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| The Top 10 Ways to Become an Expert in Data Analytics |
1) Read Books
There are so many resources out there that teach you how to become an expert at data analytics. They have books, online courses, and many other material for sale. In fact, there are two new books coming out about this topic. Quantitative Analytics: A Hands-On Introduction to Data Science by Tobias Tebartz-van Elst and Anthony Wagner and Python for Data Analysis: Use R, Python, and More by Wes McKinney and Paolo Pialorsi.
Reading books is a great way to learn how to become an expert at data analytics. There are many different types of books that can teach you how data analytics work and what it has to offer.
2) Get Involved with Communities
Kaggle, Quora, LinkedIn, Reddit. These are all online communities which can provide you with resources and connections to learn more about data analytics. They're also all great places for you to share your own knowledge! Check out how these communities can help you become a data analytics expert below:
Kaggle – This site hosts machine learning competitions for people around the world. The data, tools and tutorials on Kaggle can give you an insight into machine learning and real-world applications of the techniques. Quora – You don't need any qualifications to ask questions or answer questions on this question-and-answer site but joining is free.
3) Go to Conferences
Doing research is one of the best ways you can get ahead of your competition. Attending conferences and listening carefully to talks will not only expose you to the latest technology, but also bring out insights that can drive your business in the right direction. Consider choosing a different conference every year so that you can gain new perspectives from different speakers on topics within data analytics.
Make sure that you look up who is going to be speaking at these conferences beforehand. This will help you prepare questions for them when they are available for a Q&A session. Additionally, networking at conferences can open doors for future job opportunities. You’ll also want to make sure that you connect with other attendees through social media, as well as taking notes during talks and following up with contacts later on.
4) Take Courses & Certifications
Coursera offers both a Get Started with R and a Practical Machine Learning course, which are both highly recommended for those just starting out. To take either of these courses or any other on Coursera, you would need to sign up for an account first.
#4: MIT Open Courseware- This website provides access to full-text lecture notes and video lectures from over 1,000 courses at MIT, where you can search by subject area or browse the entire collection of course materials. The site also offers introductory tutorials on how to navigate the library.
#5: Stanford Engineering Everywhere- This is a free online education platform where you can access over 2,000 Stanford Engineering classes, including those on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
5) Volunteer
Volunteering at a relevant, nonprofit data analytics firm will give you valuable work experience and help you find out if this is the career path for you. Consider volunteering at a nonprofit where you can utilize your skills in more ways than just data analysis. For example, if marketing and social media are your strengths, volunteer at a local animal rescue center or arts organization that needs your expertise.
Working as a data analyst at a local firm may also provide valuable networking opportunities. Take advantage of these opportunities by developing good relationships with co-workers and supervisors and making a name for yourself as someone who is passionate about analytics. Your mentors will not only be able to help you learn new skills, but they'll also be your first professional references when you start looking for your first job in data analytics or a similar field. Additionally, nonprofits can provide great mentorship from older individuals who are more experienced than you are and have been where you want to go.
6) Work at Big Companies
Think about the types of companies that you want to work at and target them by applying for entry-level positions, internships, and informational interviews. Sometimes it is difficult to secure a position when starting out. If you have a specific company in mind, but are struggling with your candidacy due to lack of experience or time on the job market, spend more time networking with people within the company who have connections with hiring managers.
Make sure that you’re keeping your resume and LinkedIn profile up-to-date. Do not pass up on any networking opportunities or informational interviews!
7) Try Free Online Resources
Needless to say, when you’re working in the world of data analytics, you need to know your stuff. Luckily, there are a number of free resources available online that can help give you a hand when it comes to teaching yourself how to become an expert on data analytics. Check out these top ten ways you can use right now to get the job done!
1) Google your topic and find different articles that are aligned with what you want.
2) Search on YouTube and choose between different learning styles. You can also consider checking out Wikipedia’s extensive resources on pretty much any topic under the sun! It may not be as detailed as other sites, but it’s a great place to start if you need a broad overview of what you’re looking for.
3) Check out free online courses and tutorials. There are plenty of these available through platforms like Coursera, Khan Academy, and Codeacademy. Some of them might even be linked with your topic! The best part is that they’re completely free and you can take as long as you need before finishing a given class or module. Try taking one now—you might find it interesting!
8) Participate in Online Communities
Data analytics experts can always use new sources of information and insights, so they should take a moment to research all the online communities where they can discuss their field. Signing up for an account on one or more of these forums is a good way to meet other data analysts and stay abreast of any emerging trends.
Some of these communities, such as Reddit or Stack Overflow, have millions of users, so you’ll have no trouble finding experts or questions to get involved with. On other sites, however, you might need to actively reach out and make connections. If that’s necessary for your data analytics community of choice, don’t hesitate; just do it!
9) Read News Papers
Increasing your data and analytics knowledge can help you quickly improve your career prospects. As a starting point, it may be helpful to consider these Top 10 ways that you can learn and stay ahead of the curve:
- Participate in free online training courses offered by software providers like SAS, or browse MOOCs on Khan Academy or Coursera. Free options exist even for those with busy schedules - some of the providers offer quick interactive quizzes with each module of a course.
- Get Certified! A few popular certifications are the CPA, CFA and CMAS programs for accountants; CCMA for managers and analysts; PMP certification for project managers; Six Sigma Black Belt Certification from ASQ if you're interested in quality management.
10) Learn From Mentors/Role Models
Identify someone you admire, who is considered to be an expert in the field. Reach out and ask for their advice or for tips on how they came into their knowledge of this subject. Once you learn from a mentor, you'll often find that there are plenty of other mentors out there you can turn to as well. Sometimes all it takes is one person's opinion to change the way you view something, which is why mentorship can be a really great idea if you want some guidance from those who've been successful at what they do.
No matter what you do, it's always a good idea to reach out and learn from someone who is more experienced than you.
