How to become a product analyst

Are you great at handling data-driven tasks and want to use your talent for good? Then becoming a product analyst may be a great way for you to start your professional career.

Learn what a product analyst does and what steps you'll need to take to become one.

What does a product analyst do?

Product analysis is a collaborative role that is primarily responsible for collecting feedback and data about customer preferences and product performance to improve products and services and ultimately increase sales. In this role, you may:

• Solicit feedback through customer interviews, focus groups, and polls
• Collect and analyze data to find and interpret patterns and trends
• Set and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to understand product performance
• Evaluate products based on data-driven insight from customer feedback
• Conduct in-depth research on competitor products and apply insight
• Create reports, presentations, and dashboards to justify recommendations

Though there is no official pay data available for the product analyst role, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that market research analysts — a related role where professionals carry out a number of similar tasks — earn a median annual salary of $74,680 as of 2023.

Steps to become a product analyst

Learning how to become a product analyst can seem daunting. Here are three steps you can take to get you closer to a thriving career in this role.

Step 1: Earn a bachelor's degree

Though it is possible to secure a position without a bachelor's degree, many employers view a degree as a way to set candidates apart from the crowd. In some cases, they may even require you to have one.

Bachelor's degree programs in business administration, information systems, and data science teach fundamental concepts like:

• Database systems
• Data visualization
• Python for data science
• Information systems management
• Strategic management
• Business communication

If you have already earned your bachelor's degree and wish to pivot into product analytics, you may consider an advanced degree, such as a master's degree in business analytics or business administration (MBA).

Step 2: Get some professional experience

Your professional experience is highly valued among employers, as it signals that you are familiar with the practical aspects of the position and the latest tools and methods many product analysts currently use. You can gain the necessary experience in a few ways, including:

• Volunteer work
• Personal projects
• Internships
• Entry-level data analytics roles

You can also see what roles and projects are available at your current job and ask about taking on additional tasks involving analytics. Anything that involves data collection, analysis, and reporting will be sufficient to get you started, as this will help you develop the real-world analytical skills you need.

Step 3: Consider a certification or certificate

Like degrees, product analyst certifications and certificates are optional, but they can provide you with leverage in the job search process. They can allow you to showcase your knowledge and position yourself as an expert in your field.

A few certifications and certificates that are relevant to the product analyst role include:

• Microsoft PowerBI Data Analyst Associate certification: Show knowledge of the technical prowess needed to model, visualize, and analyze data on the PBI platform
• Entry Certificate in Business Analysis: Highlight competencies in business analysis key concepts, from initial planning to lifecycle management
• CompTIA Data+ certification: Understand how to mine and analyze data with rigor and communicate insight with clarity

Each of these opportunities is open to candidates without a lot of experience who don't have years of experience.

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