   Becoming a data analyst
  Guys I've recently graduated in computer science and have been trying to groom myself for entry level data analyst roles.Recently I've been learning how to use VBA in Excel. I can program in Java, C++, Haskell, PHP, &#106avascript. I've done one project (my dissertation) on data mining where I got a 2.1.I got a very average classification for my degree so I'm thinking I need to work on a portfolio to impress employers. Like I said I've done some work on data mining but that's kinda different from data analysis isn't it - you're looking for different things.Anyway does anyone have any general tips? Am I correct in thinking that my portfolio should consist of data analysis and some kind of report?   
  Data analyst is not a creative position, so portfolio is mis-placed there.It'll come up to your CV and math skills, as well as ability to demonstrate that you're cautious, emphasize accuracy, and have good observation abilities.That aside - training for a *position* is generally a very bad thing. Few positions in IT last longer than several years, before they are obsolete and die out.Data analyst is one of those tricky ones. Anyone can produce and analyze numbers these days. But to interpret them, you need to be an expert or specialist in a domain those number come from. Biotech, for example. You can be the best CS guy - but a value of 58 will not tell you anything, whereas even a junior med researcher will jump when seeing it. Same for other domains.Through advancements in accessibility of software, anyone can push numbers around. Interpreting them is what matters.Just be sure to realize - analyzing data is not a CS/IT job, unless you're mostly a sysadmin that juggles the files. It's a job for a domain expert.   