Data analyst
Also called: MIS analyst, Reporting analyst
Collects and cleans data, builds reports and dashboards, and answers business questions with numbers.
What the work is
Data analysts help managers make decisions with facts. They pull data from databases and spreadsheets, clean it, find trends and explain them with charts and dashboards: why sales dropped in March, which customers are likely to leave, which stores perform best.
It is one of the most common first jobs for graduates who like numbers, and it is open to students from engineering, science, commerce and economics. Many analysts later move into data science, product or business roles.
A typical week
- Write SQL queries to pull data
- Clean and combine data in Excel or Python
- Build dashboards in Power BI or Tableau
- Present findings to managers in simple words
It suits people who
- Like numbers and patterns
- Are curious and ask why
- Explain things clearly
Your path to get there
School (Class 8-10)
- Keep Mathematics in Class 11 and 12
- Try a spreadsheet project, for example your cricket team's scores
Class 11-12
- B.Sc Statistics or Maths, B.Com, BBA, B.Tech or BCA all workEntrances: CUET-UG, JEE Main, ISI
College or fresher
- Learn Excel, SQL and Power BI or TableauAbout 3 months of steady practice
- Add Python (pandas) and basic statistics
- Build 3 portfolio projects on real public data and publish them
- Apply for analyst internships and junior analyst roles
Working or switching
- Use data inside your current job first (sales, finance, operations reports)
- Take a 3 to 6 month analytics course, earn PL-300, and apply for analyst roles in your own industry
- Start with a skills refresh of 6 to 12 weeks: one short course and one TalentMeter assessment to show where you stand today.
- Use returnship and second-career programmes; many large employers in India run them for people back after a break.
- Explain the gap in one honest line on your CV and LinkedIn, and list what you did in it (caregiving, freelancing, courses, volunteering).
- Contract, part-time and freelance roles are a common way back in; they turn into full-time offers often.
Exams and certifications
| Name | What it is for | When |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300) ↗ | Proves dashboard skills | Any time |
| Google Data Analytics Certificate | Entry-level analytics skills | Any time |
| IIT JAM (Mathematical Statistics) ↗ | M.Sc at IITs | Final year of graduation |
| ISI and CMI entrance tests ↗ | Statistics and data science degrees | After Class 12 or graduation |
Exam names, eligibility and dates change. Always check the official website for this year's notice.
Job market
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