The Toolset of a Data Analyst: Key Soft Skills Gained From Data Analytics Programs

Data analytics is a highly technical field that calls for a thorough understanding of programming languages and mathematical concepts, plus a strong command of complex solutions such as data visualization, data warehousing, and machine learning. Still, while technical skills are essential, they accomplish little if they aren’t accompanied by other more nuanced abilities.

Soft skills don’t always receive the attention they deserve, but they are necessary in data analytics and many other career paths typically thought of as “technical.” These skills can be difficult to define, but they stand out, in part, because they are applicable in such a wide range of professions. These are the qualities that make a professional well-rounded and easy to work with and understand.

Because soft skills play so heavily into data analytics, the slow, methodical process of developing them must begin long before you enter the field. The more purposeful this effort is, the better equipped you’ll be to communicate data analytics concepts, work with professionals across departments, and make an impression with today’s top employers.

Still skeptical about the value of soft skills or the need to build them into your career planning process? Below, we show you how to gain these skills while revealing the power of data analytics master’s programs for building a well-rounded data analyst skillset. 

Why Do You Need Soft Skills for a Data Analytics Career?

Technical skills may form the foundation of analytics, but it is impossible for professionals to reach their full potential unless these core technical abilities are complemented by soft skills. These often-underrated qualities amplify not only how data is analyzed and understood but also how it is communicated to other employees or stakeholders.

Soft skills influence how data analytics teams function as well. Collaboration, in particular, is a must, as data analytics involves contributions from many skilled team members. If analysts lack emotional intelligence, empathy, or communication skills, conflict is likely. These issues, in turn, can hamper productivity and innovation. 

7 Data Analyst Skills Gained in a Master’s Degree Program

Soft skills are not straightforward to acquire. It takes a lifetime of learning, experience, and practice to fully develop these abilities—although the right degree program can certainly flatten this otherwise steep learning curve. Therein lies the value of data analytics master’s programs, which blend technical and soft skill development to great effect. If you seek a Master of Science in Data Analytics (MSDA), you can expect to emerge with these key skills: 

1. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills

At its heart, data analytics is a problem-solving strategy; thus, problem-solving skills are naturally strengthened while studying data analytics theories and techniques. By the time they graduate, data analytics students know how to assess issues, determine which data needs to be collected, and apply gathered data to arrive at viable solutions for the most significant organizational problems.

Critical thinking plays into problem-solving, helping improve data analytics initiatives and solutions. During this rational and highly objective process, data analysts draw on a wealth of evidence (along with personal observations and arguments presented by other experts) to form data-driven judgments.

However, critical thinking is not possible without reflecting on personal biases, and while the data that analysts collect may seem objective, its interpretation may be influenced by a person’s previous experiences or currently held attitudes. Master’s programs such as the MSDA can equip students with critical thinking and problem-solving skills by going beyond passive learning to emphasize case studies, capstone and practicum projects, and even internship experiences. 

2. Communication and Data Storytelling

Skilled data analytics professionals can make sense of vast and considerably complex data sets and use this information to drive strategic decision-making. Still, the insights made possible through extensive data must eventually be communicated to others.

In data analytics, effective communication is best achieved through the power of data storytelling. This makes the most of raw data by weaving a compelling narrative that many types of professionals or stakeholders can understand and even appreciate. The most impressive data storytelling initiatives incorporate both text-based narratives and data visualizations, making the story of data feel more relatable and impactful.

Courses entirely dedicated to data visualization delve into this area, complete with opportunities to evaluate best practices and examine the latest data visualization research. These skills can also be enhanced through various elective courses.

Practical communication is a must, too, as data analysts often need to plan or participate in meetings or handle basic administrative functions. A solid grasp of business communication should allow these professionals—and especially business analysts—to bridge the gap between the often disparate technological and business environments. These abilities can be gained through electives from an MSDA. 

3. Attention to Detail

Detail-oriented professionals are the most likely to succeed as data analysts, as seemingly minuscule details matter. While data analysts work toward an eventual goal of understanding and influencing the big picture prompted by data-driven insights, these are driven by the difficult-to-discern details only skilled analysts (and high-level programs or applications) can reveal.

