Starting Your Journey

as a Data Analyst

First edition published in 2023

Second edition published in 2024

Copyright © 365 Company

All rights reserved

No part of this guide may be reprinted, reproduced, redistributed, or utilized in any form or by any method, printed,

electronic, mechanical, or other means now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying, recording, or in

any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission of the publisher. For permission requests,

contact [email protected]

Written by Aleksandra Yosifova, Dessie Tsvetkova,

Dragostina Slavova, Eugenia Anello, Marta Teneva,

Nedko Krastev, Nicolette Son

Copyedited by David Hawthorne

Illustrated and designed by Martina Videnova, Iv Dimanova, Zornitsa Statkova

365 Company

https://365datascience.com

@365datascience
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION
1. Welcome to the Guide
2. What a Data Analyst Actually Does
04
05
GETTING HIRED AS A DATA
ANALYST
1. The Data Analyst Resume 22

IV.
2. How to Write a Winning Data Analyst 24
Cover Letter
3. Preparing for the Data Analyst 27
Interview Process
4. Data Analyst Interview Questions 27
and Answers
Education and Skill 5. The Data Analyst Interview Process 43
at Prominent Companies

II.
Requirements 6. How to Make an Impression During 44
the Data Analyst Interview
1. What Education Does a Data Analyst
07
Need?
2. What Skills Does a Data Analyst 09
Need?
3. Tools and Software 10

V.
USEFUL DATA ANALYST
RESOURCES
THE DATA ANALYST JOB 1. Resources Every Aspiring Data 46
MARKET Analyst Needs

III. 1. What Is the Data Analyst Job Outlook

in 2024?
2. Data Analyst Salary Expectations
3. Growth Opportunities and Career
Path
13

15
16

4. Data Analyst Work Experience 16

5. Where to Look for Data Analyst Jobs 19

VI CONCLUSION
1. Some Final Words
2. Ready to Take the Next Step?
48
49
 Welcome to

the Guide
As we advance into the digital age, understanding and interpreting data
has become more crucial than ever. And data analysts play a vital role
in organizations across all industries. They use their skills to analyze
complex datasets and provide valuable insights that drive informed
decision-making and promote business growth.

This career guide explores what it takes to become a successful data

analyst
analyst.. We’ll briefly look at what a data analyst does on the job and
cover the qualifications employees desire in a candidate. Then, we get
into the nitty-gritty of the job-hunting process by examining the current
job market for this profession, what salary ranges you can expect, and
what career growth opportunities await you.

The true value of our career guide comes from the deep dive into the
data analyst job application. From resume to offer offer,, we’ll direct you
through the process step-by-step. You’ll discover how to structure your
resume to catch the eye of recruiters and hiring managers and impress
employers with a winning cover letter. But our guidance doesn’t stop
there—the 365 team has also prepared an extensive list of common
data analyst interview questions and example answers for each
category: general, technical, behavioral, theoretical, brainteasers, and
guesstimates.

Lastly, we’ve included valuable free resources to help you on your

learning journey. From infographics, templates, practice tests, and
course notes, you’ll have a solid foundation.

Whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned professional looking to

make a career change, this guide will provide the information you need
to pursue a career as a data analyst
analyst..
 WHAT A DATA ANALYST ACTUALLY DOES

For as long as we can remember, businesses The responsibilities of a data analyst vary
have had a penchant for accumulating data. depending on the company’s size and area of
But it wasn’t until recent years that they production, but there are several set activities
realized what a gold mine they’re sitting on. that you will find in any job description.
That’s because they haven’t had the right
people to make sense of the information and
extract valuable insights from it.
What Are the
Now, more and more companies are looking
for professionals to help them utilize their data
Responsibilities of a
effectively. This is where data analysts come in Data Analyst?
—they uncover hidden value in data and turn it
into useful and actionable insights.
As we said, the responsibilities of a data
Without data analysts, management would analyst vary from company to company. In
operate in the dark and would be unable to smaller workspaces, for example, you might
navigate a company in the right direction. have to perform some business analyst
activities or even data scientist tasks in
addition to your data analyst duties.

What Does a Data To better define the position, we’ll go through a

Analyst Do? data analyst job description from a random
open position on a job-hunting website. Here’s
what they’ve included as part of the daily
A data analyst’s task is to explore, clean,
workflow within their organization:
analyze, visualize, and present the information
they work with to provide valuable insights
Write robust and efficient SQL queries
from a business perspective. To do that, they
must gain access to and work with the Construct clean, easy-to-understand
company’s database.
reports and dashboards
This means truly understanding the business Work cross-functionally with a variety of
and what different variables in the database internal teams to scope, prioritize, and
represent—how the company operates and manage requests for ongoing reporting
what makes sense from a business and ad-hoc analyses
perspective. Automate reporting for weekly business
metrics
If data analysts can generate Identify areas of opportunity to automate
business value, they’re great at and scale our current processes
what they do. Present key takeaways and implications
from your analyses.
Using statistical methods and data
visualization tools is inseparable from any Of course, these activities aren’t typical only for
data analyst role. Still, the requirements vary a data analyst, but it’s a good overview of what
depending on the company’s goals, size, you can expect on the job.
industry, and primary function.

Watch our video on the data analyst job profile where we

illustrate what they do through a fictional case study.

watch on
15 Youtube
17
 WHAT Education does a data
analyst need?
A career in data analysis requires solid technical skills and theoretical knowledge, but is a data
analyst degree the only way to obtain them?

Most job listings require

candidates to have at least
a bachelor’s degree.
But findings from our research into 1,000+ LinkedIn job postings reveal that a data analyst
major is not on employers’ lists of preferred education. Most job ads mention higher-level
education in related fields like computer science, statistics, mathematics, data science, and
other subjects that involve working with data.

Required Degrees
Computer Science 20.9%

Statistics 20.3%

Engineering 19.6%

Mathematics 15.4%

Economics 11.0%

Data Science 8.2%

Architecture 2.8%

Data Engineering 1.8%

 What if you don’t
have a relevant
degree or any higher
education at all?
Well, finding a job as a data analyst in
such cases would be more challenging. Data Analyst
But with the advancements in data, the
rise of online education, and the
Career Track
abundance of readily available digital 10 Career Track Courses
resources, some companies are hiring 41 Hours of Video
their talent based on skillset alone.
Certificate of Achievement
Even if you lack formal data analyst
The 365 Data Analyst Career
education, you can still find a job in the
Track is the best place to
field. You may need to start as an intern,
kickstart your career. Learn
but once you build your skills and gain
everything required to beco-
experience, you’ll quickly climb the
me a sought-after professio-
ladder.

nal—from probability and

A comprehensive online course can help statistics to advanced ana-
you learn the fundamentals and prepare lytical and visualization skills.
a job  winning resume—we’ll show you
how to create one later in the guide.

Our Data Analyst Career Track covers all Start Learning

essential topics and teaches the
necessary skills you need on the job.

8
 WHAT S ILLS DOES A K

DATA ANALYST NEED ?

As with any profession, you need a specific skillset to outshine the competition and get the job
done well.

Technical Skills Soft Skills

Here are some of the most sought-after data Data analysis is not just a technical-based
analyst skills in 2024: career. As you’ve already learned, one of the
main responsibilities of a data analyst is to
communicate their findings to stakeholders.
DATA CLEANING AND
To be successful in this role, you need:
PREPROCESSING

DATA ANALYSIS Critical thinking in order to ask

the most relevant questions, identify
DATA VISUALIZATION
challenges, and propose creative
DATA INTERPRETATION solutions.

Business acumen that will allow you

Some job ads list other skills like data to understand the company’s values
warehouse management and data and objectives.
wrangling. You should acquire as many
technical skills as you can—even those that Str ng c mmunicati n to
o o o

employers list as optional—as those will give clearly and accurately convey
you a competitive edge during the job search.
insights to both technical and

nontechnical audiences.


Of course, you’ll rely on data analysis software

E cellent time management and
x
and programming languages to effectively
organi ation as you’ll most probably
z
manage your datasets.
work with multiple projects and
deadlines daily

These are the main skills we recommend you

work on. However, you’ll also need to be
personable and a team player—it might sound
clich , but such interpersonal skills are vital for
é

facilitating project operations and promoting a

healthy work environment.

