Analyzing data efficiently and accurately is a skill worth developing today, as it will bolster your employment prospects and make you a valuable asset in a variety of industries, including construction. Of course the path to becoming a professional data analyst is not always straightforward, so here are a few things to do if you want to get started down it. Research the main aspects of modern data analysis Rather than diving straight in, it makes sense to read up on the elements which define not just what data analysis can achieve today, but what practices and processes are involved in making sure that it is an impactful tool in the context of the wider organization. For example, it is a good idea to get a grounding in the topic of DataOps, as explained by SentryOne. This is significant because it will show you how the analysis of data is just one cog in the modern informational infrastructure of any business. You need to appreciate that the lifecycle of data is potentially complex and needs to be managed carefully, with analysis being possible only after information has been sourced, integrated and stored properly. This leads into learning that data analysts often operate as part of interdisciplinary teams, rather than working solo, since it is tricky to keep all the necessary plates spinning by yourself. Develop core skills The next step is to examine the skills you will need to succeed in a professional data analyst role and take action to add these to your repertoire. Interestingly one of the most common duties involved is that of cleaning data, which essentially means preparing it for analysis after it has been pulled from a source and addressing any issues in the data set which might preclude it from comprehensive assessment. Analysts must also become proficient at translating the questions which a business has about how its operations are orchestrated into a format which can be scrutinized and tackled from the point of view of the data available. At the other end of the spectrum, delving into unstructured data to try and find patterns and extract actionable insights will also be necessary. Finally, you need to be able to express your findings in a way that others will be able to understand, often through visualizations that convey concepts succinctly without the need for expert knowledge. Seek qualification Ultimately the only way to become a true data professional in the field of data analytics is to get qualified, either by taking a degree course focused on this practice, or by seeking certification from one of the many programs that focus on this in the workplace. There is no single qualification that will guarantee you success as an analyst, but rather it should be expected that the cumulative effect of your hard work and on-the-job experience will be what makes you indispensable to employers, or even empowers you to adopt this role within your own business.