Interview Jitters
Tags: datascience, motivation, help, career
Published: 2022-03-08 22:13:52

So, recently I was shortlisted for a data analyst position interview, and I felt it is important to share the experience to familiarize you with some of the questions they asked me to confirm my competence and level of skills.

Before we get into it, do you that little shiver-ish the last minute you're about to enter the interview room or open the door and the panelist give you a serious look and its eternity walking towards your designated seat?

Also, I have this illusion or belief that high-level questions are asked early hours of the interview day. But it is always better to be prepared for a challenging question at any given time.

Let's get started.

**General Questions**

**1. Tell me about yourself**

This question never gets old. It is a broad question, and you can quickly answer you are a tech lover or short or tall. These are correct answers but in the wrong context. Keep your answer on the path of data analysis. Talk about past roles and why you are interested in analysis.

**2. What is a database?**

I did not expect this question. I almost fumbled explaining the meaning, perhaps of the jitters. It would be best to prepare for questions that would seem easy to avoid feeling shame when you're out of that interview. Do not state a basic definition, but expound on it to show your understanding.

**3. What are the roles of a data analyst**

It sounds like an easy question, but it can be challenging because the roles are significant. Mention the general ones such as cleaning, identifying, analyzing, and interpreting. Again, expound on them by giving an example in the context of that company.

**4. Can you handle different data sets**

I believe this was an indirect question of determining if you can handle complex data sets. Ensure you have grasped some work on your portfolio. Explain the variables and entries of the work. Also, explain the types of data.

**Technical Questions**

**5. Types of data analytics software tools**

Microsoft excel may save the day if you mention it. However, it is important to familiarize yourself with all available software. It does mean you feed your brain with their functionalities, but for the sake of data, know them by their name and basic information. These common data analytics software include:

- Microsoft Power BI
- Tableau
- Microsoft Excel
- Google Sheets
- R
- Python

**6. Mention a few SQL functions**

SQL is almost a necessity for a data analyst position. The interviewer may ask SQL basic questions to check your proficiency level. So get to learn and understand SQL language in depth. The JOIN, COUNT, primary key, union, truncate, foreign key, and others should be on your "servers."

**Final Questions**

**7. Any questions for us?**

The end of "interrogation" is near. Now, it is your turn to ask questions. You might ask about the company culture, years of existence if you did not find it on Google or the company website, and their expectation for the position. Feel free to ask anything that relates to the company and position.

**To sum up**

I hope this information will get you prepared for the following interview. Do not worry about the interview. Jitters are normal. Furthermore, being shortlisted means you're getting noticed, and it can be an achievement on its own. Just go and nail it!