Data analytics has always been a field that fascinates me. The ability to turn raw data into meaningful insights and make strategic business decisions based on those insights is something that I found incredibly compelling. It is often said that a data analyst must spend quality time cleaning data, which is approximately 80%, and the remaining 20% on visualization. However, my journey to becoming a data analyst wasn't a straight path. It was when I started working in a corporate environment that I realized that data analytics was the career path I wanted to pursue.
Your background is not an excuse.
The reason I had to say this is because I know most of you will say it is because of my background in computer science: a national diploma from Federal Polytechnic Bida and a bachelor of technology from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO). The reverse is that you can have a degree in computer science, but if you are not ready to pursue your dream and passion, you’ll just be a regular guy with a certificate in computer science. What the mind conceives and believes that it can achieve: Don’t let your background stop you.
How I Found Myself in the Data Space
Upon my convocation from the university in February 2019, I went for my compulsory youth service, which ended in June 2020. I had nothing that brought money to my account until April 2021, when I finally got a job as an IT support analyst for an IT services and IT consulting company. Believe me, I gave it my all, but I was not satisfied. You know, apart from the management office, the IT unit is another world of its own. The name “General Ahmed” keeps ringing a bell, although I have only heard of his good work and how he has helped people transition to data effortlessly (you still have to put in the work).
How I met with General Ahmed
The IT unit was located in the headquarters, so you don’t get to meet with the engineering team every day as they work from a different location and sometimes remotely. On a certain day, Mr Ahmed Oladapo and Bayo came for an official assignment at the headquarters, so he came to the IT office to say hello, and boom, that was it. We exchanged contact, but unfortunately, it was at the tail end, as Mr Ahmed had stopped having a training session with data enthusiasts. I started watching YouTube videos and building dashboards, even if I didn't understand what I was building at first. I will build dashboards and post them online. Mr. Ahmed, seeing my passion, decided I join his mentorship session, and that was how I started.
Be ready to Unlearn, Learn and Relearn
In April 2022, a friend sent a link to a data science scholarship program at OneCampus Academy which I registered for and was enlisted among the successful candidates. I was combining studies with work as most times the BootCamp sessions would be on during work hours, and I had to juggle between work and my BootCamp session. But, never the less, I was focused on my goal. Moreover, my contract had ended and was not renewed after about six months. I decided to follow my passion and focus on my newfound career path. I must tell you, this was the toughest decision I have made in my life. I needed the job, and I also needed the money, but it just wasn't enough.
How do I improve my skills?
The only way for you to be a good mathematician is by solving mathematical equations; the same is true for you to be a good data analyst and gain confidence in data science and analytics; you just have to work on data-related challenges or projects. You can check out some of my dashboards and Github pages for inspiration.
I was building projects, joined several data communities, participated actively in several data analytics challenges, and posted my projects on LinkedIn, volunteered, helped those behind me to grow not that I knew it all, but my profile began to grow. The truth is, there is no one best path to becoming a data analyst; in machine learning, no one model suits all, but it depends on the task or data you are analyzing, as well as the data analytics stacks. The more you work with data, the more confident you become in cleaning and transforming it.
In conclusion, my journey to becoming a data analyst was not an easy one. It took a lot of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. You must be ready to pay the price. 😊 But it was worth it. I am now able to do what I love every day, and I am constantly learning and growing as a professional. If you are passionate about data analytics, I encourage you to pursue it as a career. Keep in mind that there is no perfect time; just begin. It may be a challenging path, you'll be faced with a whole lot of setbacks, and disappointments, and you might even lose your relationship 😄 but the rewards are well worth it. If I had known the things I know today, my undergraduate and youth service days would have been dedicated to learning data analytics stacks, so if you’re reading this and you are still a student or you want to start a career, then look no further and make up your mind, as that is the first step. It is okay to be scared but in all you do, just know that quitting is not an option and don't forget to pray 🛐 .