19
 TOOLS AND SOFTWARE
Data analysts must possess strong technical, analytical, and soft skills. But the rapid technological
development and dynamic job market make it challenging to keep up with the next in-demand tools.

What kinds of tools do data analysts use most often?

Let’s take a look at what our research into 1,000+ LinkedIn data analyst job postings revealed.

Here are the most in-demand tools that data analysts use:

As the graph shows, data visualization tools lead the way. Obtaining valuable insights from data is
essential, but employers highly value the ability to present them clearly.

Still, programming languages are also sought-after, especially SQL and Python. As a data analyst, you’ll
be expected to manage large amounts of data, which is impossible without a firm grasp of SQL.

19
 Where Should You If you’re new to data analysis, our
comprehensive Excel, Tableau, and Power BI

Start? courses can help you get started. And for an

even more in-depth roadmap to data
visualization, you can try The Complete Data
Our advice is to start with Excel. Make sure you Visualization course.

understand how to work with data. You should

be able to clean data, work with filters, address You can also perfect your programming skills
missing values, organize tables, etc. And Excel with our SQL course and Python Programmer
is perfect for beginners. Moreover, the same Bootcamp. What’s unique about our program
principles apply later when you learn SQL and is that we’ve tried to use real-life data and
Python.
pose business questions solved in the lessons.
In this way, you learn how to think from a
Then, you can continue with SQL—work on real- business perspective.
life databases, preferably business questions.
Although the most widely available data is
about types of mushrooms worldwide and why Don’t just learn
people didn’t wash their hands, it’ll be
extremely valuable if you can find business how to use tools;
databases that are not perfectly cleaned.

After, you can supercharge your data learn how to think

preprocessing and analysis capabilities with
Python. Learning a programming language as an analyst.
can be initially challenging but extremely
rewarding once you become familiar with the
fundamentals.

Introduction to Excel Power BI SQL for Data Science

Interviews
with Ned Krastev with Dimitar Shutev with Tina Huang
4.8/5 (5077) 4.8/5 (1313) 4.8/5 (506)

4 hours 83 Lessons 8 hours 76 Lessons 2 hours 23 Lessons

Start Course Start Course Start Course

The Complete Data Python Programmer

Visualization Course with... SQL Bootcamp
with Elitsa Kaloyanova with Martin Ganchev, Vladimir Saev with Giles McMullen-Klein
4.8/5 (735) 4.8/5 (2109) 4.8/5 (1803)

9 hours 100 Lessons 8 hours 121 Lessons 11 hours 128 Lessons

Start Course Start Course Start Course

15
17
 WHAT IS THE DATA ANALYST JOB
OUTLOOK IN 2024?

The increasing reliance on data to drive All this suggests that

business growth has made the data analyst
career very popular in recent years.

But will the demand continue to grow? And

Learning data
what is the best way to gain a competitive
edge in an increasingly competitive job
analysis and data
market?

analytics is a good
We analyzed 1,071 data analyst job postings
on LinkedIn to uncover valuable insights into investment in your
the data analyst job outlook and how to get
into the field. future.

What Did the Research

Show? Learn From Industry
Experts
With the mass layoffs and rapid development
and integration of AI into the workplace,
seeking a stable, indemand career with good
prospects is natural.

Fortunately, the data analyst

job outlook is bright.

All sectors gather and analyze data from e-

commerce and manufacturing to healthcare Go from a beginner to a skilled
and banking. With the increasing reliance on professional who creates data-
big data for business development, the driven value. Our expertled
demand for specialists to derive meaningful curriculum helps you master
insights from it grows. sought-after skills like Excel, SQL,
and Tableau. Prove you’ve got what
And although some aspects of the work may it takes with our industry-
be automated, statistics predict a data recognized certificates and start a
analyst’s job growth. rewarding career as a data
analyst.
The market size is projected to grow with 60.1%
by 2030. The sharpest increase is noted in the
predictive analytics segment. The growth is
Start Learning at 65% OFF
expected globally, but the US accounts for
most of the global market share.

17
13
 AI and ChatGPT’s Impact

on the Data Analyst Role

With the rise in popularity of ChatGPT and other AI tools, professionals across the board have
started to wonder what this means for their positions. You might be asking:

Are AI and ChatGPT going to

impact data analyst jobs?
Data analysis goes far beyond simply writing code and using statistical formulas.

Data analysis covers activities such as:

Business understanding storytelling
intuition communication
Testing decision-making
interpretation

Companies will need data analysts until AI accesses company-specific data and understands
how businesses function. But even if such AI tools become available, chances are that they’ll
be used as complementary tools to help automate repetitive tasks and augment human
capabilities— because nothing can substitute human intuition and creativity.

Think of all the uncovered insights companies cannot take advantage of and now analyze.

With the advent of AI, data analysts capable

of working with tools like ChatGPT and other
forms of AI will be even more needed.
As AI technology keeps evolving, one thing is sure—you’ll need to learn the fundamentals first
and adapt quickly by relying on continuous learning in the years to come. One who doesn’t
understand the fundamentals will not be capable of working with AI.

14
 DATA ANALYST SALARY EXPECTATIONS

According to Glassdoor, the average data analyst’s salary is $70.365/year. Meanwhile,

ZipRecruiter reports that the annual salary of a freelance data analyst is $76.230/year.

The pay varies tremendously depending on the industry, company size, experience, etc.

How much does a data Naturally, the higher the job demands
analyst make depending on and the candidate’s level of expertise, the
bigger the salaries.
their seniority level?

Entry level: The data analyst

$54,127/year career path is
Mid-senior level: rewarding, but
$70,365/year
landing a senior-
Associate data analyst:
$73,171/year level position
Senior data analyst:
demands years of
$103,071/year hard work.
Principal data analyst:
$147,330/year

15
17
 GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES AND

CAREER PATH

Aside from climbing up the ladder in data Moreover, the U.S. Bureau of Labor

analysis, the data analyst role opens the Statistics deems the position of

door to several other career paths in a information security analyst the eighth

variety of industries, including ones fastest-growing occupation and predicts

among the top 25 careers according to a 23% increase (2021–2023) in demand

the 2023 U.S. News’s best jobs ranking: for operations research analysts.

Of course, data analysis is a great stepping

INFORMATION SECURIT

stone into data science—another lucrative

MARKET RESEARC
career path with an excellent job outlook.

Data analysts who develop strong coding

MANAGEMEN

skills and have a deep understanding of

COMPUTER SYSTEM
statistical modeling can transition into

higher-positioned and rewarding data

FINANCIAL ANALYTICS

scientist roles.

DATA ANALYST WORK EXPERIENCE

The data analyst job hunt can be overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the field. But the

end result is a rewarding career in a dynamic field, where you can make a difference with your

work. So, we encourage you to persevere and keep going.

We’ve compiled a list of websites and tips to help you navigate the job application landscape

easier.

Data Analyst Internships

Internships are a great way to begin a In a nutshell, the data analyst intern is an

data analyst career if you don’t have prior entry-level position that plays an

working experience because they auxiliary role in the analytics department

reinforce your skills and prove you’re job- of a company. As one, you’ll support data

ready. The benefits are countless, from analysts and data scientists in their

the opportunity to be mentored by projects and perform activities such as:

professionals and building your analysis

skillset to expanding your network.

16
 Gathering, preprocessing, and

reporting data.
Becoming a Data

Creating and presenting Analyst

dashboards with valuable

insights. Without Experience

Tracking and analyzing

business performance to You’ve gained the necessary knowledge

identify opportunities for and developed the necessary skills we’ve

growth. talked about in this guide so far, but you

still haven’t done any work to show for it.

Internalizing different statistical
So, is it possible to become a data analyst
and advanced statistical
with no experience?
techniques.

The key to landing a job is being proactive

and demonstrating enthusiasm for the

The specific tasks depend entirely on the

position you’ve applied for. You can do this

company you’re applying for. Sometimes,

in a number of ways.
a data analyst intern has pre-defined

duties—at least, that’s the case in team

structures, where they run internship

Most importantly,
programs on a rolling basis. But overall,

your primary purpose will be to solve

you need to adopt a
various problems through data and

expand the business’s reach. “can do” mentality.

