Transitioning or switching to a career in data analysis is not a piece of cake, especially if your current career path is non-technical. It is a road paved with many obstacles and you can get overwhelmed and frustrated somewhere along the line. In this blog post, I’m going to discuss a few things that will help you to switch easily to a career in data analysis.

1. Be sure of your decision
As much as the world is now data-inclined, a career in data analysis is really not for everybody. Before transitioning, be sure to ask yourself if this switch is necessary. Do you really want to do it? If you are only transitioning because everyone is doing it, then you might not be able to push through when the challenges come.

2. Research your position of interest.
There are many job positions in data analysis with different sets of required skills. While the title of a data analyst is the most popular one, and most likely the first one you thought of, there are other options. You can be a database administrator, a BI analyst, an IT systems analyst, a healthcare analyst, an operations analyst, etc. Each of these job positions has their required skill sets. Think about the job position you are interested in, and find out the necessary skill sets.

3. Develop your Skills
There are certain skills that are required of almost every data analyst. These skill sets are important when switching to a career in data analysis, and they include Creative and Analytical thinking, programming languages, Advanced Excel, Data Cleaning, Data visualization, SQL databases, etc.

4. Create a Portfolio
While switching to a career in data analysis, it is important to create a portfolio. Employers want to see concrete evidence of the things you can do, so start building a portfolio the moment you begin your learning process. As you develop your skills, update your portfolio. Not sure where to start? You can create a GitHub account, or sign up on Kaggle to have access to many open projects that you can practicalize with. These projects will strengthen your portfolio.

5. Build a network.
It doesn’t matter if you love it or hate it, networking is important if you want to take that giant leap and switch to a career in data analysis. There are different ways to expand your network without going to networking events. You can start by getting the word out about your interest in data analysis to family, friends, and anyone who cares to listen. Post about it on LinkedIn, and connect with people in your field of interest (professionals and amateurs). You can find like-minded people on platforms like Quora and reach out to them for connections, advice, etc.

6. There is no magical process to this, transitioning careers don’t happen overnight, especially to data analysis. You have to be willing to put in the work and develop yourself.

I will like to learn this.Dont know if you help me with some video materials

Thanks for the info

eldolink:
I will like to learn this. Don't know if you help me with some video materials

Hi Eldolink. It's good to know you want to start a career as a data analyst. You can start by learning any of these- Tableau, Python, SQL for data analysis.

onyeogalu1:
Thanks for the info

You are welcome. Interested in learning data analysis?

Techlyte:
You are welcome. Interested in learning data analysis?

Yes

data science. Who can explain better

Hmmmm

Pls, any recommended site for training and certification?

Wir können die Besten sein und für immer glücklich leben

Contact me

Suspect33:
Presentation skills plays a huge part in the Data Analysis profession, if you don't have it ( introverts ) and aren't willing to learn, then this field won't suit you

True

Impossible is nothing.

The thing no easy sha....

Suspect33:
Presentation skills plays a huge part in the Data Analysis profession, if you don't have it ( introverts ) and aren't willing to learn, then this field won't suit you

Hmmm

Nairalanders no dey here, dem dey thread of OBA doings

SecretReporter:
Wir können die Besten sein und für immer glücklich leben

Speak in English joor....

SMH.

After more than 10 decades one naive moderator finally gave the thread a push to reach a broader audience whereas BBN, Snake thread and Buhari thread makes it to the front page before it even created.

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but
in rising every time we fall. -Nelson Mandela

Like I always tell people, Data science is one of the top paying fields in I.T

Pls which laptop is best for learning graphic designs?

Techlyte:

Hi Eldolink. It's good to know you want to start a career as a data analyst. You can start by learning any of these- Tableau, Python, SQL for data analysis.

Know the 3 and you will be fine

Hmmm

Techlyte:

Hi Eldolink. It's good to know you want to start a career as a data analyst. You can start by learning any of these- Tableau, Python, SQL for data analysis.

You forgot to add R. Although, I prefer Python.

R and Python are largely interchangeable. So, you may choOse one of the two.

They typical data science stack (at least for beginners) is; Python/R, and SQL.

Before that, please try to learn at least one GUI (non-programming) software e.g Excel, SPSS.

Note: Data Science is different from Data Analysis

Data Analysis is a branch in Data Science

Forget about Data Science if;

1. You Don't have a Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics or a relevant STEM degree

2. You hate Maths

3. You really hate Maths

1. You will feel like giving up
2. Then you will give up but the love for the path will kick you back into the path again
3. Then you will not make money immediately and you will feel like giving up again
4. Just take in a deeper dive and add passion to your drive and you will be home
5. The shocker though is that in tech you have never arrived, that being a data analyst is a journey and not a destination
... from experience on ethical hacking learning path to php then to Javascript then back to ethical hacking... so far so good.

Suspect33:
Note: Data Science is different from Data Analysis

Data Analysis is a branch in Data Science

Forget about Data Science if;

[s]1. You Don't have a Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics or a relevant STEM degree
[/s]
2. You hate Maths

3. You really hate Maths

There's nothing unlearnable and that includes mathematics. It only depends on your dedication commitment.

As for your points two and three, people only hate things because they don't understand it. Once you understand mathematics and statistics your hatred for it will disappear.

Go to YouTube and search for mathematics/statistics for data science beginners. Learn everyday and you'll be surprised how far you'll go in a short time.

Nice write up. I started going into BI in 2015. I'm in the report dev. space using visualization tool like Power BI. A background in Excel and business admin will help greatly.

All this courses no be for someone in Nigeria...they are higher than us.
Na so dem use Oracle scam us. I pay over 100k but I never benefited from it.
Even GIS too is underutilized here... So no waste your energy on such programs, except you too won scam people with training..

Person with graphic designing skill go even first you get job