How to Become a Data Analyst in Canada in 5 Steps

Data analysts have gained importance around the globe today due to the extraordinary growth in data output. There are thousands of job vacancies for data analysts and data administrators in Canada alone. This demonstrates the attractiveness and importance of this profession.

However, to become a data analyst in Canada, some skills must be mastered and measures must be taken. This article will provide you with a thorough explanation of what it means to be a data analyst, the necessary skill set, and why you should pursue it as a profession.

Who is a Data Analyst?

A data analyst is a professional who gathers, processes, and analyzes huge datasets. All industries and businesses work with and collect data. Data can take several forms, such as client feedback, accounting, marketing research, and so on. A data analyst is, therefore, responsible for managing data, modelling data, and reporting it.

Responsibilities of a Data Analyst

Being a data analyst comes with a lot of roles and responsibilities. They bring technical expertise to ensure the quality of data before analyzing and presenting it to help people, businesses, and organizations make informed decisions. Hence, some of the roles of a data analyst include:

• Managing master data, including creation, updates, and deletion.
• Providing quality assurance of imported data.
• Providing technical expertise in data storage structures, data mining, and data cleansing.
• Managing users and user roles.
• Processing confidential data and information according to guidelines.
• Training end-users on new reports and dashboards.
• Supporting initiatives for data integrity and normalization.
• Supporting the data warehouse in identifying and revising reporting requirements.
• Commissioning and decommissioning of data sets.
• Helping develop reports and analysis.
• Assessing tests and implementing new or upgraded software and assisting with strategic decisions on new systems.
• Troubleshooting the reporting database environment and reports.
• Evaluating changes and updates to source production systems.
• Generating reports from single or multiple systems.

Why Become a Data Analyst in Canada?

Firstly, most Canadian firms rely heavily on data collection and analysis these days. This assists them in determining the impact of the techniques they utilize and what they may do to improve the results.

Furthermore, it assists them in identifying methods that did not work and either discontinuing or evaluating them. All of this information will, therefore, assist organizations in making the best decision possible. Due to this reliance on data, data analysts are in high demand across all industries.

Other Benefits of Becoming a Data Analys in Canada:

• High Demand: Data analysts are in great demand. It is the fastest-growing job on LinkedIn and is predicted to create 11.5 million jobs by 2026. Those who become data analysts in Canada are, hence, highly employable professionals.
• A High-Paying Career: Data analysts in Canada earn an average of $99,825 per year in Canada. For senior data analysts, the wage increases to about $142,500 per year. Data analysts in Canada are fourth on the list of most paid data analysts in the world.
• Prestige: Data analysts are known as the brains behind the decisions successful businesses make. Therefore, their expertise is heavily relied upon to provide better results which will in turn yield more profit for their organization.
• They Make Data Better: Companies in Canada rely on data analysts to make sense of the bulk of data collected. These professionals help improve the quality of data by enriching it and making it better for their companies.
• They are Versatile: Data analysis has several applications. It is used in the healthcare business, consulting services, e-commerce, agriculture, and other industries. This enables data analysts to work in a variety of fields.
• They Can Save Lives: The health sector has been greatly improved because of data analysis. The advent of machine learning has made early-stage tumor detection easier. In addition, data analysts are working in healthcare industries to make this possible.

Top Ten Schools to study Data Analytics in Canada

Below is a list of the best schools to study data analytics in Canada:

• Toronto – University of Toronto
• Vancouver – University of British Columbia
• Montreal – University of Montreal
• Edmonton – University of Alberta
• Ottawa – University of Ottawa
• Calgary – University of Calgary
• Waterloo – University of Waterloo
• Burnaby – Simon Fraser University
• London – Western University
• Halifax – Dalhousie University

Five (5) Crucial Steps to becoming a Data Analyst in Canada 

1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree: To best set yourself up for success in the field of data analysis in Canada, it is important to earn your bachelor’s degree in a related field. A specific degree in data analysis is obviously the best, but there are some relevant degrees that you might want to minor in like information technology, computer science, mathematics, or statistics.
2. Gain Data Analyst Experience: Admittedly, it is difficult to find work as a data analyst if you have no prior experience. However, certain entry-level positions will give valuable on-the-job training and experience, such as analytical assistant or technician. Training seminars, workshops, and certification courses are other great methods to boost your chances to gain employment and become a data analyst in Canada.
3. Learn Necessary Computer Languages: There are several programming languages needed to analyze data effectively. Some of them are Python, XML, SQL, and JavaScript, and it’s essential to become proficient in at least one.
4. Advance Your Career: As you progress, you should consider a master’s degree in data science or big data management to familiarize yourself with the latest tools and technologies and expose yourself to the newest trends in your field.
5. Pursue Professional Certifications: After you have become a data analyst in Canada, you can also consider certification programs; that is, if you’re worried about the time and cost of pursuing a full master’s degree. These programs are designed to give you a comprehensive overview of the subject in a short amount of time. Some professional industry-standard certifications include:

• MapR Certified Data Analyst
• Amazon AWS Certified Big Data
• Cloudera Certified Associate Data Analyst
• INFORMS Certified Analytics Professional
• IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate
• Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Data Management and Analytics

Tools Every Data Analyst in Canada Should be Familiar with

If you intend to become a data analyst in Canada, or anywhere else, really, these are some important tools for you. Data analysts use these tools in carrying out their responsibilities.