Here are our suggestions on how to start

a career as a data analyst with no

experience.

Check out our detailed How to Become a

Data Analyst Intern infographic to discover

what the requirements for landing an

internship are. Whether you just graduated

from college with a bachelor’s degree, or are

looking for a career change, this infographic

will bring value to you.

DOWNLOAD FOR FREE

17
 CREATE A WORK ON DATA BUILD A KILLER
COMPELLING RESUME PROJECTS PORTFOLIO
To begin with, you need a resume to You can try your hand at small This is your chance to stand out
show your skills and the projects projects using one technology— and impress employers. Your
you’ve worked on. And don’t just fill Excel or Tableau, for example—to portfolio should show all the
in your personal information.
visualize or analyze a relatively projects you’ve worked on in a
Before applying, research many clean dataset.
professional way. And make sure to
data analyst job ads in companies Then, when you feel more confident, put your work on GitHub. That way,
you’re interested in working for.
you can gradually try out more hiring managers can easily open
significant projects that require the link from your resume and see
Write down the technical terms what you’ve done.
they’ve used to describe work on real-world business data
competencies. Take note of the and for which you need multiple
repetitive requirements listed—use technologies (SQL, Python, and
this language for your resume. Don’t Tableau).
be shy to use ChatGPT to gain TIP: Choose projects related to the
ideas for better wording when industry you want to work in. If
writing your resume.
you’re passionate about a
Personalize your resume to the job particular cause or job opportunity,
ad you’re responding to and make you can use datasets or even
sure it looks clean and collect your own data for that
professional.
specific field. This kind of effort
shows that you’re willing to go
We’ll show you how to do it later in above and beyond, and everyone
this guide. wants to have such a person on
their team.

NETWORK WITHIN APPROACH BUILD YOUR

THE COMMUNITY EMPLOYERS PERSONAL BRAND
With social media and online Don’t rely only on job postings and Brand awareness isn’t just for
events, networking is easier than cold applications. Instead,
businesses anymore.

ever.
reach out to hiring managers from You need to make yourself

This should be an inseparable part the companies you’d like to join

recognizable and easily discoverable.

of your application process.

and offer to do some free analysis Update your LinkedIn information
Whether you go to a conference or for them. Or even better, perform an and add a link to your project
approach someone online, use the analysis on their company, industry, portfolio. This strategy takes some
opportunity to get to know the product, or competitors and send it time, but it will help you establish
person and what they do. The goal to them. Not only is this great yourself as an expert.

is to make a genuine connection practice, but more importantly, it For example, you can start a blog
with a data analyst who, in turn, puts your name out there. Even if on Medium and share your data
might introduce you to another and that doesn’t lead to a job offer, you analyst journey. You need to show a
—if you make a good impression— will expand your network. true passion for the field and a
might even put your name forward willingness to learn and develop.
if a job opportunity arises. Good hiring managers will
appreciate that.

26
 WHERE TO LOOK FOR DATA ANALYST JOBS

The data analyst job hunt can be overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the field. But the
end result is a rewarding career in a dynamic field, where you can make a difference with
your work. So, we encourage you to persevere and keep going.

We’ve compiled a list of websites and tips to help you navigate the job application landscape
easier.

Top Job Search Websites

Almost like a primal instinct, these online Here’s a selection with some of the most
directories are the first port of call for well-organized, effective job boards. Not
most job seekers out there. The same only do they have a proven track record
applies to aspiring data analysts. One of success, but they also boast a myriad
reason for that is because they’re well- of listings by reputable companies and
known and easy to filter. emerging exciting startups alike.

Millions of tech opportunities An extensive database with S pecializing in T, data science,

I The chance to be discovered
across multiple industries job offers, interview tips, software develop-ment, for top jobs in software
and job types. company reviews, and ratings engineering, and other tech development, data science,
from employees. jobs. and cybersecurity.

Pro Tip: Pro Tip: Pro Tip: Pro Tip:

Use advanced filters to Use the available information Save job searches to get S howcase your progra-
narrow your search and find to better understand the email alerts about new ads mming skills by including a
relevant job listings quicker. company culture and that match your criteria. ill F link to your itHub profile in
G

Upload your resume and set prepare for the interview. out your profile and keep it your resume or application.
up job alerts. up to date.

C onnecting companies and A comprehensive platform D iscover job ads from top R esume analysis based on
job seekers for software with thousands of data career companies worldwide and job requirements and relevant
engineering, data science, opportunities, employer connect directly with listing recommendations.
and other positions. profiles, and career resources. recruiters.
Pro Tip: Pro Tip: Pro Tip: Pro Tip:
Use the salary estimator tool S et up job alerts in your C reate a detailed inked n
L I Use the One- lick Apply
C

to see how much you could preferred industry and profile highlighting your feature to easily apply for
earn at different companies location. C heck employer expertise. Network with positions that match your
based on your skills and profiles for insights into the industry professionals and qualifications.
ex perience. company culture. connect with recruiters in
your preferred field.
 Freelance and Remote Opportunities
If you are an aspiring data analyst, a full- TIP: Freelancing as a data analyst is also
time in-office job isn’t your only career an entrepreneurial journey. The compe-
option. There are many opportunities for tition is fierce with other individuals who
you to work remotely in this field.
have chosen the same career path as
Based on our research, we’re sharing you. It isn’t easy, especially at the
some of the top websites with the most beginning. If you are successful, this is an
freelance and remote data analyst opportunity to earn more, improve your
opportunities available. work-life balance, and be your own boss.

A project management Offers thousands of A comprehensive search The reputation system allows
platform for communication handscreened entry-level to engine with a wide range of you to build a strong profile,
with your clients, file sharing, executive roles for freelance fresh remote and contract showcase your portfolio, and
and tracking project and contract data projects. job listings in the field of data receive positive reviews from
progress in one centralized science and data analysis clients.
location.

Pro Tip: Pro Tip: Pro Tip: Pro Tip:

Keep your profile up to date. Use the filtering options to Use the salary estimator tool Use the project management
Bid on projects that match find opportunities that match to determine a project’s tools to keep track of
your expertise and your skills and experience. expected salary and make deadlines and deliver high-
background. informed decisions. quality work on time.

Offers not only full-time A network of top-tier freelance A freelance pratform that A platform to discover
positions, but plenty of talent in tech and quality data allows you to set your own exclusively remote job
remote, freelance, and project listings. rates and choose your hours. opportunities in data science,
contract opportunities. analytics, and engineering.

Pro Tip: Pro Tip: Pro Tip: Pro Tip:

Build a strong profile and Be prepared to demonstrate Create a portfolio that Use the filtering system to
engage with others in your your technical skills during showcases your skills and find relevant job listings that
industry to learn about new the application process. experience. Customize your match your Freelancing as a
opportunities. Emphasize your experience proposals for each client and data analyst is also an
and qualifications to emphasize your ability to entrepreneurial journey.
increase your chances. work independently. desired position.

20
 THE DATA ANALYST RESUME
A winning resume must be tailored to a particular job ad, brief, easy to scan, and mistake-
free. At the same time, it must showcase your qualifications and experience in a way that will
compel the employer to call you in for the coveted data analyst interview.
So, how can you craft a data analyst resume
that hits all these requirements?
Follow our practical tips to tailor your resume to your needs and impress employers. You can
even download and customize our ready-made template.

Tips for a Winning KEYWORDS

Data Analyst Resume Some big companies may use applicant
tracking systems to screen the numerous
data analyst resumes they receive. So,
For starters—especially for entry-level use plenty of relevant keywords to pass
data analyst jobs—don’t fuss over this stage—backed by experience, of
consistency or details from the get-go. course, to impress employers. But how do
Write down the relevant experiences that you know what these keywords are?
first run through your mind: education, Check the job requirements and tailor
internships, skills, projects, publications, your resume to them.
and certificates.
Once you list all the information you need
on the page, you can start organizing it.
RELEVANT SKILLS
The layout and contents may vary Our recent data analyst job outlook
depending on your goals and experience, research revealed the most sought-after
but some rules always apply. skills and tools in 2023. More than half of
employers require excellent Excel skills.
Also, don’t hesitate to take advantage of Data visualization is also crucial, and a
tools like ChatGPT for ideas. good command of Tableau, Power BI, and
PowerPoint is considered a benefit.

