Top Data Analytics Interview Questions and Answers
With organizations relying on data about customers, competition, and the market, the demand for data scientists and data analysts has increased by leaps and bounds. A few years ago, The New York Times published a survey on ‘Top careers’ in their weekly issue. According to the survey, data analysis is a career option that will shine in the current decade. Although the survey was not conducted recently, it provides a rough idea of the demand for data analysts in the forthcoming years.
The report further revealed that having a bachelor’s degree is not enough to secure a job. An aspiring candidate must at least have a master’s degree or an equivalent course.
However, a piece of paper alone cannot decide an aspiring candidate’s future; it’s their determination, sincerity, and knowledge about the field. All these things are tested in the interview round, which is usually a phase of every company’s hiring process. Therefore, to secure a job, it is important to clear the interview round, and for that, one must be well prepared. Here are some data analyst interview questions and answers that aspiring candidates must refer to as a part of their interview preparation.
Data Analyst Interview Questions
Most of the aspiring candidates are oblivion of the fact that organizations are looking for a professional who has knowledge about different data analysis systems and has fundamental knowledge about SQL, Excel, Tableau, etc. Therefore, companies conduct multiple interview rounds to analyze aspiring data analysts’ knowledge about tools like SQL, Excel, and Tableau. Here are a few SQL interview questions, Excel interview questions, and Python interview questions for an aspiring data analyst that will help you crack different interview rounds without a hassle.
SQL Interview Questions for Data Analysts
How do you filter data in SQL?
With this data analyst interview question, the interviewer is trying to understand your knowledge about SQL. For the unversed, SQL is a standard language used for data management by data scientists and data analysts. Therefore, as an aspiring data analyst, you should be well-versed with the computer language and how to perform different tasks in it.
How are the WHERE clause and HAVING clause different?
To answer this SQL-related data analyst interview question, you must be aware of how to filter data because WHERE and HAVING clauses are used for the same purpose. With this question, the interviewer is trying to dig deeper into your cognition and understand how well you understand different tools used in data analysis.
While answering this question, remember to include which data is compatible with these clauses, the syntax used in the clauses, and more.
What is a subquery in SQL?
Be prepared to answer this question because it is one of the most-asked SQL-related interview questions in Data Analyst interviews. The hiring manager wants to understand how familiar you are with different concepts and terms related to SQL. Therefore, they will often ask questions like these and many more similar to these. While answering this question, define subquery in layman language and elaborate on the types of subqueries and their difference. You can also share practical examples while answering this question.
SQL is a popular language system used universally by any organization. Therefore, there will be many more questions a recruiter will ask about SQL. Questions like – how do you write a stored procedure in SQL, what are the different types of table formats available in SQL, and more will be asked during the interview. So, brush up on your knowledge of SQL and refer to online material to gauge different common data Analyst interview questions related to SQL.
Excel Interview Question for Data Analyst
How are COUNT, COUNTA, COUNTBLANK, and COUNTIF different?
COUNT, COUNTA, COUNTBLACK, and COUNTIF are different functions used while interpreting data. With this interview question, the recruiter wants to test your knowledge about Excel formulas. A data analyst often uses Excel to extract and analyze data, which is why you should be aware of the different formulas and functions of the spreadsheet and how to use them.
How is a dropdown list made in MS Excel?
Excel is a spreadsheet developed by Microsoft. It is widely used for calculation, computation, and graphical diagrams. In addition, it is one of the widely used software by data analysts to segregate data into different graphs and charts for interpretation purposes. So, a recruiter will bombard you with many technical questions related to MS Excel. While answering this data analyst interview question, explain step-by-step how to make a dropdown list in MS Excel.
What is the use of AND() function in Excel?
With this question, the interviewer is trying to test your knowledge about different Excel functions. For the unversed, AND() is a logical function that checks multiple conditions and reveals whether the conditions stated are TRUE or FALSE. This function is widely used in data analysis, and hence an aspiring data analyst should be well-versed in it.
Although Excel is a software that everyone has been using since elementary school, there are many minute details about the software that remain untapped, such as the formula section that professionals only use for office work. Therefore, learn the nitty-gritty of the software before attending the interview round because you can expect questions like- explaining how VLOOKUP works in excel, what function will you use to get the current date and time, and others.
Python Interview Questions for Data Analysts
What are the different ways to create a data frame in Pandas?
Python is a computer programming language widely used by data scientists and analysts for big data. Meanwhile, Pandas is a software existing in the Python ecosystem. It is used for data manipulation and analysis. With this question, the recruiter wants to gauge your technical skills. Since Python is a widely used language system by data analysts, the recruiter would expect you to be aware of every minute detail related to the computer coding system.
What is the Python code for creating an employee’s data frame and displaying the head and summary?
You need to import the Pandas library software to the computer language Python to create a data frame. An aspiring data analyst should be able to answer this within seconds. They should also be able to explain how to display employee data in the head and summary. With this question, the recruiter is testing your communication skills. Precisely, they are trying to gauge how you can explain this process succinctly without missing important points. While answering the question, state the step-by-step process and explain technical jargon like Python and Pandas in detail.
How can you add a column to a Pandas data frame?
Pandas is a widely used software in Python. Therefore, you can expect many questions related to it in the interview round. Revisit all the information you have about Pandas and Python. You can also seek help from various internet websites or certificate courses.
Data analysts perform varied sets of responsibilities and duties for which they require many skills that are often acquired by additional data analytics courses. Emeritus offers various data science and data analytics courses. The curriculum of these courses includes Python, SQL, other technical software and more.
Tableau Interview Questions for Data Analyst
What do you understand about LOD in Tableau?
Tableau is an American software used for data analytics by various data scientists and data analysts. LOD in Tableau stands for the level of detail. It is a famous expression that can find duplicate values and synchronize charts on aggregated data. Many data analysts commonly use LOD after data mining. Therefore, there are high chance that the interviewer will ask this question. So, prepare for your answer beforehand. You can include everything from what is data science to what is Tableau in your answer.
What are the different types of connections available in Tableau software?
Tableau Software has gained prominence among data analysts and scientists in the last few decades. The software is believed to be the world’s broadest and deepest data analytical tool, which is being adopted by many companies worldwide into their data analysis process. With this question, the interviewer wants to test your theoretical knowledge about the software.
How are Data joining and Data blending different in Tableau?
Data joining and data blending are two concepts in Tableau that are associated with joining and blending different sets of data. As a data analyst, you will have to undertake these two data processes in Tableau. Therefore, to assess your skills and knowledge about the concept and the software, the interviewer will ask you this question.
Increase Your Chances of Clearing the Data Analyst Interview
The upsurge in big data has led to an increase in data scientist and data analytics job opportunities. There is enormous talent in the employment market, but only a few are getting employed, specifically because they fail to impress recruiters with their talent and skills. So, to upskill yourself, expand your knowledge base and grab a lucrative job opportunity, enrol in Emeritus India’s data science and analytics certificate courses offered in collaboration with reputed universities.
