EN 
Numbers are your thing - but you lack a career perspective? You know your way around Excel, but you want your job to be more than just "secretarial"? Are you currently looking for a job - and are you looking for something with future prospects?
No matter which of these questions you answered "yes" to: a career change as a Data Analyst (m/f/d) could be the right thing for you! As a Data Analyst, you will collect, prepare and evaluate data so that business decisions can be made on a reliable basis.
But in addition to banks and insurance companies, data analysts are also in demand in many other industries: from weather forecasting to environmental research and from e-commerce to online marketing, the interests are diverse and the job as a data analyst is a door opener to exciting topics. By the way: you don't earn too much as a data analyst either!
Sounds good? We think so too! In the next few paragraphs, we will explain the tasks of a Data Analyst and tell you what you need to bring to the job.
By the way: If you are interested in further training, you can do so thanks to the Education voucher even free of charge under certain conditions.
What does a data analyst do?
As a data analyst, you collect and process various types of data: whether it's usage data from the internet, business figures or financial market data is of secondary importance. Where necessary, you put the data into context, identify business trends or problems and make the data available to decision-makers.
You often work closely with other data-driven colleagues, such as data scientists or business analysts. To better understand this, we have described it here, How to become a data analyst and what distinguishes the different job titles from one another,
What requirements do you need to meet to become a Data Analyst?
The job of data analyst is not precisely defined. Data analyst is not a traditional apprenticeship - the ideal prerequisite for a career change. As a data analyst, a lot happens through "learning by doing" - but that doesn't mean that everyone has what it takes to become a data analyst! So what do you need to become a data analyst?
Depending on what you have done professionally, what you have learned or studied, it will be easier or more difficult for you to start as a data analyst. Experience in certain industries can also help you. However, you don't have to be able to do everything straight away; the hard and soft skills you bring with you are much more important:
Technical skills:
- Strong knowledge of mathematics and statistics
- Programming skills
- Proficiency in programming languages, e.g. Python, Java, R, SQL
- Software knowledge, e.g. Excel
Personal characteristics:
- Good ability to concentrate
- analytical thinking
- Willingness to learn and interest in innovation
- High sense of responsibility
- Ability to work in a team and independently
You now know what you need to bring to the table as a data analyst - but you're worried because you can't fulfill every point? Further training is the ideal way to close the one or other knowledge gap - which you can also have funded with an education voucher from the Federal Employment Agency! In the next section, we'll show you what you need to look out for.
What further training should you have as a Data Analyst career changer?
Due to the high demand for data analysts on the job market, there are also numerous training opportunities. Providers include, for example, the Chambers of industry and commerce or private providers.
As there is so much to choose from, you should think a little beforehand about the requirements for the job, where you see gaps in your knowledge and which form of further training is suitable for you.
Your training can cover the following topics:
- Basics of mathematics and statistics
- Basics of AI and data analysis
- Project Management
- Tool knowledge
- Programming skills, e.g. with Python
So think a little about yourself: Do you already have a lot of practical experience in project management and were you introduced to mathematics during your studies? Then perhaps you should pay more attention to ensuring that your further training gives you the professional tools you need, e.g. how to use standard job tools and programming languages.
If you already have an IT background, you may be able to learn programming languages such as Python more quickly. In this case, you may be more interested in deepening your understanding of mathematics - there are also in-depth courses here. Either way, always make sure that best practices and practical applications play a major role in the training courses! This allows you to test your knowledge directly and gain first-hand insights that will set you apart from applicants with purely theoretical training and further education.
At StackFuel, we therefore have two data analyst training courses that take into account the different requirements that career changers bring with them: In the Qualification as a data analyst we focus on programming with Python, the practice of handling data and best practices from the professional world - ideal for all those who see their weakness primarily in programming.
In our basic course Data Analyst for career changers of course, it doesn't work without programming - but we broaden the perspective so that career changers with different professional backgrounds can find their way into the job basics. This will give you a broad knowledge base and the foundations for a job as a data analyst.