FORMATTING MATTERS But the most important tool to add to your

Your resume’s formatting and overall look data analyst resume is SQL—mentioned in
determine the recruiter’s first impression. 63% of job listings. Python appears in 33%
Even if your content is perfect, it may end of job ads. Knowing another
up in the rejection pile if it’s cluttered and programming language may give you an
hard to read. So, use a simple and clean edge over other applicants, but it isn’t
format to ensure recruiters and necessary.
automated screening systems can read it.
22
 Entry-Level Data Senior Data Analyst
Analyst Resume Resume
These rules apply to every data analyst And here are some tips for how to
candidate in 2024. But if you have no approach your resume if you’re aiming for
experience, consider the following when a more senior data analyst position.

writing your data analyst resume. Even if you’re in the beginning of your
career journey, it’s wise to think ahead.
SKILLS-FOCUSED
If you lack relevant work experience, start NUMBERS AND METRICS
with the education and certifications Demonstrate your impact on key project
you’ve earned. A dedicated skills section outcomes using strong action verbs and
in your data analyst resume is also numbers. Did you head the research
crucial. But don’t just list what you’ve project that led to an increase in sales?
learned—describe how you’ve obtained Make sure to mention the percentage
and applied these skills. Maybe you’ve increase or generated revenue. Have you
mastered Excel in a previous job or built a dashboard that saved your
worked on a Python project as part of a colleagues hours of manual work? Include
certification program—any experience an estimate of the time your work saved
matters. them.
RELEVANT PROJECTS AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
PUBLICATIONS When you accumulate significant
Employers want to see capability and experience, deciding what to include in
initiative. And if you can’t demonstrate your data analyst resume may take time.
your expertise through previous jobs, But it’s crucial to keep it concise and to
include all projects and publications the point. You don’t need to list every
you’ve worked on. Emphasize your detail of your daily tasks. Focus on the
contributions if it was collaborative work relevant skills to the job you’re applying
and the skills and tools you used to for and emphasize your strengths when
complete it. describing your work experience.

DATA ANALYST RESUME TEMPLATE

Consider our data analyst resume example that ensures your application is
noticed. It will help you demonstrate your skillset and expertise and make an
instant impression with appealing fonts, accurate spacing, and an elegant look.
Use this data analyst resume sample to tailor it to your experience and desired
position. Pair it with a compelling cover letter and confidently submit your job
application.
DOWNLOAD FREE TEMPLATE
32
HOW TO WRITE A WINNING DATA ANALYST
COVER LETTER
Creating a winning data analyst cover letter begins with skimming through a massive
dataset: your experience. Recall the most vivid memories of your past and summarize them
on a single page. When writing a data analyst cover letter, you should demonstrate your
value to the hiring manager by crafting a compelling story about your skills and experience.

What to Include in
Written communication
skills:
a Data Analyst Cover Showcase your ability to present
data in a way that suits various
Letter audiences. Demonstrate that you
know how to communicate your
results and findings effectively.
When writing a cover letter, be concise and
straightforward—include only significant Technology skills:
work accomplishments you can provide
Describe your experience with new
relevant context for. And you can also technology so prospective employers
quantify the results you’ve achieved; know you’re ready to start data
tangible metrics demonstrate your impact modeling immediately.
on reaching your former employer’s
business goal. Attention to detail:
An entry-level data analyst cover letter Using data to tell a story is crucial

may be challenging to write but can for any data analyst—you look for
significantly increase your chances of patterns and turn numbers into
getting hired. If you have no work insights.
experience in the field, you could use your
college projects and part-time jobs that
include some form of data analysis to
OTHER DATA ANALYST SKILLS
demonstrate your abilities. So, call to Does the job description list the specific
mind your experiences and include any data analyst skills you can include?
relevant achievements and certificates Absolutely! Note the following standard
you may have. competencies data analysts have that
are worth including in your cover letter:
INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC SKILLS DATA LITERAC
A data analyst cover letter must DATA & STATISTICAL ANALYSI
emphasize your skills in specific domains.
Consider the following essential FILE AND DATABASE MANAGEMEN

competencies to incorporate into your DATA RECOVER

text. DATA TRACKING

24
 A Data Analyst Cover Letter Checklist
Writing an impressive data analyst cover letter can be the winning component of your job
application. So, follow a checklist to ensure you’ve included the following elements to make it
successful.

1. HEADING
In the heading, you should list your name, title, contact
details, date, and addressee’s name and details.

2. SALUTATION
Greet the hiring manager appropriately—use Mr. or Ms.
and a last name. If you don’t have this information, use
“Dear Hiring Manager.”

3. STRONG OPENING
A strong introduction is what catches the eye of a hiring
manager—where you introduce your expertise and
interest in the position. And if you do it well, the manager
will continue reading your data analyst cover letter.

4. BODY PARAGRAPHS
Include three vital elements: skills, relevant achievements,
and reasons for applying. Don’t forget to back up your
stories with numbers and specific examples to demonstrate
the value you bring to the table. By quantifying your
successes, you can show the hiring manager how you can
make a measurable impact in the role.

5. CLOSING
End your data analyst cover letter on a solid note by
including one final achievement. And close with a clear
call to action that encourages the hiring manager to take
the next step and contact you.

Remember to proofread your text for spelling mistakes and inconsistencies.

Be sure to maintain a positive tone and highlight your uniqueness.

32
DATA ANALYST COVER LETTER TEMPLATE

The example we provide will help you write a cover letter that showcases
your qualifications and skills. Download the free customizable template by
clicking the link below.

Download free template

32
 PREPARING FOR THE DATA ANALYST
INTERVIEW PROCESS
If you’re aiming for a data analyst job, sooner or later, you’ll reach the final stage of the
application process: the interview. But how can you ace the interview? By being well-
acquainted with the interview questions for data analysts in advance.

Take the time to grow your knowledge, pen down possible

entry-level data analyst questions and answers, and
soon enough, you’ll feel more comfortable with those
topics.
Ensure you have what it takes to ace your SQL interview questions for a data analyst and all
other technical questions, and you can expect great results in the long run. And remember—
while preparing for an entry-level interview, you should find a way to highlight how a
combination of your practical knowledge and your creativity will add value to your
prospective employer.

DATA ANALYST INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

AND ANSWERS
In this guide, we’ll show you how to answer commonly-asked questions and provide
examples in each category of the interview process:
GENERA THEORETICA
TECHNICA BRAINTEASER
BEHAVIORAL GUESSTIMATES
We’ll even tackle the interview process in four leading companies: Netflix, LinkedIn, Google,
and Tesla.
27
 General Data Analyst confident enough to initiate a change
that would improve the company’s status
Interview Questions q uo. When discussing your
recommendation, give as many details as
possible including your reasoning. Even if
—

Many companies may have surprising your proposal was not implemented, it
questions for data analyst interviews demonstrates that you’re driven and
about more than your background and strive for improvement. This may not
work experience. Interviewers might seem like an essential data analyst job
require details about projects you’ve interview uestion, but the insights it
q

been involved in and how you approach reveals are vital for the prospective
complex datasets. So, let’s take a look. employer.

