If you’re reading this, odds are you are thinking about becoming a data analyst. Traditionally, the way to achieve this has been to attend college.

While this is a great way to break into data if you have the means to do so, not everyone has the ability to attend college and some would like to become a data analyst quicker than the usual 4-year degree. Further, some go into analytics for the love of data while others are just interested in making good money and the ability to work from home.

Thankfully, there are multiple ways to break into data analytics. I’ll talk a little bit about each of them, so you can choose the route that works best for you.

First route: attend college.

As I said above, the traditional way to become a data analyst has been and is to attend college for four years. The best majors for this route generally are data analytics (obviously), mathematics, computer science, finance, accounting, economics, or another field with a strong analytical component.

One pro of this route is that it is low risk. If you attend college, work hard and learn a lot in one of the above fields, you’ll be able to find a job relatively easily because employers can know you’ve achieved something.

Another good reason to go to college is to receive a well-rounded education. To land an entry-level data analyst job, it’s pivotal to understand the basics of SQL, data visualization, Microsoft Excel, and statistics. But learning things like advanced math, writing, presenting, history, business, etc. can definitely set you ahead.

However, there are also cons to this route. First, it usually takes four years to get a bachelor’s degree. This is a large part of your life, and depending on your situation, may not be feasible.

Second, it can be very expensive to attend college if you don’t have scholarships and/or financial aid. Student loans send many students into crippling debt that often takes decades to pay off.

With the large monetary and time commitment it takes to attend college, many people seek a quick, less expensive path. This brings us to the next route to become a data analyst.

Second route: teach yourself the skills.

It is now possible to teach yourself the skills to become a data analyst using free/cheap online resources. Free resources like Khan Academy, Tableau Public, and YouTube and inexpensive course websites like 365 Data Science, Udemy, and Coursera have made career paths like data analytics accessible to many more people.

One obvious pro to teaching yourself is that it is way less expensive than college. You can break into data analytics using entirely free resources. If you want to go further into data and set yourself ahead, you can become certified in data analytics or a specific skill using the course websites above.

Another reason to teach yourself data analytics is that it takes much less time and therefore offers more flexibility than college. While it takes four years to attend college, you can teach yourself data skills in less than a year (many have broken into data in much less time). You also aren’t a slave to a stiff schedule so you can work at times convenient for you.

One of the big downsides of teaching yourself is not having the curriculum and support system as college. It’s up to you to decide what to learn and when to learn, and no one is going to make you work hard. You must have self-discipline.

Another obstacle to overcome is you don’t have the established credibility of a college degree which can in turn hurt you in job application algorithms. So, you must build portfolios to show your data skills and work harder in the application process.

Further, this path to becoming a data analyst is risky and has no established timeline. You also will probably need to keep or get a job while you work.

College and self-teaching are the primary routes to break into data analytics, but the following less common path can provide a job and help you become a data analyst.

Third route: move up in a company.

While unconventional, one way you can break into data is by taking another job at a company that has data analysts then attempting to switch into an analytics role.

For example, perhaps you could take a remote call center job for a company like AT&T, prove your work ethic for a couple months, then tell a manager that you’re an aspiring data analyst and would like to transition into a data role. If you know your stuff, are a good employee, and have a good manager, this is a reasonable path.

One great plus about this path is you’ll have a decent job while you’re breaking into data analytics, so that should make money less of a worry. Additionally, companies love to hire within, so if your company knows how good of a worker you are, that gives you a leg up on out-of-company hires.

One downside to this plan is that you may work a job you are not interested in for a few months. While call centers are often remote friendly and pay fairly well compared to other entry level jobs, you may not love this work. There is also no guarantee than your company will help you switch over to data.

However, to do something great, you must endure some discomfort, and nothing is guaranteed for the other paths either. You just have to choose which path is best for you and give it your all.

To decide which of the three routes is right for you, you must decide what is important for you and what works for you in your current stage of life. Your choice will be different depending on if you love data or if you’re just interested in money and work-from-home options, if you’re 20 or 45, and if you have money to spare or not.

Regardless of which path you choose, work hard and enjoy the process. It will be exciting sometimes and occasionally painful. Through it all, just know that you are working towards a better life.

Thanks for reading!

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