Data analysts translate numbers into plain English Every business collects data, whether it's sales figures, market research, logistics, or transportation costs. A data analyst's job is to take that data and use it to help companies make better business decisions.OB SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS. 1  Analytical Skills: Data analysts work with large amounts of data: facts, figures, and number crunching. 2  You will need to see through the data and analyze it to find conclusions.