What is Big Data?
Big Data is a collection of several data that are gigantic in volume, and growing rapidly with time. It is data with large size and complexity that no other traditional data management tools can store or process efficiently. The term Big Data is used because of its enormous size. In many industries, the volume of data is extremely fast-moving and gigantic.
Every piece of lead or contact information collected by sales representatives, every transaction on a website, and every document that passes through company emails contributes to enterprise data, and all of that information adds up very quickly. When formatted, captured, stored, and analysed, these data give a company insight to increase revenues, retain, or attract customers, and improve operations.
How is Big Data different from conventional data/data sources?
Big Data is different from conventional data sources in many ways. A few of them are listed here:
- Big data is generated at the outside and enterprise levels. While traditional data is generated at the enterprise level.
- Data integration in Big Data is very difficult as compared to conventional data sources.
- Huge computing and storage are required to process big data. While processing of conventional data sources requires normal computing and storage configuration.
- The size of Big Data is more than that of traditional data.
- Big Data’s data model is flat schema-based and is dynamic. While the traditional data model is static.
- Big data is in huge volume which becomes unmanageable after a while. While it’s easier to manage the traditional database.
What is a Big Data Analyst and what do they do?
Big Data Analysts are accountable for availing CRM and data analytics to assess a company’s technical performance and provide recommendations on the company’s system/software enhancements. Big data analysts typically work for various companies together and can be into technology companies or financial firms.
They usually focus on issues relating to data migrations, live data, and streaming. Their job responsibilities may include engaging with data scientists and data architects to ensure streamlined and effective implementation of services, setting the characteristics, profiling the source information, and accomplishing big data processes like text connotation, enrichment, filtering, and parsing.
Big data analysts should be able to discover & read data models and code accurately, trends in sets of data and should be able to evolve data rules from their analysis. The big data analysts are also able to get the solutions for real-time distributed data processing and also for computational pipelines.
They may be responsible for technical requirements, business goals, conducting cross-functional & design workshops, mock-up sessions, and best work practices in an organization or company.
How To Become a Successful Big Data Analyst?
Let’s discuss this in two parts:
- Personal requirements for Big Data Analysts.
- Education requirements to become a Big Data Analyst.
Personal requirements:
- You must be able to accept the responsibilities and that’s the biggest key point.
- Good oral and written communication skills are a must.
- Should be exemplarily interested to get updated on their knowledge and skills.
- Must have imaginative thinking.
- Skills in creative thinking.
- Must be a Team player or can work independently.
- Logical thinking is mandatory.
- Definitely should be a problem solver in any panic situation.
Educational requirements:
- You must hold a degree in Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics, Information Management, Finance, or Economics.
- Good knowledge of subjects majoring in Math, Physics, English, is required. A few Universities demand the above subjects mentioned, while a few Universities allow you to choose subjects of your choice. You can contact the Institutes directly in case you need additional information, as each University or Institution has its criteria mentioned.
What Skills and Qualities Make a Good Big Data Analyst?
Below, are a few skills sets and qualities one must hold to become a good Data Analyst:
1) SQL: “Structured Query Language or SQL” is a standard and most commonly used database language among the technical industries. Also, it is the basic language to be known by any big data analyst. You can say, it’s a big and better version of Excel when it comes to handling and simplifying the datasets.
Most of the organizations seek for SQL to manage, add, modify, club multiple databases together, or even build one. There are several job postings every day for the requirement of database knowledge.
2) Critical Thinking: To succeed as a big data analyst, you will need a minute level of thinking which will help you to catch the root of the issue. It is the job of a data analyst to synthesize and uncover connections that are not always so clear. Now, there are several ways to improve your brainpower and develop yourself as a critical thinker. For example, asking yourself the root cause of the issue instead of getting any explanation from anyone else can make it more complex. Also, always think by yourself first instead of relying on anyone else.
3) R or Python-Statistical Programming: Do you know? R or Python programming languages work 20 times faster than MS Excel, in a better-organized way? Yes! That’s true because R or Python programming languages can handle things that MS Excel can’t and will never be able to.
4) Microsoft Excel: Are you thinking of why MS Excel is mentioned this close to the programming languages and database, and what is its requirement now? You can use Excel for writing the macros and VBA lookups, and if you are joining any small company or a startup then most possibly the basic version which you will use will excel, perform most of the tasks. Even many big companies completely rely on this tool, as it sometimes plays a major role compared to any other tool. Luckily, there are huge amounts of Excel related resources and information online which you can use to solve the issues and can gain knowledge.
5) Data Visualization: You must master the skill of representing information and data graphically by using visual elements like charts, graphs, and maps, data visualization tools etc. You can use high-quality graphs and charts to present the findings and provide solutions. One of the most used and friendly tools among the companies is Tableau.
6) Presentation Skills: Presentation skills and data visualization are part of the same concept. A Data analyst should be able to know and learn how to present. If you are not good at presentation, this is the right time to get a few presentation classes, and you can improve your skills.
What Job Titles Could You Have in Big Data?
Below mentioned, are a few job titles that you can search as per your skills:
- Data Architect
- Data Analyst
- Chief Technology Officer
- Chief Data Officer
- Data Scientist
- Database Administrator
- Big Data Engineer
- Data Warehouse Manager
- Business Intelligence Analyst
- Quantitative Analyst
- Data Analytics Consultant
- Head of Data Analytics and Data Science
- Data Governance Consultant
- Big Data Developer
Go ahead and search for the job title which suits your skills and knowledge.
