How to Start a Career in Data With No Experience

Being out of work is an opportunity to think about where you want your career to go next. You may have recently become unemployed, or you might have been out of work for some time, or maybe even want to move into a completely different sector. The matter of fact is that developing new skills can help open up new employment opportunities.

Data is used across almost every industry. Businesses use it to understand their customers, monitor performance, manage finances, plan resources and make better decisions. You might have also used data before but not used it to the full potential.

If you are currently unemployed and interested in developing skills for a career in data, then our NCFE Level 3 Technical Occupational Entry for Data Technician is for you.

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Can you start a career in data with no experience?

Previous experience working in a dedicated data role is not always necessary when taking your first steps into the sector. Entry level roles provide a valuable opportunity to build the essential experience, while vocational training can help you develop the practical skills employers are looking for before you begin applying for jobs.

You might also have more relevant experience than you realise. In previous jobs, education or everyday activities, you may have:

Used Microsoft Excel
Entered information into computer systems
Produced reports
Managed customer information
Compared figures
Monitored performance
Worked with budgets
Presented information
Checked information for accuracy

These are all experiences that can provide a useful starting point when developing your data skills.

What does someone working with data actually do?

Working in a data orientated role primarily involves helping key decision makers and managers understand and use the information available to them, making informed decisions to support business efforts.

Businesses might want to know which products are performing best. Customer behaviours could change; you might need to identify where budgets are being spent or whether a particular service is performing as expected.

Someone working with data can help answer these questions.

Depending on the role, your responsibilities could include collecting information, checking its accuracy, organising datasets, identifying trends and presenting your findings to other people.

You could also be expected to create reports, spreadsheets, charts or dashboards that make that complicated information easier to read. This means working in data requires essential skills, such as problem solving, attention to detail and communication, all of which are important.

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What skills do employers look for in data roles?

The skills required will depend on the role you enter, but there are several areas that are useful when preparing for entry level data employment.

Reading and understanding data

You need to understand the information you are working with, where it has come from and how it should be handled. This includes developing an understanding of different types of data and how businesses collect, store and use information.

Analysing information

Preparing data is one part of the job role. The data needs to be readable for all so patterns or trends can be identified. Developing basic statistical and analytical skills can help you understand what information is showing.

Ensuring good quality data

Information is not always accurate or ready to be analysed. You could be missing information, there could be duplicated records or inconsistencies within a dataset. This is why being able to identify problems, anomalies and irregularities is paramount. Having the ability to prepare information correctly is an important part of working with data.

Creating data visualisations

Large amounts of information can be difficult to understand when presented as rows of numbers. Charts, graphs and dashboards can make information clearer and help people quickly understand important findings.

Learning how to select and create suitable data visualisations is therefore a useful skill for many data roles.

Communicating your findings

Being able to analyse information is important, but employers also need people who can explain what that information means. You may need to present your findings to colleagues who do not have the same technical knowledge.

Being able to turn your analysis into clear information that someone else can understand can make you a valuable member of a team.

What jobs could data skills help you apply for?

Developing entry level data skills can prepare you for a variety of roles.

Depending on the employer and the responsibilities of the position, these could include:

Data Technician
Data Support Analyst
Junior Data Analyst
Junior Information Analyst

Data skills can also be useful across many other jobs, such as administration, finance, marketing, customer service, logistics, healthcare and many other sectors which rely on people who can confidently work with information. This means the skills you develop do not necessarily limit you to one particular type of employer or industry.

Gain data experience while unemployed?

If you are currently unemployed and want to develop skills for a career in data, Fareport Training’s NCFE Level 3 Technical Occupational Entry for the Data Technician Diploma could help you prepare for your next step.

The programme has been designed to help adults develop the skills and knowledge required to seek employment within data related roles. During the qualification, you will develop your understanding across areas including:

Data fundamentals
Data architecture and legislation
Data cleansing
lending and merging data
Statistical analysis
Data visualisation
Presenting and communicating data
Collaboration and professional development

You will develop an understanding of how data is collected, prepared, analysed and communicated while building skills that can be applied within the workplace.

Over 10 months, you’ll learn how to work with, cleanse, analyse, visualise and communicate data, developing practical, job-relevant skills through live online teaching, hands-on activities, data clinics and 1-to-1 support from expert tutors, with Module 4 delivered face-to-face. You will also benefit from six months of career support, helping you build confidence and prepare for your next career move.

If you want to learn how to understand, cleanse, analyse, visualise and communicate data, you’ll gain hands-on knowledge across these key areas, with expert tutor support throughout your learning.

Prepare for your next opportunity. Find out more about our new NCFE Level 3 Technical Occupational Entry for the Data Technician by completing our quick form today. You can also talk to our team if you need to check your funding eligibility, or if you have any other questions.

Take the first step towards your next career opportunity.