The successful applicants' guide: how to get data analyst jobs in London

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London is jam-packed with employers eager to hire hungry talent. If you are a recent graduate with degrees in data analysis, statistics, mathematics, or computer science; a professional looking to switch careers into data analysis or an experienced analysts looking for new opportunities in London, you're in luck — a data skills shortage and an increasing awareness of data's essential role in business mean opportunities are plentiful. Our talent specialist Tony Koyratty (Client Services Manager at Robert Half Technology), shares details on the data analyst job description and answers popular FAQs on securing a role in London.

As a data analyst, it’ll be your job to gather and interpret data on behalf of the business. The insights you deliver through your analysis will help drive growth and guide business decisions.

You’ll be tasked with finding patterns and trends in the data sets you’re studying. You’ll report your findings to relevant departments and colleagues so they can make smarter decisions.

The data sets, reporting styles, and trends you work with will all depend on the employer and sector you choose. You've got several career options as a data analyst, including specialising in a specific field of expertise. This can include roles like product analyst, pricing analyst, performance analyst and more.

Gathering data for interpretation

Identifying trends, patterns, and potential causality on data sets

Identifying new data for analysis

Building data sets

Reporting findings and results to colleagues/management

Working with colleagues to establish business goals and needs

Defining new processes for data collection and analysis

Predictive modelling

Mathematics, statistics, economics, or computer science qualifications

Experience with reporting and data visualisation software

Experience with data modelling

Excellent mathematical, IT, and statistical abilities

SLQ (structured query language)

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving skills

High attention to detail

Creative thinking

Data management

According to the 2024 Salary Guide, the average data analyst salary in the UK is £47,250, depending on your skills, experience, employer, and sector. A mid-level data analyst in London can expect a starting salary of £57,645, which is roughly £10k to £15k higher than many other UK cities due to demand for the role in the capital. You can also increase your professional worth by training in some of the more desirable skills for the role or by choosing a high-demand, lucrative sector like finance or technology.

Tony advises adding to your professional value by honing the requisite soft skills and continuous learning:

“The field of data analytics is constantly evolving. Stay updated by reading blogs, following industry news, and taking advanced courses as needed. Develop soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking, which are valuable in data analytics roles.”

Can you get a data analyst job in London with no experience?

Want to become a data analyst but don’t have any of the relevant educational qualifications? Not to worry; there are plenty of ways to get started.

“Familiarise yourself with the fundamentals of data analytics, including concepts like data types, data sources, data cleaning, and data visualization. You can start with online tutorials and introductory courses,” says Tony. “Platforms like Coursera, edX, Udacity, and LinkedIn Learning offer relevant courses.”

Tony suggests learning to use key data analytics tools, such as Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, and SQL (Structured Query Language), for data manipulation and analysis. He also recommends getting to grips with data visualization tools like Tableau, Power BI or open-source options like Matplotlib and Seaborn for Python.

“Familiarise yourself with data analytics platforms and libraries like Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-Learn (for machine learning in Python), and dplyr and ggplot2 (for data manipulation and visualization in R),” says Tony. He also recommends getting involved with the community and starting personal projects to showcase skills: “Apply your knowledge to real-world projects. Start with small personal projects or contribute to open-source data analysis projects to build a portfolio. You can showcase your data analysis projects on platforms like GitHub or create a personal website/portfolio to demonstrate your skills to potential employers.”

How much does a graduate data analyst in London earn?

According to Glassdoor, as of 2024, the average starting salary for a graduate data analyst in London is £30,350 per year. You could boost your earning potential by researching the most in-demand skills for data analyst roles in 2024 by accessing the Robert Half Salary Guide.

How to start in London as a data analyst?

London is a great place to begin your data analyst career. As the UK's financial, cultural, and economic capital, it offers diverse opportunities in various sectors and highly competitive salaries. Our experts recommend choosing which sector you'd like to work in — finance and accounting, marketing or tech — and using recruitment sites like ours to search for open roles.

“Look for entry-level data analyst positions or internships to gain practical experience. Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your skills and projects,” says Tony.

A data analyst apprenticeship in London can help kickstart your career. London tends to post more apprenticeships, internships, and graduate roles than any other country in the UK, as employers aim to fill their ranks with homegrown talent that they can train from the ground up.

How to apply for data analyst jobs in London?

Start by honing your CV using tips and advice from the recruitment experts here at Robert Half. We have advice on writing a winning CV, cover letter, and personal statement.

“Start applying for data analyst positions. Be prepared for interviews where you may be asked technical questions and given data analysis tasks,” says Tony. “Accept feedback graciously and use it as an opportunity for improvement. Continuously refine your skills and knowledge.”

Start browsing open roles in your chosen sector using a site like ours. Our experts have been helping candidates land their dream roles for fifty years, so you’ll be in good hands. Each sector and each role require different skills and qualifications from their candidates, so pick your specialisation and use the job description to tailor your CV and application to each role you apply for. This is the best way to secure an interview. You can use our interview techniques and tips to (hopefully!) secure a job offer.

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