
đȘ Youâre Already a Data Analyst (You Just Donât Know It)
đ„ Hot take: youâre already a data analyst - you just donât realize it yet.
Donât believe me? Give me 4 minutes to convince you. đ
What Is a Data Analyst, Anyways?
Most people think a data analyst is a job title handed down by some omnipotent company. But thatâs B.S.
Simple definition: someone who analyzes data to solve problems using an analytical mindset.
It doesnât matter if you use Excel, SQL, Power BI, pen and paper, or even just your brain. If you look at data, find patterns, make decisions, and communicate those findings, boom. Youâre a data analyst.
Welcome to the club! đđ„ł
Data analytics is about:
Cleaning and preparing data
Finding patterns and trends
Communicating insights
Taking action based on analysis
If youâve ever opened a spreadsheet, made a chart, tracked metrics, or even just mentally organized information to solve a problem, youâre a data analyst.
Letâs dive into some practical examples.
Seven Professions Where Youâre Already a Data Analyst
If youâve read my newsletter for awhile, youâll know they donât call me Avery âPracticalâ Smith for nothing. Okay, no one calls me that. But I learn through practical examples.
So here are 7 ways these professionals are already analyzing data.
1. Sales Professionals
Analyzing lead conversion rates by channel to maximize profit
Creating weekly sales reports to monitor pipeline health and forecast revenue
Segmenting customers in a CRM to personalize outreach and improve efficiency
2. Teachers
Tracking student performance data to improve learning outcomes
Analyzing team participation and engagement trends
Making data-driven decisions for large groups of students or clients
3. Delivery Drivers
Optimizing delivery windows by analyzing traffic patterns and live alerts
Ensuring projects meet standards and minimizing operational downtime through A/B testing communication
4. Physical Therapists
Tracking patient recovery data to identify effective treatments
Auditing billing codes and financial transactions
Charting progress and aligning service logs with success metrics
5. Parents (Stay-at-Home or Otherwise)
Tracking weekly grocery expenses to reduce waste and overspending
Building chore workflows with planners and reward systems to boost productivity
Charting diaper changes and feedings to ensure child well-being
6. Retail Workers
Tracking hourly sales to optimize inventory during peak times
Using mental maps to quickly locate products for customers
Processing thousands of financial transactions accurately
7. Construction Workers
Collecting and comparing vendor quotes to maximize ROI
Identifying high-risk materials and procedures using historic data
Tracking material costs and ensuring accuracy in blueprints
No matter youâre current profession, you can view it as a data position.
Want to stump me? Send me an email with your profession and Iâll reply back with my take.
Why Should You Care That Youâre a Data Analyst?
âOkay, cool, Avery. I guess I can call myself Iâm a data analyst. Why should I even care?â Here are three good reasons.
1) Your resume needs it.
If youâve been applying for jobs and not hearing much back, itâs probably because in todayâs job market, companies are looking to hire people with data analytics experience already. Youâve been thinking (and your resume indicates) you have no data analytics experience. But after reading this, hopefully you realize you do! Edit your resume!
2) Your LinkedIn needs it.
Once again, recruiters are looking to fill data analytics roles with existing data analysts. By updating your LinkedIn to look more like a data analyst, youâll have more recruiters knocking at your door.
It can be as simple as adding âAnalystâ to your current title or even âData-Driven.â Small changes go far in the ATS. Update your LinkedIn!
3) You need it.
Letâs be real. Your confidence is low. Youâre experiencing mega imposter-syndrome. Why? Because youâre learning 387 new things quickly. Because youâre trying to change careers. Because you keep getting rejected.
Once you change your mindset from, âIâm not a data analyst. I donât belong.â to âIâve been doing data analytics for years! I can do this!â, you get reborn life. Your confidence rises. You apply to more jobs. You get more interviews. You get hired. Rewire your mind!
Yes, You Are a Data Analyst
Donât want for some almighty powers to give you the title of âdata analyst.â
Instead, claim it. Take your career into your own hands.
Youâve already been doing this. You are capable of doing it more. You are a data analyst.
And Iâm enjoying watching your journey.
Keep up the good work.
p.s. I did a whole podcast episode about this where I dive a bit deeper. Listen if you enjoyed reading.