be part of the most growing field? Our Data analytics course for beginners will help you get a grasp on comprehensive concepts like BI and Data Analytics along with hands-on experience.