What Do Big Data Analysts’ Work Lives Look Like?
Here are a few things that help you get an insight into the work lives of Big Data Analysts.
- Big data analysts help organizations to make informed and better decisions.
- They are always into the learning process of new technologies and related stuff.
- Mostly, play with the statistical data.
- Research trends and patterns related to issues and tasks.
- They like to work with numbers.
- They convey meaningful results which are easily grabbed by the viewers.
- Developing critical thinking becomes a part of their lives.
- They are always into analyzing, managing, and gathering data for statistical purposes.
- Collaborating and setting up infrastructure.
- Mathematics is their friend for all the tasks.
Where Do Big Data Analysts Work and What’s the Environment Like?
Below is the list of industries where big data analysts work and perform the key roles.
- Sports: To monitor the performances of the teams and individual players.
- Transportation: For managing logistics and traffic in a better way.
- Insurance: For handling claims through analytics and developing new products.
- Education: To upgrade and update the specified literature for rapid growth.
- Communications & Media: For managing simultaneous real-time reports from several platforms.
- Energy: This helps in calculating electricity usage with smart meters.
- Customer Trade: To predict inventory requirements, and manage staff.
- Manufacturing: To enhance supply chain management.
- Healthcare: To collect health reports from the public survey and identify the global cause of the virus or any disease.
- Banking and Securities: They help to reduce fraudulent transactions.
- Marketing and business development: To check the growth rate for any specific product or service.
Therefore, the working environment of big data analysts differs from industry to industry.
Will Big Data Analysts Work Remotely?
In a word, yes. It is estimated and predicted that, by 2028, 75% of the big data analysts will be working remotely. As we all went through the phase of COVID due to which, there is a huge change in the industries. Employees were not able to attend physically to their companies during the COVID pandemic, and it enabled the doors for them to work remotely.
They work mostly solo after getting the requirements from the stakeholders and their work is mostly computer-based which means either they scrap the data from the web, shift the database, execute analytics, build algorithms, or create visualizations. Here, is data that shows that the remote job for big data analysts is on boom:
- Over 1000 jobs are on LinkedIn.
- Over 500 jobs on Glassdoor.
- Over 600 jobs on Flex jobs.
- Over 900 jobs on Indeed.
Go ahead and start searching for your dream job. Good luck!
What Hours Do Big Data Analysts Keep?
This depends upon the company, industry, or team. However, they have 8-9 hours/day jobs, 5 days a week but in some cases, hours or days may extend as per the requirement from the client. Across the world, there are different customs, cultural norms, and work laws that play a significant role and there are a variety of factors in any company that drive the norm in terms of expectation of work hours in a day/week/month.
How Are The Job Prospects For Big Data Analysts?
There is a boom in the data generation sector as the world is moving towards digital transformation and innovation, so getting started as a big data analyst is going to provide you only a plus point as it is a never-ending industry. Big Tech industries are adopting big data on a large scale so the demand for big data analysts is increasing. Nowadays, every industry demands a big data analyst, and a few of them are healthcare, entertainment, and media, retail telecommunications, automotive industries and so on. According to a survey, big data usage by telecommunication industries is 87% while financial services industries usage is 76% following the healthcare industries usage as 60%. So, this domain always remains green, fruitful and there are abundant opportunities to work with large enterprises.
How Much Amount Do Big Data Analysts Make?
Well, this depends upon many factors like knowledge, company, experience, and location. Here, we have mentioned the salaries of big data analysts in the USA.
- The average annual big data analyst salary in the USA is $65,000
Now, here are some facts and figures stating the salary of big data analysts by industries:
- Entertainment – Average annual salary: $70,000
- Manufacturing – Average annual salary: $52,000 – $60,000
- Energy and mining – Average annual salary: $65,000
- Finance – Average annual salary: $65,000 – $68,000
- Software and IT services – Average annual salary: $65,000
- Hardware and Networking – Average annual salary: $65,000 – $70,000
- Utilities – Average annual salary: $74,000 – $79,000
- Scientific and technical services – Average annual salary: $80,000
- Natural and resource mining – Average annual salary: $107,000 – $117,000
Would It Be Advisable For You To Become A Big Data Analyst?
The answer to this question depends upon your education and career of interest. If you are good at critical thinking and good at solving puzzles, and you are interested in subjects like math and physics then, you should take this opportunity.
What’s The Future of Big Data?
The future of big data is full-fledged and demand is increasing day by day. In every sector, we can see the requirement for a big data analyst. Hence, this job requirement is on the boom and it’s becoming unstoppable.
How WATI can help jumpstart your career in Big Data?
West Advanced Technologies, Inc. (WATI) has been delivering excellence, since 1998 and we can help start your career in Big Data as it has a large network connection with skilled IT companies and clients. We are specialised in identifying, assessing, and providing outstanding IT professionals, especially hard-to-find skills, to match your project’s needs.
- We boast a national network of talent, and many people are ready to relocate for the correct engagement.
- We have an extensive candidate acquisition and evaluation process, and our staff is positioned to properly satisfy any potential requirement.
- We provide a dedicated account executive for each of our clients, to stay in sync, which helps to continuously evolve the needs of clients.
