Data analyst roles and job descriptions

As technology continues to advance, being able to collect and analyze the data from that new
technology has become a huge competitive advantage for a lot of businesses. Everything from
websites to social media feeds are filled with fascinating data that, when analyzed and used
correctly, can help inform business decisions. A company’s ability to thrive now often depends on
how well it can leverage data, apply analytics, and implement new technologies.

This is why skilled data analysts are some of the most sought-after professionals in the world. A
study conducted by IBM estimates that there are over 380,000 job openings in the Data Analytics
field in the United States*. Because the demand is so strong, you’ll be able to find job opportunities
in virtually any industry. Do a quick search on any major job site and you’ll notice that every type of
business from zoos, to health clinics, to banks are seeking talented data professionals. Even if the
job title doesn’t use the exact term “data analyst,” the job description for most roles involving data
analysis will likely include a lot of the skills and qualifications you’ll gain by the end of this program.
In this reading, we’ll explore some of the data analyst-related roles you might find in different
companies and industries. 

* Burning Glass data, Feb 1, 2021 - Jan 31, 2022, US

Decoding the job description

The data analyst role is one of many job titles that contain the word “analyst.” 

To name a few others that sound similar but may not be the same role:

 Business analyst — analyzes data to help businesses improve processes, products, or services
 Data analytics consultant — analyzes the systems and models for using data
 Data engineer — prepares and integrates data from different sources for analytical use
 Data scientist — uses expert skills in technology and social science to find trends through data
analysis
 Data specialist — organizes or converts data for use in databases or software systems
 Operations analyst — analyzes data to assess the performance of business operations and
workflows
Data analysts, data scientists, and data specialists sound very similar but focus on different tasks.
As you start to browse job listings online, you might notice that companies’ job descriptions seem to
combine these roles or look for candidates who may have overlapping skills. The fact that
companies often blur the lines between them means that you should take special care when reading
the job descriptions and the skills required. 

The table below illustrates some of the overlap and distinctions between them:
Title: Decoding the job description data analysts: -problem solving: Use existing tools and methods
to solve problems with existing types of data -analysis: Analyze collected data to help stakeholders
make better decisions -other relevant skills: database queries, data visualization, dashboards,
reports and spreadsheets data scientists: -problem solving: Invent new tools and models, ask open-
ended questions, and collect new types of data -analysis: Analyze and interpret complex data to
make business predictions -other relevant skills: advanced statistics, machine learning, deep
learning, data optimization, and programming data specialists: -problem solving: Use in-depth
knowledge of databases as a tool to solve problems and manage data -analysis: Organize large
volumes of data for use in data analytics or business operations -other relevant skills: data
manipulation, information security, data models, scalability of data, and disaster recovery
We used the role of data specialist as one example of many specializations within data analytics, but
you don’t have to become a data specialist! Specializations can take a number of different turns. For
example, you could specialize in developing data visualizations and likewise go very deep into that
area. 

Job specializations by industry 

We learned that the data specialist role concentrates on in-depth knowledge of databases. In similar
fashion, other specialist roles for data analysts can focus on in-depth knowledge of specific
industries. For example, in a job as a business analyst you might wear some different hats than in a
more general position as a data analyst. As a business analyst, you would likely collaborate with
managers, share your data findings, and maybe explain how a small change in the company’s
project management system could save the company 3% each quarter. Although you would still be
working with data all the time, you would focus on using the data to improve business operations,
efficiencies, or the bottom line.
Other industry-specific specialist positions that you might come across in your data analyst job
search include:

 Marketing analyst — analyzes market conditions to assess the potential sales of products and
services 
 HR/payroll analyst — analyzes payroll data for inefficiencies and errors
 Financial analyst — analyzes financial status by collecting, monitoring, and reviewing data
 Risk analyst — analyzes financial documents, economic conditions, and client data to help
companies determine the level of risk involved in making a particular business decision
 Healthcare analyst — analyzes medical data to improve the business aspect of hospitals and
medical facilities

Key takeaway
Explore data analyst job descriptions and industry-specific analyst roles. You will start to get a better
sense of the different data analyst jobs out there and which types of roles you’re most interested to
go after.