1. Can you share details about the most EXAMPLE ANSWER

extensive dataset you’ve worked with? Although data analysts typically handle
What kind of data was included? How data from non technical departments,
-

many entries and variables did the I’ve worked for a company where
dataset comprise? colleagues who were not on the data
analysis side had access to data. This
HOW TO ANSWER generated many cases of misinterpreted
Working with large datasets and dealing data that caused significant damage to
with many variables and columns is the overall company strategy. I gathered
essential for many hiring managers. You e amples and pointed out that working
x

don’t need to reveal background with data dictionaries can do more harm
information about your projects or how than good. I recommended that my co -

you managed each stage. Focus on the workers depend on data analysts for data
size and type of data. access. O nce we implemented my
recommendation, the cases of
EXAMPLE ANSWER misinterpreted data dropped drastically.
The largest dataset I’ve worked with was a
joint software development project. It 3. How would you assess your writing
comprised over a million records and 600 skills? When do you use a written form of
to 700 variables. My team and I needed to communication in your role as a data
work with marketing data, which we later analyst?
loaded into an analytical tool to perform
EDA. HOW TO ANSWER
Working with numbers is one of many
2. Have you ever recommended switching aspects of a data analyst job. Data
to different processes or tools as a data analysts also need strong writing skills to
analyst? What was the result of your efficiently present the results of their
recommendation? analysis to management and
stakeholders. If you think you could be a
HOW TO ANSWER better data storyteller, ensure you’re
Hiring managers must choose a data making efforts in that direction, e.g., via
analyst who is knowledgeable and additional training.

28
EXAMPLE ANSWER upper-level management, executives,
and non-technical co-workers. Strong
I can interpret data clearly and concisely.
presentation skills are asked about even
I’ve had plenty of opportunities to
in entry-level data interview questions.
enhance my writing skills through email
When talking about the audiences you’ve
communication with co-workers and
presented to, make sure you mention the
writing analytical project summaries for
following:
upper management. And I’m constantly
looking for further improvement in my
Size of the audienc
writing skills.
Whether it included executive
Departments and background of
4. Have you used both quantitative and the audience
qualitative data on the same project?
Whether the presentation was in
HOW TO ANSWER person or remote (The latter can
be challenging.)
Surveys have quantitative and qualitative
questions, so merging those two data EXAMPLE ANSWER
types presents no challenge. Data
In my role as a data analyst, I’ve
analysts must use the quantitative and
presented to various audiences made up
qualitative data to conduct meaningful
of co-workers and clients with different
analyses. In other cases, a data analyst
backgrounds. I’ve given presentations to
must use creativity to find matching
small and more significant groups. The
qualitative data. When answering this
largest so far has been around 30 people,
data analyst interview question, discuss
primarily colleagues from non-technical
the project requiring the most creative
departments. All these presentations were
thinking.
in-person, except for one remote video
EXAMPLE ANSWER conference call with senior management.

I’ve performed a few analyses with 6. Have you worked in an industry

qualitative survey data at my disposal. similar to ours?
But I realized I could enhance the validity
of my recommendations by also HOW TO ANSWER
implementing valuable data from
This question assesses if you have
external survey sources. So, I used
quantitative data from our distributors for industry-specific skills and experience.
a product development project, which Even if you don’t, ensure you have the
yielded excellent results. proper data analyst interview preparation
in advance, where you explain how you
can apply your background skills from a
5. What is your experience in conducting
different field to benefit the company.
presentations to various audiences?
EXAMPLE ANSWER
HOW TO ANSWER
As a data analyst with a financial
Employers are looking for candidates with
background, there are a few similarities
brilliant analytical skills and the
between this industry and healthcare. The
confidence and eloquence to present their
most prominent one is data security. Both
results to different audiences—including
29
industries utilize sensitive personal data
that must be kept secure and Technical ​Data
confidential. This leads to more restricted
access to data and, consequently, more
Analyst Interview
time to complete its analysis. I’ve learned
to be more time efficient when passing
Questions
through all the security. Moreover, I
understand how important it is to clearly A technical data analyst interview question
state the reasons behind requiring assesses your proficiency in analytical
specific data for my analysis. software, visualization tools, and scripting
languages, such as SQL and Python. You
7. Have you earned any certifications to might be requested to answer more
boost your career opportunities as a advanced statistical questions depending
data analyst? on the job specifics.

HOW TO ANSWER 1. What tools or software do you prefer using

in the various phases of data analysis and
Hiring managers appreciate candidates why?
serious about advancing their career
options via additional qualifications. HOW TO ANSWER
Certificates prove you’re eager to master
new skills and gain knowledge of the Although you might think you need

latest analytical tools and subjects. While experience with as many tools as possible
answering this question, list the to ace this question, this is not true. Each
credentials you’ve acquired and briefly company uses specific data analysis tools,
explain how they’ve helped you boost so it’s expected that your expertise is limited
your data analyst career. If you haven’t to those. Of course, if you’ve worked for
earned any certifications, mention the many companies, you’re bound to have
ones you’d like to work towards and why. exposure to a wider variety of analytical
software. But the interviewer wants to know
EXAMPLE ANSWER which tools you feel comfortable with rather
than how many you’ve utilized.
I’m always looking for ways to upgrade
my analytics skillset, so I recently earned EXAMPLE ANSWER
a certification in customer analytics in
Python. The training and requirements to When it comes to data analysis tools, I’m a
finish it helped me sharpen my skills in traditionalist. That’s why I find Microsoft Excel
analyzing customer data and predicting and Microsoft Access most useful. I feel
the purchase behavior of clients. genuinely comfortable working with those;
they’re available in almost every company.
Moreover, with the proper training, you can
achieve excellent results with them.
Be ready to answer specific data analyst
technical interview questions— research to
discover what tools are worth mentioning
to the prospective employer.

30
2. Have you created or worked with EXAMPLE ANSWER

statistical models? If so, describe how

If I had to select one step as a favorite, it
you’ve used them to solve a business task.
would be analyzing the data. I enjoy

developing a variety of hypotheses and

HOW TO ANSWER
searching for evidence to support or refute

As a data analyst, you don’t specifically them. While following my analytical plan, I

need experience with statistical models sometimes stumbled upon interesting and

unless it’s required for the job you’re unexpected findings from the data. There’s

applying for. If you haven’t been involved always something to be learned from the

in building, using, or maintaining big or small data that will help me in future

statistical models, be open about it and analytical projects.

mention any knowledge or partial

experience you may have.

4. What’s your knowledge of statistics,

and how have you used it as a data

EXAMPLE ANSWER
analyst?

I haven’t had direct experience building

statistical models as a data analyst. But HOW TO ANSWER

I’ve helped the statistical department by

Data analysts should have basic statistics

ensuring they can access and analyze

knowledge and experience. That means
the correct data. The model in question
you should be comfortable calculating
was created to identify the customers
mean, median, and mode and
most inclined to buy additional products
conducting significance testing. In
and predict when they would make that
addition, you must be able to interpret the
decision. My job was to establish the
above in connection to the business. If a
appropriate variables used in the model
higher level of statistics is required, it will
and assess its performance once it was
be listed in the job description.
ready.

EXAMPLE ANSWER

3. Which step of a data analysis project

I’ve used basic statistics in my work—
do you enjoy the most?
mainly calculating the mean and

standard variances and significance

HOW TO ANSWER
testing. The latter helped me determine

It’s normal for a data analyst to prefer the statistical significance of

specific tasks over others. But you’ll measurement differences between two

probably be expected to deal with all populations for a project. I’ve also

project steps—from querying and determined the relationship between two

cleaning through analyzing to variables in a dataset, working with

communicating findings. So, don’t show correlation coefficients.

aversion to any of the above. Instead, use

this data analyst interview question to

highlight your strengths. Focus on the task

you like performing the most and explain

why it’s your favorite.

31
5. What scripting languages have you of SQL. Even if you don’t have years of
used in your projects as a data analyst? experience, highlight how your skills have
Which one did you like best? improved with each new project.

