Critical thinking is a must for data analysts. You need to look at and understand the data and identify the questions that need to be asked to get the most out of the information. Data visualization is also key. Data analysts need to be able to assimilate large amounts of data, find its key meaning, and then present that data in a way that is going to be appealing to people who may not have an analytical mind. Technical expertise, including proficiency with SQL, Microsoft Excel, and statistical programming languages, is a must. These statistical programming languages can include R or Python, which allow you to analyze large data sets. Data analysts must become proficient in a variety of analysis programs.