Rather than a reading, we invite you to watch Anna Leach's TEDx talk on YouTube or on the
TED platform to learn about another interesting journey as a data analyst.
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1.
Question 1

Overview

Now that you have been introduced to the SMART framework for asking questions, you can pause
to apply what you are learning. In this self-reflection, you will consider the questions you would ask
in a specific scenario. 

This self-reflection will help you develop insights into your own learning and prepare you to apply
your knowledge of the SMART question framework to your own data investigations. As you answer
questions—and come up with questions of your own—you will consider concepts, practices, and
principles to help refine your understanding and reinforce your learning. You’ve done the hard work,
so make sure to get the most out of it: This reflection will help your knowledge stick!

The scenario

You are three weeks into your new job as a junior data analyst. The company you work for has just
collected data on their weekend sales. Your manager asks you to perform a “deep dive” into this
data. To get this project started, you must ask some questions and get some information.

SMART questions

As a refresher, SMART questions are:

 Specific: Questions are simple, significant, and focused on a single topic or a few closely related
ideas.
 Measurable: Questions can be quantified and assessed.
 Action-oriented: Questions encourage change.
 Relevant: Questions matter, are important, and have significance to the problem you’re trying to
solve. 
 Time-bound: Questions specify the time to be studied.
Next, you will use the SMART framework to ask effective questions about the scenario above. Then,
you will reflect on the topics your SMART questions should address.

Ask the right type of questions

You can apply the SMART framework to all types of questions. The type of questions you ask can
help you explore deeper with your data. Consider the ways your questions help you examine
objectives, audience, time, security, and resources.

Some common topics for questions include: 

 Objectives
 Audience
 Time
 Resources
 Security
Think about how you can ask SMART questions about each of these topics.

Reflection

Consider the scenario above:

 Based on the SMART framework, which questions are most important to ask? 
 How will these questions clarify the requirements and goals for the project?
 How does asking detailed, specific questions benefit you when planning for a project? Can vague or
unclear questions harm a project?
Now, write 2-3 sentences (40-60 words) in response to each of these questions. Type your response
in the text box below.

1 / 1 point

Based on SMART framework the most important questions to ask is definitely the first step which is
"Specific". In this phase you are trying to find out the solutions for the problem. Creating the flow of
the project what do you want to find out . Well defined, clear, and unambiguous questions that will
decided the flow of the project. These questions will clarify the requirements in a way that you are
streamline the process. In this questions the other objectives are already in its scope because you
are trying to ask the questions that are well defined, clear, and unambiguous questions that will
decided the flow of the project. It benefits your planning for a project because we know that all
projects are time constraint. We tend to finish in a given set of deadlines so that it will be helpful for
the decision maker. Questions that are vague and unclear will harm the project. In a way that you
will be lost in the middle of the project. There will be no consistency and the project will takes time.

Correct

Great work reinforcing your learning with a thoughtful self-reflection! A good reflection on this topic
would describe how you applied SMART questions to the scenario.
Here are a few questions you might want to ask:

 When is the project due?

 Are there any specific challenges to keep in mind? 
 Who are the major stakeholders for this project, and what do they expect this project to do for them?
 Who am I presenting the results to?
Here are some examples of questions you might ask based on the suggested topics:

 Objectives: What are the goals of the deep dive? What, if any, questions are expected to be
answered by this deep dive?
 Audience: Who are the stakeholders? Who is interested or concerned about the results of this deep
dive? Who is the audience for the presentation?
 Time: What is the time frame for completion? By what date does this need to be done?
 Resources: What resources are available to accomplish the deep dive's goals?
 Security: Who should have access to the information?
These questions can help you focus on techniques and analyses that produce results of interest to
stakeholders. They also clarify the deliverable’s due date, which is important to know so you can
manage your time effectively. When you start work on a project, you need to ask questions that align
with the plan and the goals and help you explore the data. The more questions you ask, the more
you learn about your data, and the more powerful your insights will be.

Asking thorough and specific questions means clarifying details until you get to concrete
requirements. With clear requirements and goals, it’s much easier to plan and execute a successful
data analysis project and avoid time-consuming problems down the road.