HOW TO ANSWER EXAMPLE ANSWER

Most large companies work with I’ve used SQL in at least 80% of my projects
numerous scripting languages. So, a good for five years. Of course, I’ve also turned to
command of more than one is a plus. other programming languages for the
Nevertheless, if you aren’t familiar with the different phases of my projects. But, all in
primary language used by the company all, it’s SQL that I’ve utilized the most and
you apply to, you can still make a good consider the best for most of my data
impression. Demonstrate enthusiasm to analyst tasks.
expand your knowledge and point out
that your fluency in other scripting
7. Which Excel functions have you used
languages gives you a solid foundation
regularly? Can you describe how you’ve
for learning new ones. SQL for data
used Excel as an analytical tool in your
analysts is like a chef’s knife for cooks—an
projects?
essential tool that requires skills to wield
effectively. The same goes for Python. So, HOW TO ANSWER
ensure you have the knowledge to
adequately demonstrate your expertise in If you’re an Excel expert, listing all the
this domain. functions you’ve used would be difficult.
Instead, highlight your advanced skills,
EXAMPLE ANSWER such as working with statistical functions,
pivot tables, and graphs. If you have
I’m most confident in using SQL since
experience utilizing the more challenging
that’s the language I’ve worked with
functions, hiring managers will presume
throughout my data analyst experience. I
you have experience using the more basic
also have a basic understanding of
ones. Prepare to tackle formidable data
Python and have recently enrolled in a
analyst technical interview questions, so
Python programming course to sharpen
bring your A-game. Of course, if you lack
my skills. So far, I’ve discovered that my
the background, it’s worth considering
expertise in SQL helps me quickly
specialized Excel training that will help you
advance in Python.
build a competitive skillset.
6. How many years of SQL programming EXAMPLE ANSWER
experience do you have? In your latest
job, how many of your analytical projects I’ve used Excel every day of my data
involved using SQL? analyst career in every phase of my
analytical projects. For example, I’ve
HOW TO ANSWER checked, cleaned, and analyzed datasets
using pivot tables. I’ve also used
SQL is considered one of the easiest statistical functions to calculate standard
scripting languages to learn. If you wish to deviations, correlation coefficients, etc.
be competitive in the job market as a And the Excel graphing function is
data analyst, you should demonstrate an excellent for developing visual summaries
excellent command of the data.
32
I’ve worked with raw data from external
vendors in many customer satisfaction Behavioral Data
surveys. First, I’d use sort functions and pivot
tables to ensure the data was clean and
Analyst Interview
loaded correctly. In the analysis phase, I’d Questions
segment the data with pivot tables and
statistical functions if necessary. Finally, I’d
build tables and graphs for efficient visual To answer the behavioral data analyst
representation. interview question effortlessly, you’ll need
to recall details about how you handled
8. What’s your experience in creating specific challenges in your work with
dashboards? What tools have you used for stakeholders, coworkers, or clients.
that purpose?
1. As a data analyst, you’ll often work with
HOW TO ANSWER stakeholders who lack technical
background and a deeper understanding
Dashboards are essential for managers of data and databases. Have you ever been
because they visually capture KPIs and in a situation like this, and how did you
metrics and help them track business handle this challenge?
goals. Data analysts are often involved in
building and updating dashboards. Some HOW TO ANSWER
of the best tools for this purpose include
Excel, Tableau, and Power BI. When you talk Data analysts often need help
about your experience, outline the types of communicating findings to coworkers from
data visualizations and metrics you used in different departments or senior
your dashboard. management with a limited understanding
of data. This requires excellent skills in
EXAMPLE ANSWER interpreting specific terms using non-
technical language. Moreover, it also
I’ve created dashboards related to demands extra patience to listen to your
customer analytics in Power BI and Excel. I co-workers’ questions and provide answers
operated with pie charts, bar graphs, line in an easy-to-digest manner. Show the
graphs, and tables to visualize the data. interviewer that you can work efficiently
That means I used marketing metrics, with people from different backgrounds.
such as brand awareness, sales, and
customer satisfaction. EXAMPLE ANSWER
In my work with stakeholders, it often comes
down to the same challenge— facing a
question I don’t have the answer to due to
limitations of the gathered data or the
database structure. In such cases, I analyze
the available data to deliver solutions to the
most closely related questions. Then, I give
the stakeholders a basic explanation of the
current data limitations and propose
developing a project that would allow us to
gather the unavailable data in the future.
33
This shows that I care about their needs and professional with a technical background

am willing to go the extra mile to provide and excellent math and statistical skills. But

them with what they need. even though creativity is not the first data

analyst quality that comes to mind, it’s still

essential in developing analytical plans and

2. Tell me about a time you and your team

visualizations and finding unorthodox

were surprised by the results of a project.

solutions to data issues. So, provide an

HOW TO ANSWER answer with examples of your out-of-the-

box thinking.
When starting an analysis, most data

analysts have a rough prediction of the

EXAMPLE ANSWER

outcome rested on findings from previous

Creativity can make all the difference in a

projects. But there’s always room for

data analyst’s work. It has helped me find

surprise, and sometimes the results are

intriguing ways to present analysis results

entirely unexpected. This data analyst

to clients and devise new data checks

interview question lets you discuss the

that identify issues leading to anomalous

analytical projects you’ve been involved in

results.
and allows you to demonstrate your

excitement about drawing new

developments from your projects. And 4. What are the most critical skills a data

don’t forget to mention the action you and analyst should possess to work efficiently

the stakeholders took due to the with team members with various

unexpected outcome. backgrounds, roles, and duties?

EXAMPLE ANSWER HOW TO ANSWER

While performing routine customer This is one of the most essential data

database analysis, I was astonished to analyst interview questions that can make

discover a customer subsegment that the or break it for you. R

emember that the

company could target with a new hiring manager wants to hear something

suitable product and a relevant message. more than “ communication skills. ” Think of

That presented an excellent opportunity an approach you’ve used as a data

for additional revenue for the company analyst to improve the quality of work in a

by utilizing a subset of an existing cross-functional team.

customer base. Everyone on my team

was pleasantly surprised, and soon EXAMPLE ANSWER

enough, we began devising strategies

The role of a data analyst goes beyond

with Product Development to address the

explaining technical terms in non-

needs of this newly discovered

technical language. I always strive to gain

subsegment.
a deeper understanding of the work of my

colleagues so that I can bridge my

3. Why do you think creativity is essential

explanation of statistical concepts to the

for a data analyst? How have you used

specific parts of the business they deal

creative thinking in your work?

with and show how these concepts relate

to the tasks they need to solve.

HOW TO ANSWER

A data analyst is typically known as a

34
5. Which soft skills are essential for a data
analyst and why? Theoretical Data
HOW TO ANSWER
Analyst Interview
Soft (non-technical) skills are vital for Questions
working efficiently with others and
maintaining high performance. As with This following section explains foundational
most professions, data analysts should concepts at the basis of machine learning
know how their behavior and work habits and data analysis. More specifically, we
affect their team members. Therefore, base present common probability and statistics
your answer on past work experience and interview questions and answers to help
highlight an essential soft skill you have you prepare for your data science or data
developed. analysis job interview.
EXAMPLE ANSWER
1. What is the difference between descriptive
Leadership is one of the primary soft skills and inferential statistics?
a data analyst should develop. It means
taking action to guide and help your team HOW TO ANSWER
members. This doesn’t necessarily mean
you need to be in a managerial position. Descriptive and inferential statistics are two
In my work, leadership would translate different branches of the field. The former
into providing expert insights regarding summarizes the characteristics and
company data and its interpretation—a distribution of a dataset, such as mean,
skill I’ve worked hard to develop over the median, variance, etc. You can present
years. Being confident in my abilities has those using tables and data visualization
established me as a leading figure in my methods like box plots and histograms.

area, and my team members know they In contrast, inferential statistics allows you
can rely on my expertise. to formulate and test hypotheses for a
sample and generalize the results to a
broader population. Using confidence
intervals, you can estimate the population
parameters.

You must be able to explain the

mechanisms behind these concepts
because entry-level statistics questions for
data analysis interviews often revolve
around sampling, the generalizability of
results, etc.
2. What are the main measures used to
describe the central tendency of data?
HOW TO ANSWER
Centrality measures are essential for
exploratory data analysis. They indicate the
35
center of the data distribution but yield 3. What are the main measures of variability?

different results. You must understand the

difference between the main types to HOW TO ANSWER

interpret and use them in analyses.

Variability measures are also crucial in

During your job interview, you might need describing data distribution. They show how

to explain the meaning of each measure of spread-out data points are and how far away

centrality, including mean, median, and they are from the mean.

mode:
Some interviewers might ask you to explain

the meaning and usage of variability

Mean (or average) is the sum of all
measures. Here’s your cheat sheet:
observations divided by the total

number of participants or cases (n).

