Top 5 Reasons to Get A Data Analytics Certification

The latest buzz surrounding the tech landscape in Singapore is that salaries are expected to rise up to 30% within the next two years, especially in the finance sector. As companies start to ramp up their digital efforts, a hiring boom is expected along with surges in salary.

One job particularly in-demand is the data analyst role. Competition for data analytics talent is growing as startups and Chinese tech firms expand in Singapore.

What is Data Analytics?

In this technology-driven world that we live in today, data plays a huge role in our daily lives. Ever wondered how Spotify is able to recommend you similar songs when creating your own playlist, or how Netflix is able to suggest shows similar to the blockbuster you just watched? You guessed it, through Data Analytics, where these companies use data to further improve the customer experience and satisfaction. In general, data is constantly being generated, collected, analyzed and interpreted to solve different business problems. 

What exactly is Data Analytics then? Data analytics refer to the process of extracting valuable information from existing data by identifying patterns and trends. 

What does a Data Analyst do?

Data analysts play an important role when dealing with data, as they translate data and generate actionable insights by examining correlation, trends and patterns in the data. These insights would then be presented and communicated to key stakeholders to make informed decisions. 

Data analysts are vital to companies, because of the fact that they mainly focus on optimizing business processes through the use of existing data to meet the needs of the company. The main goals of the company usually revolve around increasing profits by increasing revenue or decreasing costs. Data analysts act as a bridge to achieve these targets by producing actionable insights.

Reasons to Get A Data Analytics Certification

High demand

According to a report commissioned by Amazon Web Services, Singapore requires approximately 1.2 million more digital workers by 2025. Having a data analytics course certification in your resume would improve your marketability vastly as jobs related to data analytics continue to be on an upward trajectory.

Increased Job Opportunities

Displaying your certifications can improve your chances of landing a job. Earning a data analytics certification is no easy feat and would expand your job opportunities. Furthermore, your resume stands out since you possess high-growth and in-demand skills in data analytics. Employers are more inclined to hire and invest in you as you bring a lot to the table.

There are various job titles you might qualify for when you have a data analytics certification, which includes but not limited to:

• Business Intelligence Analyst
• Data Analyst
• Data Scientist
• Data Engineer
• Marketing Analyst
• Operations Analyst
• Quantitative Analyst
• Project Manager

Salary

As mentioned in the introduction earlier on, tech salaries in Singapore could rise up to 30% in two years. By attending a data analyst course in Singapore and gaining a professional certification, you are able to command a salary premium. 

Eligibility Across Different Industries

Majority of the industries are making use of data analytics today, namely, e-commerce, finance, healthcare, entertainment and retail. This signifies that there is an abundance of opportunities for certified data analysts. Skill sets established are almost always transferable as well, which means that you have the options of exploring your opportunities and switching industries in the future.

Practical Knowledge

One of the benefits from attending data analytics certification courses is that you are given a platform to learn from industry experts who are specialized in their field of work. You get to use tools that are widely used such as Excel, SQL and Tableau, which are highly likely used when securing a data analyst position in the future.

What skills do I need as a Data Analyst?

For data analysts to flourish in their role, they need to possess a well-rounded skill set inclusive of various technical and soft skills. 

Technical Skills

Data Visualisation

Data visualization refers to the individual’s ability to present data findings through graphical representations and illustrations. It helps to facilitate a clearer understanding of these findings. The audience does not necessarily need to possess technical expertise due to the ease of interpretation. 

With data visualization, data analysts can convey valuable insights effectively by helping key stakeholders identify patterns and grasp complex concepts visually, leading to an improvement in decision-making. 

An application widely used for data visualization would be Tableau, a visual analytics platform that helps people see and understand data.

2. Data Cleaning

Cleaning is a vital component of any data mining project due to the impact it brings when creating machine learning models and algorithms. An example would be the accuracy and hit rates of the generated models.  

Uncleaned data would most likely lead to misleading patterns and inaccurate results produced by the model, which could be detrimental as companies would make decisions based on it. As a result, wrong business decisions are made and can potentially set companies back, making data cleaning skills even more of a necessity.

SQL

SQL,  abbreviated for Structured Query Language, is a programming language utilized to manage relational databases and perform different operations. Many consider it as a must-know tool because of its ability to handle and process big data efficiently and effectively. Check out our beginner’s guide to learn more about SQL.

4.Excel

Excel is regarded as important for data analysts, since it is universally used as a spreadsheet software that has automated features and commands for data analysis.

Furthermore, Excel’s programming language, VBA, has its own pros such as the ability to create macros or pre-recorded commands to optimize business processes such as repetitive tasks like accounting, payroll or project management.

Soft Skills

1. Effective communication

Effective communication consists of two aspects: public speaking and presentation skills. Data analysts are required to explain data findings in written and verbal forms coherently. They have to be persuasive and prompt key stakeholders to make positive changes. 

Presentation skills also supplement data visualization. Data analysts would need to know how to convey the context, insights and interpretation in a coherent and effective manner based on the dashboards and graphs. 

2. Problem-solving 

It is inevitable to run into technical difficulties as a data analyst, where you would need to navigate through these issues and eventually solve them.  

Additionally, prior to starting a data mining project, you would be required to come up with a business problem, the business and data mining objective and a proposed solution. This would be where your problem-solving skills would be given a chance to shine.

3. Detail-oriented

It is a necessity for a data analyst to be meticulous when managing, analyzing, retrieving and explaining data. This would then ensure that generated machine learning models and algorithms are accurate and useful. There could also potentially be valuable details that are missed out when analyzing technical information.

How do I get a Data Analytics Certification?

There are numerous data analytics certification courses online for you to choose from. If you are searching for one, look no further! Vertical Institute provides a data analytics certification online, which is issued after completing our data analytics courses for beginners. We have community reviews of 4.9 stars, and over the duration of the course, you get to grasp important Excel, SQL and Tableau concepts. No prior background knowledge is needed.

Jumpstart your journey of becoming a Data Analyst today by signing up for our Data Analytics Course!

About Vertical Institute

Vertical Institute prepares individuals for the jobs of tomorrow. We specialize in teaching in-demand skills, building the next generation of changemakers and inventors through our world-class tech courses and certifications. 

Singaporeans and PRs can receive up to 70% IBF Funding off their course fees with Vertical Institute. The remaining fees can be claimable with SkillsFuture Credits or NTUC UTAP Funding.