There are a variety of hard and soft skills needed to be a Data Analyst. Data analysis is ultimately about retrieving and expressing the information contained in data, so a Data Analyst skill set needs to be broad—ranging, from creative thinking and an eye for detail, to effective communication. But at the foundation of all the data analysis skills you need are the technical skills required to become a Data Analyst, beginning with a solid understanding of a few key programming languages. A Data Analyst course should provide both the technical training and hands-on experience needed for data jobs.