This detail-oriented approach to data analytics can be improved through several graduate-level courses. These skills are especially emphasized during classes revolving around hands-on learning, although deep dives into data analytics research should also pave the path toward a detail-oriented mindset. 

4. Teamwork and Collaboration

While data analytics appeals greatly to anyone drawn to independent work, there is still a strong need for collaboration. After all, data analysts work closely with professionals across numerous departments, including project managers, IT directors, and many other key players.

Effective teamwork can also amplify many of the qualities highlighted in this guide. Strong teams are more agile, for instance, and more likely to pinpoint important details that could influence business insights or data-backed solutions. Collaboration plays into problem-solving and critical thinking by uncovering a wider variety of valuable perspectives.

MSDA programs emphasize collaboration through core classes, practicum projects and internships, revealing the extent to which collaboration will be necessary in the workforce. 

5. Adaptability and Continuous Learning

Data analytics is a rapidly changing field. If you want to keep up, you must be willing to continue advancing your skill set. There is no need to feel intimidated or apprehensive about new tools or technologies, as these allow data analysts to focus more on the creative, problem-solving elements of the job rather than getting caught up in time-consuming, manual processes.

MSDA programs foster a love of learning and also show just how quickly the field is changing. By emphasizing foundational concepts, these programs make it easier to grasp new techniques and keep up with the field’s evolution. 

6. Time Management and Prioritization

As modern systems and devices produce an ever-increasing volume of data, analysts must be capable of determining which types of data are most relevant and how this information can be dealt with efficiently to produce swift yet accurate business insights. The industry is clearly headed toward real-time solutions, with prompt results expected and less time available to perform painstaking analyses.

Thankfully, a number of advanced solutions make it possible to pick up the pace. For example, artificial intelligence and machine learning streamline time-consuming manual processes and let data analysts focus on high-level insights. MSDA programs introduce students to these complex solutions while providing helpful frameworks for prioritization.

Though technology opportunities can deliver faster insights, time management skills are still essential. These are naturally developed in graduate school through the simple need to juggle coursework and practical experiences. 

7. Leadership and Initiative

Data analysts are the ultimate go-getters. They might initially need some guidance to determine which problems require solving and how data will play into these efforts, but they are ultimately encouraged to gather and analyze relevant information as they see fit. This takes confidence, which is best gained through applied learning—ideally at the graduate level.

In addition to demonstrating exemplary initiative, data analysts should be effective leaders. Many eventually move into senior analytics roles or take on management positions, but even entry-level data analytics may call for leadership skills. From motivation to delegation, the MSDA can help further reinforce these.

How to Expand on Your Data Analyst Skillset

A master’s degree provides a strong start, but as we’ve touched on, soft skill development never truly ends. Once you have completed your coursework and graduated from a reputable data analytics master’s program, you can continue building upon your foundational skills by honing an inquisitive mindset and a dedication to continuous learning. Key strategies for continuing to develop as a data analyst include:

• Attend conferences, seminars, and workshops. Not only will these expose you to the most cutting-edge insights, but industry events and experiences also offer excellent networking opportunities. By interacting with other talented professionals, you can continue developing your communication skills and glean additional strategies that help you improve other equally important soft skills.
• Learn new programming languages. While a data analytics degree introduces you to a range of relevant programming languages, you can continue to study on your own after you graduate. The more languages you know, the more creative and productive you can be as a data analyst. The effort to strengthen these programming language skills will make you more adaptable and creative with utilizing data. 

Data Analytics Master’s Programs

Opportunities abound in data analytics, but the path to success begins with examining available data analytics programs. Look for well-rounded programs that encourage you to develop technical data analysis skills as well as focus on communication, emotional intelligence, and other core competencies.The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) offers the exciting opportunity to expand your data analytics skill set while enrolled in the Master of Science in Data Analytics (MSDA) program. Don’t hesitate to reach out to learn more or take the next step and apply today.