What Does A Data Analyst ACTUALLY Do? | Data Analyst Job Description

What Does a Data Analyst Do?

Overview of the Data Analyst Role

• The speaker introduces the topic of data analysis, noting that many people are confused about what data analysts actually do.

• The role of a data analyst can vary significantly, ranging from less technical to more technical positions.

Technical Data Analyst Roles

• The first role discussed is highly technical, involving complex SQL queries to extract data from a company's data lake and creating basic Excel reports.

• In this position, programming languages like JavaScript and Python were used for automating data aggregation and cleaning processes.

• Communication with stakeholders was minimal; interactions occurred mainly when there were errors or specific technical questions regarding reports.

Mid-Level Data Analyst Roles

• The next role falls in between technical and non-technical; it requires both hard skills (like SQL) and soft skills (like communication).

• This role involves translating business questions into data-driven inquiries, collecting data using SQL, and performing exploratory analysis with Python.

• After analysis, insights are distilled into high-level findings presented in PowerPoint to stakeholders who may request further analysis.

Less Technical Data Analyst Roles

• The final type of role discussed is less technical, focusing on dashboard creation and stakeholder communication rather than coding.

• Analysts in this capacity spend significant time developing reports and dashboards using tools like Tableau or Power BI while emphasizing domain knowledge.

Key Takeaways for Aspiring Data Analysts

• All three roles mentioned share the title "data analyst," but their responsibilities differ widely based on company needs.

• It's crucial for job seekers to read job descriptions carefully to ensure alignment with their career goals—whether they prefer technical work or stakeholder interaction.