- Tell me about yourself. What they’re really asking: What makes you the right fit for this job? …
- What do data analysts do? …
- What was your most successful/most challenging data analysis project? …
- What’s the largest data set you’ve worked with?
Im a junior studying MIS and this will be my first interview ever. The internship is for a company that manufactures snacks and beverages. Would love to hear some tips and tricks; any help would be appreciated. Thank you so much in advance!
5 DATA ANALYST Interview Questions and TOP SCORING Answers!
8 Data Analyst Interview Questions and Answers
Take a few minutes to explain how you would estimate how many shoes could potentially be sold in New York City each June.
Many interviewers pose questions that let them see an analyst’s thought process without the aid of computers and data sets. After all, technology is only as good and reliable as the people behind it. What to look for in an answer:
- Ability to identify variables/data segments
- Ability to communicate thought process
- Creativity
Your employer wants you to find all sales quota data from the past three months to see if recent incentives enhanced employee productivity. How does data cleaning factor into your analysis?
Data analysts help companies answer questions about daily operations by retrieving information from databases and other types of data infrastructure. Based on their findings, they compile reports and make inferences about what that information confirms or denies about business operations. This question allows interviewers to gauge a candidate’s ability to isolate clean data to use in their analysis. It also allows them the determine a candidate’s level of experience with data cleaning in their daily job. The candidate’s answer should emphasize:
- Data cleaning competency
- Detail-orientation
- Investigative mindset
Here’s an example of a good response to this question:
What do data analysts do?
This question is basic but serves an essential function. It weeds out the candidates who lack a rudimentary understanding of data analysis. It also lets you compare how well various candidates understand data analysis. What to look for in an answer:
- Coverage of each step
- Mention of soft skills, such as communication
- Discussion of how data analysts benefit a company
What is your process when you start a new project?
This question lets you measure candidates’ organizational skills and how well they anticipate. It also gives you an opportunity to see if candidates’ leadership or work styles are compatible with your company culture. What to look for in an answer:
- Clear steps
- Deliberate process
- Consideration of deadline
What was your most difficult data analyst project?
With a question like this, you glean insight into how candidates approach and solve problems. It also gives you a better idea of the type of work they have done. What to look for in an answer:
- Explanation of how challenge(s) were overcome
- Lack of blaming others
- Discussion of why the project was difficult
Which data analysis software are you well-versed in?
This question lets you assess if candidates have the hard skills you need and can tell you what areas they might need training in. It is also another way to ensure basic competency. What to look for in an answer:
- Software the job ad emphasized
- Experience with the software
- Ability to speak with familiarity
Please talk about a time when you could not meet a deadline.
This question gets into how well candidates handle stressful situations. You’re looking for a data analyst who can anticipate when a deadline is not going to work and who can find a solution. Past behavior is a good predictor of future behavior. What to look for in an answer:
- Ability to see big picture
- Decisiveness and being proactive
- Answers that do not blame others
Why did you go into data analysis?
This query is a good way to get to know candidates as people. It can serve as an icebreaker at the beginning of an interview or, if it comes at the end, as a gentle way to bring your question portion to a close. What to look for in an answer:
- Focused replies
- Personality
- Specifics
Why do you want to be a data analyst?
There are a plethora of roles out there for data analysts, across a range of industries. Your response to this question will tell the interviewer about your thought process in choosing this role. In your response, discuss why you were drawn to data analysis in the first place, the key skills you’ll bring to the role, and why you’re interested in this role in particular. And remember: Enthusiasm goes a long way!
“A data analyst’s job is to take data and use it to help companies make better business decisions. I want to make a tangible impact in my job, so that aspect really appeals to me. Additionally, I’ve loved numbers since I was a little kid, and I’m good at collecting data and doing market research, so this field seemed like a natural fit. This role lets me use my skills in a collaborative environment, where I can learn from some of the best minds in the industry.”
Which data analysis tools do you frequently use?
This question tells the interviewer whether you have the necessary hard skills—and it can provide insight into areas in which you might need further training. In your answer, include any tools emphasized in the job description, as well as your individual experience with those tools. Be sure to use familiar terminology. Here’s a sample answer:
“I’ve used a variety of tools over the past few years. At my current employer, I use Weka for data management and data mining tasks. I’ve been using Excel since I first started doing data analysis, and I’m also fairly well versed in Python, Tableau, and SQL.”
Mention the differences between Data Mining and Data Profiling?
| Data Mining | Data Profiting |
| Data mining is the process of discovering relevant information that has not yet been identified before. | Data profiling is done to evaluate a dataset for its uniqueness, logic, and consistency. |
| In data mining, raw data is converted into valuable information. | It cannot identify inaccurate or incorrect data values. |
FAQ
Why should we hire you for data analyst internship?
“I have previous experience working with projects that had similar problems to yours. I also have excellent communication skills and further technical knowledge that would be an asset to your company. The mix of technical and team skills I bring to the table make me an ideal fit for this role.”
What should a data analyst intern know?
What are the questions asked in interview for internship?
- #1: Tell us a bit about yourself.
- #2: Why have you applied for this internship?
- #3: Why have you applied for an internship at our company?
- #4: Why do you want to work in this industry?
- #5: What are your strengths?
- #6: How do you prioritise your work?
Why do you want to be a data analyst interview answer?
