Skills for a Data Analyst

[MarillionFan]

I would define data analysts at a number of different levels.

1) Data Analyst Lvl1(Jnr). Simple understanding of spreadsheets, collation of other reports, copy and paste, data given to them in Excel/Harcopy. Do the same thing time and time again to produce a report - Basically a simple Admin role.
2) Data Analyst Lvl2(Middle). Good Understanding of Excel, Pivot Tables, Vlookups, Charts, Does the Powerpoint and understands the numbers. Gets data themself from text file, or web portal. Maybe has a small understanding of VBA. Some Access
3) Data Analyst Lvl3(Senior). Has all of Excel, Gets Data and can automate parts of it, doesnt just understand the data, can interpret and source new data. Produces KPI and can talk to the business. Has VBA. Has SQL for pulling data remotely. Good Access, knows how databases work etc
4) Data Analyst. Lvl4(Senior Business Analyst). Has all of three, but can design databases, advanced crystal, BO, Oracle Business Intelligence. Excellent SQL, Views, Unions, Transformation. Understanding of Scheduling Tools, Star Schemas etc. Drives the other analysts, complex modelling, trend analysis
5) MIS Manager. Me

Im stuck with Level1s!!!!!!

[EternalOptimist]

Should a Data Analyst have SQL Skills. Thats the question?

Because in my company, every f-cking data analyst they have can only use Excel!!! 30% can use Access!!!!!

There's f-cking spreadsheets everywhere. They dont even have the sense to use the SQL Business Views provided to them via OLE DB or ODBC links!

In the US they keep saying that SQL is an IT function and they only need people to put numbers together, but frankly I've got idiots trying to work out, how to get 200,000 rows into a spreadsheet.

What does the panel think?

i dont understand the question. then again, I am an analist, your question was for analysts, sorry for butting in. Unless you are free tonight

[oracleslave]

i dont understand the question. then again, I am an analist, your question was for analysts, sorry for butting in. Unless you are free tonight

[SandyDown]

Im stuck with Level1s!!!!!!

If life gives you lemon - then make some lemonade.

[NotAllThere]

I know a product manager at a multinational pharmaceutical company. He has two excel spreadsheets he uses to forecast and track. The company has invested millions in data warehousing. They've developed data models and reports munging huge volumes of data. The results of those applications match his spreadsheets... but take two weeks longer to prepare.

Data analysts? Who needs 'em?

[scooterscot]

I know a product manager at a multinational pharmaceutical company. He has two excel spreadsheets he uses to forecast and track. The company has invested millions in data warehousing. They've developed data models and reports munging huge volumes of data. The results of those applications match his spreadsheets... but take two weeks longer to prepare.

Data analysts? Who needs 'em?

Trigg and leech and Box Jenkens method? I sometimes use SPSS when the need occurs, usually excel is just fine.

It's more important I deliver answers today when there needed and not a week later on software that throws a fit because I put a space between to characters or something similar...

[MarillionFan]

Trigg and leech and Box Jenkens method? I sometimes use SPSS when the need occurs, usually excel is just fine.

It's more important I deliver answers today when there needed and not a week later on software that throws a fit because I put a space between to characters or something similar...

and then they ask you to do it again. Thats because you feed the character of a Level 1 Data Analyst. Or PA as we call them.

[BoredBloke]

I would define data analysts at a number of different levels.

1) Data Analyst Lvl1(Jnr). Simple understanding of spreadsheets, collation of other reports, copy and paste, data given to them in Excel/Harcopy. Do the same thing time and time again to produce a report - Basically a simple Admin role.
2) Data Analyst Lvl2(Middle). Good Understanding of Excel, Pivot Tables, Vlookups, Charts, Does the Powerpoint and understands the numbers. Gets data themself from text file, or web portal. Maybe has a small understanding of VBA. Some Access
3) Data Analyst Lvl3(Senior). Has all of Excel, Gets Data and can automate parts of it, doesnt just understand the data, can interpret and source new data. Produces KPI and can talk to the business. Has VBA. Has SQL for pulling data remotely. Good Access, knows how databases work etc
4) Data Analyst. Lvl4(Senior Business Analyst). Has all of three, but can design databases, advanced crystal, BO, Oracle Business Intelligence. Excellent SQL, Views, Unions, Transformation. Understanding of Scheduling Tools, Star Schemas etc. Drives the other analysts, complex modelling, trend analysis
5) MIS Manager. Me

Im stuck with Level1s!!!!!!

I'm at 3 and looking to get to 4.

One of my mates was looking at getting me into a bank where he works as they have has 2 low level contractors on doing data intensive tasks but doing it manually. I could replace both and do the job faster and better but the client wouldn't pay my rate dispite it being about the same as the 2 who were not really performing.

[Diver]

I would define data analysts at a number of different levels.

1) Data Analyst Lvl1(Jnr). Simple understanding of spreadsheets, collation of other reports, copy and paste, data given to them in Excel/Harcopy. Do the same thing time and time again to produce a report - Basically a simple Admin role.
2) Data Analyst Lvl2(Middle). Good Understanding of Excel, Pivot Tables, Vlookups, Charts, Does the Powerpoint and understands the numbers. Gets data themself from text file, or web portal. Maybe has a small understanding of VBA. Some Access
3) Data Analyst Lvl3(Senior). Has all of Excel, Gets Data and can automate parts of it, doesnt just understand the data, can interpret and source new data. Produces KPI and can talk to the business. Has VBA. Has SQL for pulling data remotely. Good Access, knows how databases work etc
4) Data Analyst. Lvl4(Senior Business Analyst). Has all of three, but can design databases, advanced crystal, BO, Oracle Business Intelligence. Excellent SQL, Views, Unions, Transformation. Understanding of Scheduling Tools, Star Schemas etc. Drives the other analysts, complex modelling, trend analysis
5) MIS Manager. Me

Im stuck with Level1s!!!!!!

secretary's

[MrRobin]

I would define data analysts at a number of different levels.

1) Data Analyst Lvl1(Jnr). Simple understanding of spreadsheets, collation of other reports, copy and paste, data given to them in Excel/Harcopy. Do the same thing time and time again to produce a report - Basically a simple Admin role.
2) Data Analyst Lvl2(Middle). Good Understanding of Excel, Pivot Tables, Vlookups, Charts, Does the Powerpoint and understands the numbers. Gets data themself from text file, or web portal. Maybe has a small understanding of VBA. Some Access
3) Data Analyst Lvl3(Senior). Has all of Excel, Gets Data and can automate parts of it, doesnt just understand the data, can interpret and source new data. Produces KPI and can talk to the business. Has VBA. Has SQL for pulling data remotely. Good Access, knows how databases work etc
4) Data Analyst. Lvl4(Senior Business Analyst). Has all of three, but can design databases, advanced crystal, BO, Oracle Business Intelligence. Excellent SQL, Views, Unions, Transformation. Understanding of Scheduling Tools, Star Schemas etc. Drives the other analysts, complex modelling, trend analysis
5) MIS Manager. Me

I'm at 4, but don't think I really want to get to 5... I'm more of a hands on guy... atleast not yet anyway. I'd rather keep specialising, increasing my development skills and learning to use more analysis software.