5 Steps to Become a Data Analyst: One Good Pathway You Could Try
Data Analytics is a growing and exciting career. I myself have been a Data Analytics Consultant for about last 3 years, and I have been loving this career.
I believe one of the most important skills of Data Analysts is Data Visualization / Business Intelligence Reporting.
In this post, I will address 5 steps that will help you with where and how to begin your Data Visualization journey. I have chosen specific pathway for this post — a Tableau Developer.
Obviously, there are many pathways and I’m addressing one of the ways — so please know that there are many other ways to become a Data Analyst.
I have chosen the Tableau Developer role for various reasons — one being Tableau is one of the most used tools for Data Visualization. So if you know how to Tableau, you would be relevant for many roles out there.
Also, if you are fluent in Tableau, you will be able to transfer the skills to PowerBI and other tools quite easily.
Now, follow along these five steps to start your Tableau journey!
1. Explore Tableau Public Dashboards
Start by exploring at least 100 Tableau dashboards on Tableau Public. There are countless great dashboards in different categories with different use cases.
(Link: Discover | Tableau Public)
Take the time and effort to browse through a variety of dashboards to understand how they are designed, what questions they aim to answer, and the features and functionalities they utilize. Pay attention to the layout, visualization types, and interactive elements to gain valuable insights into effective dashboard design.
2. Enroll in a Tableau Course on Udemy
Next, head over to Udemy and enroll in a Tableau course to gain comprehensive knowledge and hands-on experience with the software. It doesn’t have to be a long course but just enough for 5 to 7 days duration courses. Look for courses that cover the fundamentals of Tableau, including data connection, visualization creation, and dashboard design. Take advantage of the interactive tutorials and exercises to strengthen your skills and build confidence in using Tableau effectively.
3. Dive into Tableau Desktop
Download Tableau Desktop and take advantage of the 7-day free trial to start building your own dashboards. Begin with simple, standard charts and functionalities to familiarize yourself with the software’s capabilities. Experiment with different visualization types, data connections, and formatting options to create visually appealing and insightful dashboards.
4. Engage with the Data Community
Get involved in the Tableau community by sharing your dashboards and participating in discussions. Share your creations on platforms like LinkedIn and your personal blog to showcase your progress and receive feedback from peers. Consider joining offline Tableau groups and attending data events to network with like-minded individuals and gain valuable insights and inspiration for your Tableau projects.
By following these four steps and continuously practicing and engaging with the Tableau community, you’ll gradually build your skills and confidence in using Tableau.
Keep exploring, learning, and sharing your Tableau journey, and before you know it, you’ll be ready to tackle more advanced analysis and visualization projects and even pursue Tableau certification.
5. Build Your Portfolio
Once you reach the point where you can earn the Tableau Certification, you might be ready to build a solid portfolio.
You could start your website or a blog, showcasing your dashboards and other data principles you have learnt.
In your resume, you could put a project sections where you explain the projects you have built — you could also put links to your website or blog so that recruiter will be able to see your work.
It’s Your Turn
I hope this gives you a good idea on where you can start your Data Analytics journey. Now start with the step number one!
Stay tuned for future blogs on intermediate to advanced Tableau techniques to take your skills to the next level! 📊🚀