Variance measures the average

Median is the mid-point in a dataset squared distance of data points from

ordered from the smallest to the largest the mean. A small variance corresponds

when n is odd. With an even number of to a narrow spread of the values, while a

data points, it’s the average of the big variance implies that data points are

values in position n/2 and (n+1)/2—i.e., far from the mean.

the two values in the middle.

Standard deviation is the square root of

Mode is the most frequently appearing the variance. It shows the amount of

data point. It is a valuable measure variation of values in a dataset.

when working with categorical

Range is the difference between the

variables.
maximum and minimum data value. It’s

a good indicator of variability when

there are no outliers in a dataset, but

And if you’d like to be able to

when there are, it can be misleading.

calculate the mean, median, and

Interquartile range (IQR) measures the

mode of your dataset to impress

future employers further, you can do spread of the middle part of a dataset.

so with our free Statistical It’s essentially the difference between

Calculators. Get a step-by-step

the third and the first quartile.

solution and the relevant Python and

R code. The answers include

4. What are skewness and kurtosis?

definitions, formulas, examples, and

interpretations.
HOW TO ANSWER

Skewness is an excellent way to measure the

Mean, Median, Mode

Calculator symmetry of distribution and the likelihood of

Mean, Median, Mode Calculator

a given value falling in the tails. With

Enter Data

7,1,6,2,11

symmetrical distribution, the mean and

7 1 6 2 11

7
median coincide. If the data distribution isn’t
1

symmetrical, it’s skewed.

Decimal Places

Calculate Reset Load example

There are two types of skewness:

Positive is when the right tail is longer.

Most values are clustered around the

TRY NOW

left tail, and the median is smaller than

the mean.

36
 Negative is when the left tail is longer. 5. What is the difference between correlation
Most values are clustered around the and autocorrelation?
right tail, and the median is greater than HOW TO ANSWER
the mean.
These two concepts tend to be confused,
Positive Skew which makes it a good trick question for data
Mode analysis interviews. To avoid surprises, we’l
Median
explain the difference.
A correlation measures the linear relationship
Mean
between two or more variables. It ranges
between -1 and 1. It’s positive if the variables
increase or decrease together. If it’s negative,
one variable decreases while the other
Symmetrical Distribution
Mean
increases. When the value is 0, the variables
Median aren’t related.

Mode
The following scatterplot il ustrates the
different types of correlation:
Y
r=0.7 Y
r=-0.7

Negative Skew
Mode
Median X X

Y
r=0.3 Y
r=-0.3
Mean

Kurtosis, on the other hand, reveals how X X

heavy or light-tailed data is compared to Y

r=0 Y
r=0
the normal distribution. There are three
types of kurtoses:
Mesokurtic distributions approximate a
normal distribution. X X

Leptokurtic distributions have a pointy n contrast, autocorrelation measures the

shape and heavy tails, indicating a high I
linear relationship between two values of the
probability of extreme events occurring same variable. Just like correlation, it can be
Platykurtic distributions have a flat positive or negative. Typically, we use it when
shape and light tails. They reveal a low we deal with a time series, i.e., different
probability of the occurrence of extreme observations of the same construct.
events.
37

6. What is the difference between probability A key characteristic of the normal

distribution and sampling distribution? distribution is that the mean and the
median coincide. The mean is equal to 0,
HOW TO ANSWER and the standard deviation is 1. With this
As noted, you may be asked various information, we can calculate the following:
statistics questions regarding sampling
68.27% of the data falls within the +/-1 standard
and the generalizability of results. The
deviation of the mean.
difference between probability and
95.45% of the data falls within +/-2 standard
sampling distribution is just one example.

deviations of the mean.

A probability distribution is a function used 99.7% of the data falls within +/-3 standard
to calculate the probability of a random deviations of the mean.
variable X taking different values. There are
two main types depending on the variable: This is known as the empirical rule.
discrete and continuous. Examples of the
former are the binomial and Poisson 0.4

distributions, and of the latter: normal and 0.3

uniform distributions.
34.1% 34.1%
0.2

A sampling distribution is the probability 0.1

0.1% 2.1% 2.1% 0.1%
distribution of a statistic based on a range 0.0
13.6% 13.6%

of random samples from a population. The -3σ -2σ -1σ μ 1σ 2σ 3σ

definition sounds confusing, but it’s

encountered often in practice.

But what is so special about it?

For example, imagine you’re a clinical data

It’s considered that naturally occurring
analyst working on developing a new
phenomena have a normal distribution. As
treatment for patients with Alzheimer’s.
such, we often use it in data analysis to
You’ll likely be working with samples from
determine the probability of a data point
the entire population of individuals with the
being above or below a given value or for a
disease. So, you’ll use the sampling
sample mean being above or below the
distribution during the data analysis.
population mean.

7. What is the normal distribution?

8. What are the assumptions of linear
HOW TO ANSWER regression?

Normal distribution is a central concept in HOW TO ANSWER

mathematics and data analysis. As such, it
It investigates the relationship between one
often appears in statistics interview
or more independent variables (predictors)
questions.

and a dependent variable (outcome). More

The normal (or Gaussian) distribution is the concretely, it examines the extent to which
most important probability distribution in the independent variables are good
statistics. It’s often called a “bell curve” predictors of the result.

because of its shape—tall in the middle, flat

The residual (or error term) equals the
toward the ends.
predictor variable minus the actual
observed value. Linear regression models

38
aim to find the “line of best fit” with 10. What are the most common statistical

minimal error.
tests used?

The typical statistics interview questions

HOW TO ANSWER

for a data analyst job might involve the

There are numerous statistical tests, each

above definitions or the following four

one serving a different purpose. Note the

main assumptions that must be met to

following common ones:

conduct linear regression analysis.

The Shapiro -Wilk test is a statistical tool

Linear relationship: A linear testing if a data distribution is normal.

relationship exists between the A t -test assesses whether the difference

predictors and the dependent variable. between two groups is statistically

Normality: The dependent variable significant.

has a normal distribution for any fixed Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tests the

value of the predictor. statistical difference between more than

Homoscedasticity: The variance of the two variables.

error term is constant for every value

of the independent variable. 11. What is the p -value and ho w do we

Independence: All observations are interpret it?

independent—meaning there is no

autocorrelation between the residuals. HOW TO ANSWER

A -value
p is the probability of obtaining

9. What is hypothesis testing?

given results if the null hypothesis is correct.

-value must be lower than

To reject it, the p
HOW TO ANSWER
a predetermined significance level α.

We’ve already touched on this topic with

The most used significance level is 0.0 5. If

some of the previous statistics and

the p -value is below 0.05, we can reject the
probability interview questions. But since it’s
null hypothesis and accept the alternative

a fundamental part of data analysis, we

one.

wish to cover it in more detail.

In that case, the results are statistically

Hypothesis testing allows us to evaluate a
significant.
hypothesis about the population based on

sample data. How do we conduct it?

12. What is the confidence interval?

First, we formulate a null hypothesis (or H0)

—assuming no difference or relationship HOW TO ANSWER

between the variables. For each null

The confidence interval is the range within
hypothesis, there’s an alternative one
which we expect the results to lie if we
considering the opposite. If H0 is rejected,
repeat the experiment. It is the mean of the
the alternative hypothesis is supported.

result plus and minus the predicted

We need to choose an appropriate variation.

statistical test to determine whether the

The standard error of the estimate
data supports a particular hypothesis. If the
determines the latter, while the interval’s
probability of the null hypothesis is below a
center coincides with the estimate’s mean.
predetermined significance level, we can
The most common confidence interval is
reject it.
95%.
39
13. What are the main ideas of the law of large numbers?

HOW TO ANSWER
The Law of Large Numbers is a key theorem in probability and statistics with many practical
applications in finance, business, etc. It states that if an experiment is repeated independently
multiple times, the mean of all results will approximate the expected value.

A classic example is coin flipping. We know the probability (P) of getting tails is 50%. If the
number of tails after 100 trials is X, then the expected value E(X) = n x P(X) = 100 x 0.5 = 50.

Let’s suppose we repeat the experiment multiple times.

