Top 10 Trending Skills for a Successful Data Analytics Career

By Sonalisha Mohanty Category Hot Topics Reading time 10.5 mins Published on May 01, 2023

Top 10 Trending Skills For A Successful Data Analytics Career

A modern business problem needs modern solutions. Businesses deal with vast datasets that often create confusion in business decisions. Analytics integrated with business functions helps solve business issues, establishing a competitive advantage. Analytics-driven business cultures set up a roadmap to success for data analytics enthusiasts.

Analytics has different job roles in demand lately, and the data analyst career role is one of them. Yet cracking lucrative job roles in analytics requires good control over data analytics skills. In the cut-throat competition for the data analyst role, employers look for unique skills that make you stand out from the crowd.

A data analyst course has vast scope for success and career growth. Apart from the degree course and generic skill set, a person must develop a handful of technical expertise. Attentive learning and expertise in the skills you need support your career and business growth.

Let us review the top 10 trending skills in a data analyst career.

Essential Skills Required for Data Analyst Career Building

The experts awaiting a career shift with possession of demanding skills, an expert can crack interviews in MNCs/MAANG. The essential skills are as follows:

1. Basic Applied Mathematics/Statistics

If you value playing with facts and figures, then the data analytics field is right for you. Before that, you must know the skills required for a data analyst role. Yet, basic knowledge of applied mathematics/statistics is the first step toward data analytics. All this basics knowledge helps you: -

  • See through the market trends,

  • Estimate the median range of large datasets, and

  • Conduct statistical analysis of certain areas.

2. Python Programming

Python programming is the most demanding skill that every industry requires. Its dynamic programming structure generally helps in application development in many industries. Limited knowledge of Excel or analytics skills creates a huge complexity when dealing with datasets. But Python application packages like 'NumPy,' 'Keras,' 'PyTorch,' and 'Matplotlib' can assist you in data analysis.

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3. Machine Learning

Data science has a core demand for machine learning to improve accuracy over unstructured datasets. ML can help data analysts predict future data trends that benefit business strategies. ML algorithms support data analysts in identifying the data pattern for further analysis and reaching an optimal solution for the issues addressed. Hence, basic knowledge of ML will help you stay competitive in the field.

4. SQL

Data analysts must interpret the key stakeholders' datasets. A standard language in the form of SQL helps analysts encode the datasets and convey the findings. SQL programming helps extract valuable data from a company database that helps make critical decisions.

SQL is often an underrated skill but is important in data analytics certification. It selects the right source of data and processes the right information. Hence, analysts must try to learn SQL programming first.

5. Power BI

Unstructured datasets need clarity to reach justified decisions. Data trends and patterns need graphical portrayals and clean designs to explore insights. Misleading values from the datasets affect business decisions, but data analysts with Power BI skills can save the day. Data analytics skills demand quality data exploration and clean visualisations of the datasets that Power BI supports.

6. Big Data, Hadoop & Spark Analytics

The skills required for data analysts are to unleash the hidden dataset patterns and analyze the correlations. Big data in analytics assists data analysts in processing raw datasets for informed decisions. Your skill in Hadoop enables you to store and process larger amounts of data for quick access.

Data analysts perform data analysis with the application of Spark analytics. PySpark helps make the datasets more interactive for insightful decisions.

7. Microsoft Excel

Excel is a traditional skill that almost every field and domain demands. Excel performs structured cell formation, formatting, and quality editing.

VBA commands help in managing spreadsheets and maintaining sync between data cells. These functions together support the data analysts in extracting insights from raw datasets. Excel functions like pivot tables take the first step toward quality data analysis.

8. Research

Insightful business decisions are impossible without facts and evidence. And facts are irrelevant without proper research. Hence, research is eminent among the skills that a data analyst needs to secure their career. Professional courses help sharpen your technical skills, but research skills need practice. Data analysts need to develop strong research skills that help them trace the latest updates and follow market trends.

9. Communication and Collaboration

Data analysts work with data that brings essential insights to light. Hence, the analysts must have good conversation skills to build professional ties with the stakeholders. Data analysis, data exploration, and dashboard management require communication skills. The analyst's ability to inform the findings with insights affects business decisions.

A data analyst's conversation reflects through business reports. Hence, this is a must skill required for a data analyst career.

10. Critical-thinking & Problem-solving

A data analyst manages business problems and drives informed decisions. A strong critical-thinking skill helps in this role. An analyst skilled in critically thinking about the instances can derive better solutions.

Technical abilities help analysts propose better business solutions. An expert with better problem-solving skills can tackle business issues well. A good enough analysis of current business conditions is possible when an analyst tries to see through complex data trends critically.

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In Conclusion!!

The rapid expansion of the data analytics field brings magnificent scope for career shifts that one should not miss. Apart from soft skills, technical expertise is mostly demanded in the field. With the various professional courses available, one must opt for the certification that provides a practical learning experience.

Data analytics course is an industry-paced certificate program that supports career shifts at the early or mid-career level. With at least one year of experience, a person can kick-start a career in data analytics.

The program helps the pros gain data analytics skills with real-time work experience. The capstone projects in the chosen domain fast-forward your career in the analytics field. Also, the course and project completion certificate from IBM elevate your career growth chances as a data analyst.

Frequently Asked Questions


1. Is data analytics a demanding industry in 2023?

Data analytics has endless career growth scope and projects to rise by 27.6% by 2030. With the right skills and technical expertise, anyone can shape an astounding career in data analytics.

2. How to refine data analytics skills?

Basic knowledge of domain concepts can help at first. Then, with a good certificate course, practical learning of analytics tools is possible. Plus, capstone projects with the course provide the scope of real-time learning. Regular learning, knowledge of recent updates, and practice can refine your skills.

3. How to shape a career for a data analyst role?

The data analyst job role includes many levels, from the entry stage to the senior management stage. With years of experience and skills, a data analyst is positioned in the company. Yet, the role has a diversified career path with a bright scope for career growth.

4. What are the data analyst's annual earnings?

A data analyst earns around 4 LPA in India. The salary package can include up to 12 LPA, specific skills, and work experience. Even if designations keep changing, salaries and perks are determined based on expertise.

5. Which industries hire data analysts?

The data analyst role in India has become popular and has many job openings. Industries working with vast datasets have openings for data analyst roles. Some industries are: -

  • Sales & Marketing

  • Finance

  • IT

  • Start-ups

  • Business Consulting

  • HR & People Management