I think you have good experience with technology, and we know that a data analyst analyzes data and extracts insights from it to help businesses make decisions. All these activities can be done virtually by a data analyst. So, we can say that all the activities of a data analyst can be done remotely. A data analyst can sit anywhere or work from a home office very easily.
If I talk about myself, I am currently working two jobs. In the first job, I only work three days a week, and in the second one, I work from a home office. In this job, I have to spend 4 hours a day. To understand this, let me explain a little. If an employee has to come to the office to work, then in that case, a company incurs more expenses. When an employee works from home, it means that they can work from anywhere at a certain time, and the cost to a company is relatively low. For example, I work virtually or remotely for a company in Australia. I work 5 days a week, and it takes 4 hours a day. In this case, I can also work very easily, and the company does not have to spend extra on me.
How is remote/work-from-home data analysis done?
When I started to understand data analysis, I learned about how this analysis can be done remotely. You might think that there are no extra skills to learn. However, there are one or two tools you need to learn to connect to an office virtually. For example, you need to learn tools like Zoom or Google Meet, and how you can connect. You don’t need to spend much time learning them; you can learn from YouTube.
But in some work, you may need to share your computer screen, so you can learn about remote desktop. You don’t need to learn anything extra to do remote data analysis. But I think that remote or work-from-home data analysts can do all the work comfortably. Like if I talk about myself, when I go from my home to my office, it costs me an extra hour and a half for commuting every day. And I don’t spend much extra time doing home office work.
What are the procedures to be followed for remote Data Analysis?
For example, in the company I work for, about 30% of the company’s decisions depend on my data analysis. So I have to do everything perfectly.
1. Understanding the problem:
- I try to solve one problem a week. First, I share the data movements with the company boss and my colleagues. Then we discuss project goals with clients or colleagues, likely through video conferencing or collaboration tools.
2. Data Acquisition:
- At this stage, I might use secure cloud storage, company VPNs, or internal data portals to retrieve the necessary datasets.
- Sometimes, you might use SQL queries to extract specific data from databases.
3. Data Cleaning and Wrangling:
- In most cases, the data is found in a messy state. So, the data has to be cleaned. I try to clean the data and create the correct formats.
4. Analysis and Modeling:
- I use programming languages like Python and Excel to analyze the data, identify trends, and potentially build models.
5. Visualization and Communication:
- Data visualization or creating a perfect dashboard is very important. I use Power BI for my remote data visualization. With this data, we discuss what kind of decisions we can make.
Skills for Remote Data Analysts
In the points on how I analyze data for my company, I have analyzed what tools to use for remote data analysis. Apart from the technical skills like SQL, Python, and data visualization tools, remote data analysts need strong communication and time management skills to excel in a work-from-home environment.
Overall, remote data analysis offers flexibility and leverages the power of technology to get the job done!
How many hours does a data analyst work?
Generally, work-from-home data analysts spend 6 to 8 hours. For example, a friend of mine does data analysis for a company in Jordan. He has to spend 7 hours every day and works five days a week for that company. But the more experience you get, the fewer your working hours will be. Like I spend four hours.
How can you find work-from-home data analyst jobs?
If you have proper data analysis skills and knowledge, you can easily get work-from-home data analyst jobs. But to get a work-from-home data analysis job, you have to knock on the right door. However, some platforms including LinkedIn offer these work-from-home jobs.
Here are some ways you can find work-from-home data analyst jobs:
Remote Job Boards:
- FlexJobs: Focuses on remote and flexible work opportunities, including data analyst jobs [FlexJobs data analyst jobs].
- Remote.co: Another platform listing remote positions, where you can search for data analyst positions specifically.
- Indeed: Major job board with filters for remote work, search for “data analyst” and filter for “work from home” or “remote.”
- LinkedIn: There are many job postings on LinkedIn internationally. So, Optimize your LinkedIn profile, and many companies will start reaching out to you.
Freelance Platforms for work-from-home data analysis jobs
Once you know about all the systems of data analysis, you can easily do data analysis projects on these freelancing platforms and gain a lot of experience. Generally, good work is available for data analysis on these two platforms.
- Upwork: Connects freelancers with clients, where you can create a profile highlighting your data analysis skills and find project opportunities.
- Fiverr: Similar to Upwork, it allows you to offer freelance data analysis services. I work on Fiverr myself and charge $250 per project.
Is a Portfolio or Project important to get a work-from-home data analysis job?
A portfolio or project will help you a lot in getting the first job. If you have completed two projects, you can show the job recruiter those projects, and they can judge you based on them. If you’re new to data analysis or coming from a different field, a portfolio can bridge the experience gap. You can include personal projects, volunteer work, or coursework that demonstrates your capabilities.
Investing time in building a strong portfolio can significantly increase your chances of landing that work-from-home data analyst job.
Work-from-home Data analysis job pros and cons
As someone who does physical data analysis and works from home as a data analyst, I can give you a perfect idea about it.
Pros:
- Flexibility and Work-Life Balance: You only have to work during office hours; you don’t have to spend much time commuting to and from the office. Work can be done from anywhere.
- Access to a Wider Job Market: You’re not limited to companies in your area. You can search for remote data analyst positions across the country or even globally.
- Increased Productivity: Some people find fewer distractions at home and can focus better, leading to increased productivity.
- Location Independence: You can work from anywhere with a good internet connection, allowing you to travel or relocate without sacrificing your career.
Cons:
- Lack of In-Person Interaction: Collaboration and team culture can be harder to establish remotely.
- Work-Life Boundaries: Work can become monotonous, as in a physical office, you can collaborate with your colleagues and have a good time.
- Communication Challenges: Remote work relies heavily on technology and clear communication. There can be misunderstandings due to a lack of face-to-face interaction or time zone differences with colleagues.
Conclusion
Ultimately, whether a remote data analyst job is right for you depends on your personality and work style. If you value flexibility, independence, and the ability to work from anywhere, it might be a great fit. But speaking from personal experience, in my case, work-from-home data analysis seems more interesting. Because I don’t have to make any separate preparations for it, I don’t have to spend time going to the office, and I don’t have to follow any formalities. I hope you will also enjoy this job.