The first time, we get X1= 65 tails; the second, X2 = 50 tails, and so on. Ultimately, we calculate
the mean of all trials by adding the random variables (X1, X2, …, Xn) and dividing the sum by
the number of experiments. Following the Law of Large Numbers, the mean of these results will
approximate the expected value E(X) = 50.

14. What is the central limit theorem?

HOW TO ANSWER
The central limit theorem states that the distribution of sample means starts to resemble a
normal distribution as the size of the sample increases. Interestingly, this happens even when
the underlying population doesn’t have a Gaussian distribution.

p p Gaussian
samples x
of size n xx σ
x xxx n
σ xxxx
x2 ... ... ...
x xxxxx
3 n 1

μ x μ x

population sampling distribution

distribution of the mean
On the right, we see that—regardless of the population distribution—the sample means have a
symmetrical bell shape distribution as the sample size increases. A sample size equal to or
greater than 30 is typically considered large enough for the central limit theorem to apply.

40
15. What is the difference between 120 miles/40 mph = 3 hours

probability and likelihood? The car has already traveled for two
hours:

HOW TO ANSWER
60 miles/30 mph = 2 hours

Lastly, we cover one of the fundamental

principles of Bayesian statistics because The distance is 60 miles. So, the car must
data science interview questions may travel at 60 mph for only 1 hour on the
include that subject.
way back.

The difference between probability and

likelihood is subtle but critical. Probability Data Analyst
is the chance of a particular outcome to
occur given the obtained values. When Interview Questions:
calculating it, we assume the parameters
are trustworthy.
Guesstimates
In contrast, likelihood aims to verify if the
parameters in a model are trustworthy G uesstimates can be critical in picking
given the obtained results. In other words, the right candidate for a data analyst job
we calculate the probability of a model because they assess your problem-
being correct with the observed solving abilities, confidence with
measurements. numbers, and how you handle different
scenarios.

Brainteasers in Data
What is the monthly profit of your favorite
restaurant?
Analyst Interviews
HOW TO ANSWER
Interviews for analytical and technical With such data analyst job interview
positions often include brainteasers that questions, employers test your ability to
evaluate how you apply logic, critical think independently. Choose a small
thinking, and creativity under pressure.
family restaurant (not a chain), making
Here’s a quick one for you to tackle: calculations more manageable. Then
define the main aspects of the restaurant
Suppose a car travels 60 miles at an —e.g.:
average speed of 30 mph. How fast does
the car need to travel on the way back on Days of the week open

the same road to average 40 mph for the Number of tables and seats

entire trip? The average number of visitors

during lunchtime and dinner

HOW TO ANSWER
The average expenditure per client

You need to create the following equation. during lunch and dinner

The total distance that needs to be

traveled both ways is 120 miles. The Suppose the restaurant is open six days a
average speed that we need to maintain week (closed on Mondays)—i.e., it’s open
is 40 mph; therefore, the car will travel for 25 times per month during lunch and
3 hours—e.g.:
41
dinner. It’s a small family restaurant with around a 60-seat capacity. On average, 30 customers
visit the restaurant at lunchtime and 40 for dinner. The typical lunch menu costs 10 euros and 20
euros for dinner.

Therefore, they can garner the following revenues:

25 (days) * 30 (customers) * 10 (EUR) = 7,500 EUR (lunch)

25 (days) * 40 (customers) * 20 (EUR) = 20,000 EUR (dinner)

The restaurant can attain 27,500 euros in sales. Moreover, the owner, his wife, and four others work
there. The three waiters make 2,000 euros each, and the chef makes 3,000—including social
security contributions. So, the cost of personnel is 9,000 euros.

Food and drinks cost around one-third of the overall amount of sales. Therefore, the cost of goods
sold amounts to 9,125 euros. Utility and other expenses are another 10%, which gives us an
additional cost of 2,750 euros. The owners don’t pay rent because they own the restaurant. After
calculations, the restaurant (before taxes) brings in a monthly profit of 6,625 euros.

42
 THE DATA ANALYST INTERVIEW PROCESS
AT PROMINENT COMPANIES

Gain insights into data science hiring processes by understanding how four of the world’s
most prominent companies conduct data analyst interview questions and strategies.

Netflix conducts two detailed phone While Tesla’s data analyst interview
interviews with a recruiter and a hiring questions may vary slightly among
manager. Two onsite interviews are also departments, the core requirements
given with around four data analyst team remain the same. Initially, you’ll receive a
members. So, you can expect plenty of call from human resources to discuss your
analytical, statistical (mostly A/B testing), work experience and motivation. A second
and SQL programming and stats phone screen with a hiring manager may
principles questions. You’ll likely be asked require you to answer technical questions
to analyze an assumed problem and about Python and SQL. You might also
identify key product management metrics. need to complete a 90-minute online SQL
The second interview is with higher-level test, followed by a live Python test that lasts
executives, with questions typically about an hour, where you’ll need to code in
centered around the candidate’s CoderPath.

background and professional experience. If you get shortlisted, you’ll attend an onsite
panel interview, during which several senior
members will ask back-to-back questions.
The interview process can be lengthy,
LinkedIn’s interview process for hiring data taking a few weeks to complete. Prepare to
analysts doesn’t differ much from other talk about your prior work experience and
companies. They conduct phone screen challenges—along with hands-on technical
interviews with SQL and Python questions matters regarding optimization, SQL,
and four to five onsite interviews. About half Python, Tableau, and various scenarios of
of the questions focus on advanced data wrangling. In this final rapid-fire
analytics, while the rest aim to assess your round, you must demonstrate your
coding skills and statistical knowledge— knowledge, creativity, and ability to work in
e.g., Simpson’s paradox. Many data analyst a team and under pressure.
interview questions are product-related
and require a product mindset and quick And while it’s good to be patient,
thinking. You may also encounter inquiries following up on your
about data applications and application might demonstrate
recommenders they use in their product.
your interest in the position .

43
Google’s data analyst interview process is relatively standard, with one or several phone screen
interviews followed by onsite interviews. (Google has a guide for the technical part of the
interview process that you can check out here.) The first phone screen is typically centered
around technical data analyst questions. (Some candidates were also given an online SQL test.)
Four to six people conduct the onsite interviews. All interviewers keep their notes confidential, so
the possibility of bias in the interviewers’ feedback is low. The next step is to send the written
feedback to a hiring committee, which then recommends it to Google executives for approval.
Google’s hiring process can take longer than expected, so don’t hesitate to politely request a
status update if a week or more has passed.

HOW TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION DURING

THE DATA ANALYST INTERVIEW

Answering data analyst interview questions may initially be stressful. Take a page from our
playbook if you feel challenged in the confidence department. Consider what we look for (and
tips) when hiring expert data analysts to develop our 365 courses:

Be a good listener; pay attention to every word in the questions.

Make sure your explanations are clear and reflect your thought process.
Be open to receiving feedback, signifying you’re a solid team player.
Communicate (verbally and non-verbally) a positive attitude, demonstrate
professionalism, and be confident in your abilities.
Mind your tone of voice and gestures.

Making a good impression during a data analyst interview is all about preparation,
communication, and enthusiasm. By following these tips and demonstrating your skills and
experience, you’ll be well on your way to landing the job.

44
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 SOME FINAL WORDS

With this guide, we shed some

light on what you need to know to
start a career in data analysis. We
explored the data analyst job
outlook, listed the qualifications
and skills you need to become a
competitive professional, and
prepared you to make the first
confident steps in your job search Data Analyst
process. This will be your guide in Career Track
becoming a data analyst and
10 Career Track Courses
embarking on an exciting and
41 Hours of Video
rewarding career in the field.

Certificate of Achievement

Our final piece of advice? Master the ins and outs of

foundational data analysis tools

Learn with
with courses on in-demand
software like Excel and SQL.
Then, learn to leverage the
curiosity and popular programming language
Python and its fundamental
optimism and data cleaning and
preprocessing libraries: pandas
don’t be afraid and NumPy. Supplement your
data analyst training with the full

to make mistakes. range of data visualization

practices you need to tell
compelling stories through data.
Just work hard, Following this structured
roadmap, you’ll sharpen your
do your best, and analytical mindset and develop
the skills to land a rewarding
the rest will data analyst job successfully.

follow. Start your career