Guesstimate questions are scary, simply because they really matter for impacting your performance in those all-important interviews — often for consulting, data analytics or product management. No need to worry; you can do it! In this guide, we are looking at how to approach guesstimate questions with confidence and make what sounds like a guessing game into an opportunity for showcasing our analytical thinking.

https://datasimplifier.com/guesstimate-questions/

Reminder for all data analyst job seekers⏰

DA + HR Knowledge➡️HR Analyst

DA + Sales Knowledge➡️Sales Analyst

DA + Supply Chain➡️Supply chain Analyst

DA + Finance Knowledge➡️Finance Analyst

DA + Research Knowledge➡️Research Analyst

DA + Marketing Knowledge➡️Marketing Analyst

What does it mean?

⏩Build more functional / domain knowledge

⏩By doing more projects & research

Why?

✅To increase your chances of landing a DA job 🚀

10 Data Cleaning Techniques Every Data Analyst Should Master:

1. Handling Missing Data

Use methods like imputation (mean, median, mode) or deletion to handle missing values.

In Python, pandas functions like fillna() or dropna() are useful.
 
Example: df.fillna(df.mean()) replaces missing values with the column mean.
 
2. Removing Duplicates

Identify and remove duplicate records to ensure the dataset is accurate. Use drop_duplicates() in pandas.

3. Standardizing Data

Ensure consistency in formatting, such as dates and strings.
Use str.lower() or pd.to_datetime() for standardization.

 
4. Handling Outliers

Detect and manage outliers using statistical methods or by creating visuals like box plots. Methods include capping, flooring, or removing outliers.

Example: df = df[(df['column'] >= lower_limit) & (df['column'] <= upper_limit)]

5. Correcting Data Types

Check that all columns have the correct data types for analysis. Use astype() in pandas to convert data types.

6. Normalizing and Scaling Data

Normalize or scale data to bring all values into a similar range, which is important for algorithms like K-Means clustering.

Use StandardScaler or MinMaxScaler from scikit-learn.

Example: from sklearn.preprocessing import StandardScaler; df_scaled = StandardScaler().fit_transform(df)

7. Encoding Categorical Variables

Convert categorical data into numerical format using techniques like one-hot encoding or label encoding. Use pd.get_dummies() or LabelEncoder.

Example: df_encoded = pd.get_dummies(df, columns=['category'])
 
8. Dealing with Inconsistent Data

Identify and correct inconsistencies in data entries, such as typos or inconsistent naming conventions.

Example: df['column'] = df['column'].replace({'val1':'value1', 'val2':'value2'})

9. Parsing and Extracting Data

Extract relevant information from complex data types such as strings or dates. Use string methods or regex (regular expressions).

Example: df['year'] = df['date'].dt.year
 
10. Combining Multiple Data Sources

Merge or concatenate multiple datasets to create a comprehensive dataset.

Use merge() or concat() in pandas.

 Example: df_combined = pd.merge(df1, df2, on='key_column')

✅𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗹:👩💻

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Subject: Referral Request for [Position] at [Company Name]

Hi [Recipient's Name]🙂,

I hope you’re doing well. I’m interested in the [Position] at [Company] and noticed you work there. My background in data analytics, particularly in [specific expertise], aligns well with this role.

I understand the interviews will likely focus heavily on technical data analysis skills, and I’m well-prepared, having worked on numerous projects and effectively used data-driven strategies to address complex challenges.

Here are the details for your reference:
- Job posting: [Job Link]
- Resume: [Resume Link]
- Projects and coding profile:
- GitHub: [GitHub Link]
- [Coding Profile Link] (e.g., [mention ranking/level if impressive])

I assure you that a referral will be highly valued and I will make the most of this opportunity. I’m also happy to assist you with anything in return.

Any additional suggestion/advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Best,
[Your Full Name]

The most powerful data analyst tool?

CTRL + C and CTRL + V

When starting off your data analytics journey you DON'T need to be a SQL guru from the get-go.

In fact, most SQL skills you will only learn on the job with:

- real business problems.
- actual data sets.
- imperfect data architecture.
- other people to collaborate with.

So be kind to yourself, give yourself time to grow and above all...

try to become proficient at SQL rather than perfect.