• Microsoft Excel
• Google Analytics
• Jupyter Notebook system
• Github
• Tableau
• R and Python
• Splunk
• Apache Spark
• RapidMiner
• KNIME
• Power BI
• AWS S3

Eleven Must-Have Skills for Data Analysts in Canada

Data analysts need to have a well-developed toolbox of skills to be able to do their work expertly. These skills are divided into two: technical skills and soft skills.

Technical Skills:

#1. Data visualization:

This is the graphical representation of information and data using visual elements like charts, graphs, and maps. Data visualization tools and technologies are very important to analyze massive amounts of information and make data-driven decisions. This is the most popular skill required, especially for entry-level data analysts.

#2. Data cleaning:

Data cleaning is the process of fixing or removing incorrect, corrupted, duplicate, or incomplete data within a dataset. With a properly cleaned dataset, data analysts can use simple algorithms to generate remarkable insight.

#3. R:

R is one of the most pervasive languages used in data analytics. Given its popularity and necessity in supporting analytical work, learning R should be high on the priority list for any aspiring data analyst in Canada.

#4. Python:

For budding data analysts, learning Python should be their primary priority. Python is a high-level, general-purpose programming language with a plethora of specialized libraries, many of which are related to artificial intelligence. Understanding Python is a talent that data analysts in Canada must have to be competitive in an increasingly AI-focused professional world.

#5. SQL:

SQL, or Structured Query Language, is widely accepted as the standard method for querying and manipulating data in relational databases. Despite its age, its popularity and influence in businesses throughout the world show no signs of waning anytime soon. This is a crucial language for anyone looking to enter into data analytics.

#6. Linear Algebra and Calculus:

When it comes to data analytics, advanced mathematical skills are required. Linear algebra and calculus are two specific branches of mathematics that are relevant to data analytics. While linear algebra is employed in machine and deep learning, calculus is needed to create the objective/cost/loss functions that train algorithms to attain their objectives.

#7. Microsoft Excel:

Microsoft Excel automates some features and commands for better data analysis. It even has its programming language, VBA, which it uses to create macros or pre-recorded commands. In addition to this, Microsoft excel has its Analysis ToolPak which is used for statistical modeling and data analysis.

Soft Skills:

#8. Critical thinking:

It is the data analyst’s responsibility to discover and synthesize correlations that are not always obvious. You must be able to think analytically about data, recognize patterns, and extract useful insights and information from it as a data analyst. To become a data analyst in Canada, you must grow as a critical thinker. Hence, you must challenge yourself and think outside the box.

#9. Communication:

In the end, it doesn’t matter if you’re the most talented data analyst in the world if you can’t explain your findings to others. Being a good data analyst means being able to explain and communicate the patterns you see to business-centered decision-makers without confusing them.

#10. Research:

Retrieving data is an essential aspect of data analysis. This makes it very important for data analysts to have excellent research skills. This can assist them in searching for data and discovering patterns and solutions to problems.

#11. Attention to detail:

Like they say, ‘the devil is in the details.’ Data analysts must have strong attention to detail to enable them to detect minor errors like double spacing or a colon instead of a semicolon, curly braces instead of a bracket, and things like that which can make lines of code ineffective. This particular skill is also very useful in data cleaning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

#1. Is coding required to be a data analyst?

Some data analysts are proficient in programming languages while others may use analytics software or MS Excel. It all depends on the job or the employer.

#2. What qualifications do I need to be a data analyst?

To be a data analyst you might need a bachelor’s degree. However, having a master’s degree can boost your earning potential.

#3. Can I become a data analyst without a degree?

There are a variety of certification programs and boot camps designed to teach relevant skills to those looking to begin a career in data analytics.

#4. Do companies hire freshers as data analysts?

The answer is yes. A fresher can become a data analyst if they learn the tricks of the trade and work on honing the required skills.

#5. Is data analysis a good career?

Skilled data analysts are some of the most sought-after professionals in the world.

#6. Do data analysts work remotely?

Many data analysts work remotely and use the internet to access data on cloud platforms to run the data analysis software.

Wrap up

In conclusion, after studying about what it takes to work as a Data Analyst in Canada, you should be able to see the big picture. From the stages to the prerequisites to the tools and skills required, it must appear to be a lot.

However, you will have a rewarding career as you try to enhance the decision-making processes of businesses and organizations. Not just that, but a respectable salary as well! Best of luck as you begin your career as a Data Analyst in Canada. We hope you found the content interesting.