Whether you work full-time, need a lot of time for the children or prefer to learn new things on site: the form of your further education has an immense influence on your learning success. The methods are varied and there is something suitable for everyone:
- Courses on site
- Digital face-to-face event
- Hybrid forms
- Blended learning
Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. At StackFuel, for example, we rely on blended learning: this means that we combine e-learning content with webinars, personal consultation hours with our mentors and practical challenges and cases. This means you can learn the theoretical basics flexibly, anytime and anywhere, always have an expert available as a contact person and can apply your new knowledge in practice. And the best thing is: you can organize your time as you wish - so the course fits in with your everyday life. At the end, you will receive a recognized certificate that will catapult your application as a data analyst to the top of any company.
Data Analyst lateral entry salary: what you can expect
The average starting salary for data analysts starts at around 40,000 euros gross per year - however, the actual salary depends on many factors.
In addition to your previous professional experience or the further training you have already completed, employer factors also play a major role, such as the location of the future company, its size and sector.
Of course, your salary will also increase over the course of your career after your lateral entry as a data analyst - and can therefore more than double. Would you like to understand in more detail which factors influence your income as a data analyst? In our blog article, we have broken down in detail what exactly influences how much you earn as a data analyst and to what extent.
Job market: How many vacancies are there for data analysts?
In Germany Indeed currently (as of March 2024) has over 1,500 vacancies for data analysts and comparable job descriptions. Stepstone even lists over 5,300 jobs in its search. Many of them offer at least partial home office, so you can work flexibly even if you live a little further away from your place of work.
Of course, many data analyst jobs are concentrated in urban centers. This is how Glassdoor currently has over 250 vacancies in Berlin alone. But there are also numerous data analyst jobs on offer in rural areas in Bavaria, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia or Baden-Württemberg or in up-and-coming cities such as Leipzig.
Our three tips: What you should bear in mind when starting out as a Data Analyst!
Do you think the job of Data Analyst could suit you? Are you looking for a salary of over 40,000 euros a year gross upwards? Then we have the distillate for you: here's what you should definitely consider before starting your career as a data analyst!
Tip 1: Know your worth
As a data analyst career changer, you are not an isolated case: data analysts often used to have another job. So you are no exception! That's why it's important that you first think carefully about which skills and abilities you have for working as a data analyst - and which you should develop further.
Tip 2: Choose your training consciously
Whether you have a degree, are a trained office administrator or have already written thousands of lines of programming language: The job as a data analyst requires every career changer to close different gaps.
The wide range of further training courses allows you to choose exactly the right training for your needs. At StackFuel, for example, we offer two different ones: One for those who primarily Deepen your programming skills want and one for Career changerwho prefer to start with the technical basics.
Tip 3: Don't be afraid of programming
At StackFuel, we hear it time and time again: many prospective students are afraid of programming, especially if it hasn't played a role in their previous professional life. Our training courses with lots of practice and motivating forms of learning help you to overcome this fear. Don't believe that? Then read our interview with Siegfried, a career changer: just a few weeks after completing his certificate, his Career as a Data Analyst.
As you can see, a lateral entry as a data analyst is not only attractive, it doesn't have to remain a dream! Because with a realistic self-assessment, the right training and motivation, nothing stands in the way of your professional future.
Let's get started: How to get started as a data analyst!
Time for a summary: As a data analyst, you are in demand like never before. Thousands of job offers on portals such as Indeed and Stepstone speak for themselves! Many industries are crying out for data specialists - and you could be one of them! With a very good salary and exciting in-depth topics ranging from weather to marketing to finance, the analytical job as a data analyst offers a lot on the plus side.
As a career changer, you need to have an understanding of mathematics, an interest in programming, a willingness to learn and team spirit - the rest can be acquired with the right training. Providers such as the IHK or StackFuel offer a wide range of courses that fit in perfectly with your everyday life and the gaps in your knowledge.
Are you really "data-hungry" right now? Then let our colleagues advise you and find out exactly which Further training as a career changer to become a data analyst suits you.
Source
Glassdoor (2024): "Data Analyst job advertisements“ [19.04.2024]
Stepstone(2024): "Data Analyst job advertisements“ [19.04.2024]
Indeed (2024): "Data Analyst Jobs“ [19.04.2024]
IHK (2023): "Data Analyst lateral entry“ [19.04.2024]
English 
German 