4 tasks I do as a Data Analyst that have nothing to do with data
Aspiring data analysts spend a lot of time trying to hone their technical skills. Little do they know that working as a Data Analyst is more than analysing data…
Here are 4 tasks that I do almost every day working as a Data Analyst in a consultancy company that have nothing to do with data:
1) I negotiate deliverables and deadlines
As a Data Analyst, you don’t analyse data in isolation with all the time in the world to do it. Someone will be expecting your analysis. And that person won’t always realise how much work and time you need to put into what they are asking for.
Negotiating is a big part of being a Data Analyst in the corporate world. You need to communicate well how much time you need to deliver what is being required of you whilst still keeping in mind that people won’t always be able to give you all the time you need.
Setting expectations on what can and cannot be delivered is also a big part of the job. Sometimes, people will come to you with questions that you just cannot answer with the data you have.
2) I manage a million projects at the same time
If you work for a fast-paced business (are any businesses slow-paced these days?) you’ll likely have to be an excellent multi-tasker.
Keeping track of all my projects, briefs, revisions, and presentations is something I need to do every day at work. Not only that, but I also need to communicate these to my managers and give them the confidence that I am on track with everything. This is especially important when you work remotely.
3) I lead groups of analysts
In my role, I don’t lead any teams. But that doesn’t mean I don’t need leading skills in my job.
When I’m responsible for a global project, I need to coordinate everything with the analysts in charge of the regional parts of the project. And in most Data Analysis jobs, there will be a similar dynamic. As I mentioned, you rarely do your work in isolation.
This means making sure everyone has everything they need to perform their analysis, assigning tasks to people, answering any questions they may have, and communicating back to the stakeholders on the status of the projects.
Leading in a way that is helpful instead of overbearing is a good skill to develop if you want to be a Data Analyst.
4) I have to teach complex things to less technical people
If you have good technical knowledge and are part of a team of analysts, imparting your knowledge will likely be expected of you.
And, unfortunately, I see time and time again people who have impressive technical skills but are unable to teach them to other people. And it’s a shame for the team as a whole because the more junior Analysts don’t get to develop themselves as much as they could.
Teaching is a tough skill to master. I do it often in my role in the form of sessions on PowerQuery and storytelling. I try different methods and I try to check in on people to see if they need any additional support.
But, honestly, I can’t say I’ve mastered it. There are a lot of training documents I prepared out there that remained unopened. It’s definitely something I need to work on!
How do you fare in these aspects of the Data Analyst job? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!
