The last decade has seen data placed at the forefront of almost every industry from hospitality to healthcare. Businesses are increasingly depending on statistical insights to guide their financial decisions and, as such, data analytics has become the new buzzword in the business domain.
The amount of data available to us today is unprecedented, with companies only just beginning to scratch the surface of what’s possible with accurate data analytics. There is therefore a massive demand in the global market for qualified data analytics professionals who can utilise company data to take the business forward.
Why data analytics?
Data analytics involves analysing data using statistical and computational tools to derive actionable insights. Data analytics can reveal significant trends and metrics which would otherwise be lost in a sea of information.
Data analytics can dominate major decision-taking processes in practically every industry. They underpin quality control and optimisation systems in the financial world, including the famous Six Sigma Programme.
Likewise, predictive analytics, a popular data analytics technique, is used by the weather forecast industry to predict the upcoming weather. Data analytics also forms the foundation of sales and digital marketing teams in most companies.
What is the scope of data analytics in Ireland?
Data analytics continues to be one of the fastest-growing employment domains in the world. World Economic Forum Data predicts that data analyst jobs will be among the top ten global jobs by 2025.
As with the rest of the world, Ireland is also witnessing a massive surge in demand for data analytics professionals. Skills Ireland estimates that the current demand for Big Data/ data analytics in Ireland will create around 62,000 new jobs. The report also suggests a growth rate of 8% in demand for data analysts.
Becoming a data analyst in Ireland
The question remains—how do you capitalise on this demand and become a data analyst? The step-by-step procedure given below can help you become a highly qualified data analyst in Ireland.
- Earning a professional degree
Most jobs in data analytics require specific technical and programming expertise, along with knowledge of applied statistics. It can be quite challenging to gain this expertise on your own.
A professional degree or diploma in Big Data or data analytics can help you gain the relevant knowledge and familiarise yourself with the latest analytics tools and technologies.
You can also top your data analytics courses with an additional master’s programme in data science or data management for further specialisation.
- Gaining data analyst experience through internships
Data analyst jobs are dynamic and well-paid. However, you might find it difficult to land even an entry-level analyst job without sufficient work experience.
An easy way to gain experience in data analytics is to pursue internships which can help you with your skill development and training. Many data analytics programmes offer a co-op placement module which can also provide on-the-job training and relevant work experience.
- Focusing on technical skills
Data analytics roles require many highly specialised skills, including thorough knowledge of data manipulation and various programming languages. Hence, you should ensure you are competent in these skills before applying for any data analytics job.
Here are a few programming languages you should be adept at as a data analytics aspirant:
- R Language
- HIVE
- SQL
- Java
- MATLAB
- PHP,
- Python
- C++
Need to be adept at Python programming in order to pursue your dream data analyst job? The Online Data Analytics Professional Training Programme for Data Analysts at IBAT College Dublin is the perfect path to take.
The predictive analytics course covers all the technical bases of data analytics, including Python programming, SQL and databases, Power Business Intelligence, Big Data and Hadoop. You also receive extensive academic support, including printed course notes on the virtual student learning (Moodle) Platform.
Click here to learn more about the programme.
Today, 80% of high-performing companies use real-time predictive analytics for key business decisions. With these trends continuing, you can expect to see a large-scale creation of new jobs within the data analytics industry.
Investing in an appropriate data analytics course can help you expand your career prospects by taking advantage of this surge. Look for courses from reputed colleges or universities that provide decent industry exposure and lots of practical experience.
This article is written by Sweha Hazari.