The rest will take care of itself along the way! 😉

Essential Data Analysis Techniques Every Analyst Should Know

1. Descriptive Statistics: Understanding measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) and measures of spread (variance, standard deviation) to summarize data.

2. Data Cleaning: Techniques to handle missing values, outliers, and inconsistencies in data, ensuring that the data is accurate and reliable for analysis.

3. Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA): Using visualization tools like histograms, scatter plots, and box plots to uncover patterns, trends, and relationships in the data.

4. Hypothesis Testing: The process of making inferences about a population based on sample data, including understanding p-values, confidence intervals, and statistical significance.

5. Correlation and Regression Analysis: Techniques to measure the strength of relationships between variables and predict future outcomes based on existing data.

6. Time Series Analysis: Analyzing data collected over time to identify trends, seasonality, and cyclical patterns for forecasting purposes.

7. Clustering: Grouping similar data points together based on characteristics, useful in customer segmentation and market analysis.

8. Dimensionality Reduction: Techniques like PCA (Principal Component Analysis) to reduce the number of variables in a dataset while preserving as much information as possible.

9. ANOVA (Analysis of Variance): A statistical method used to compare the means of three or more samples, determining if at least one mean is different.

10. Machine Learning Integration: Applying machine learning algorithms to enhance data analysis, enabling predictions, and automation of tasks.

Like this post if you need more 👍❤️

Hope it helps :)

If you are targeting your first Data Analyst job then this is why you should avoid guided projects

The common thing nowadays is "Coffee Sales Analysis" and "Pizza Sales Analysis"

I don't see these projects as PROJECTS

But as big RED flags

We are showing our SKILLS through projects, RIGHT?

Then what's WRONG with these projects?

Don't think from YOUR side

Think from the HIRING team's side

These projects have more than a MILLION views on YouTube

Even if you consider 50% of this NUMBER

Then just IMAGINE how many aspiring Data Analysts would have created this same project

Hiring teams see hundreds of resumes and portfolios on a DAILY basis

Just imagine how many times they would have seen the SAME titles of projects again and again

They would know that these projects are PUBLICLY available for EVERYONE

You have simply copied pasted the ENTIRE project from YouTube

So now if I want to hire a Data Analyst then how would I JUDGE you or your technical skills?

What is the USE of Pizza or Coffee sales analysis projects for MY company?

By doing such guided projects, you are involving yourself in a big circle of COMPETITION

I repeat, there were more than a MILLION views

So please AVOID guided projects at all costs

Guided projects are good for your personal PRACTICE and LinkedIn CONTENT

But try not to involve them in your PORTFOLIO or RESUME

The best way to learn data analytics skills is to:

1. Watch a tutorial

2. Immediately practice what you just learned

3. Do projects to apply your learning to real-life applications

If you only watch videos and never practice, you won’t retain any of your teaching.

If you never apply your learning with projects, you won’t be able to solve problems on the job. (You also will have a much harder time attracting recruiters without a recruiter.)

If you’re a data analyst, here’s what recruiters really want:

It’s not just about knowing the tools like Power BI, SQL, and Python.

They want to see that you can:

Understand business problems

Communicate your findings clearly

Turn data into useful insights

Make predictions about future trends

Data analysis isn’t just about generating reports; it’s about using data to support your company’s goals.


Show that you can connect the dots, see the bigger picture, and explain your findings in simple terms.

I have uploaded a lot of free resources on linkedin as well
👇👇
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sql-analysts/

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Top Data Analytical Skills Employers Want in 2024

Most Demanding Data Analytics Skills!

↳ Dive into the essential skills and tools that are shaping the future of data analytics. From SQL and Python to Tableau and PowerBI, discover which technologies are crucial for advancing your data analysis capabilities.

↳ Explore the importance of machine learning techniques like linear regression, logistic regression, SVM, decision trees, random forests, K-means, and K-nearest neighbors, and how they can enhance your analytical prowess.

↳ Understand why soft skills such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity are just as important as technical skills in the data analytics field.

↳ Get a comprehensive overview of the skills and technologies that can propel your career forward and make you a standout in the competitive world of data analytics.