5 Jobs You Can Get With CompTIA Data+ Certification

Data analytics is an in-demand career choice — well compensated and with lots of opportunities for growth. In previous pieces, we compared the roles of data analysts and data scientists and then further discussed the value of becoming Data+ certified. 

The CompTIA Data+ cert validates foundational skills for a range of data analytics positions in industry sectors such as finance, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing, as well as in functional areas including business intelligence, marketing, transportation, and operations. 

These data job roles may sound different, but they share a core set of required skills, including the mining, manipulation, and visualization of data, as well as the application of business statistics and reporting. Each job role also demands top-notch organizational skills, critical attention to detail, plus the ability to multi-task and operate under pressure.

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Jobs for Data+ Certified Professionals

A quick search of Indeed.com shows over 8,000 full-time data analyst openings with average base salaries of over $65,000 for junior professionals, while experienced senior analysts can earn $110,000 or more. But we’re going to skip that role and look at some of the other positions that CompTIA Data+ certified professionals might pursue, beginning with the reporting analyst.

1. Reporting Analyst

In some senses, the reporting analyst role begins where the role of the data analyst generally ends. The data analyst creates the cleaned, transformed data models that reporting analysts can then interrogate for business insights.

This is not to say that data analysts do not design, develop, and generate business reports, but they will generally report on what is happening, rather than why it is happening. For example, they’ll report on rising or falling sales by region or customer but will not typically be able to offer insights as to why certain changes are happening. On the other hand, the role of the reporting analyst is to delve deeper into the initial data model to interpret the data and communicate with management on recommended actions and responses to specific situations and trends.

In general, the reporting analyst:

• Designs systems for data recording and business analysis

• Manages and maintains reporting databases

• Partners with stakeholders to define reporting deliverables

• Designs and produces reports

• Communicates key business insights to stakeholders and management

The CompTIA Data+ certification exams validate the holder’s ability to collect and analyze data as well as their ability to communicate their findings in presentations and reports.

2. Business Intelligence Analyst

Just as the research analyst job overlaps that of the data analyst, you could say that the business intelligence analyst position goes on from that of research analyst. If the research analyst generally looks at why things are happening, then the business intelligence analyst goes the next step to look at what is going to happen! 

The business intelligence analyst’s job is to extract actionable insights from the organization’s data. Working with company data such as unit sales and revenues, customer engagement metrics, competitive benchmarks, and market trends, BI analysts uncover insights that help guide strategic decision-making. They also help design and implement tools such as self-service dashboards and provide data analysis support to assist management decision-making.

The CompTIA Data+ certification assures potential employers that certified individuals have the skills and expertise to:

• Guide development of data warehouses, BI analytic platforms, and self-service BI tools,

• Design, build and maintain a line of business metrics and monitoring visualizations,

• Provide rapid response to stakeholder BI analytic requests, and

• Communicate analyses and recommendations to stakeholders and management.

3. Marketing Analyst

While data analysts may be involved with any facet of the business cycle, the marketing analyst role is more narrowly focused on issues related to marketing and sales. Marketing analysts gather and analyze data to help management improve the various programs and channels to market and sell products and services. 

Because internet and digital marketing are integral parts of the marketing mix, marketing analysts frequently work with web analytics tools to capture and analyze website traffic, internet advertising, and social media activity. 

Earning the CompTIA Data+ cert will help assure potential employers that the holder is fully capable of:

• Designing and implementing key metrics, reports, and dashboards for sales channels and marketing campaigns

• Gathering data on customers, competitors, and market conditions and performing quantitative analysis to support marketing and pricing planning

• Using statistical methods to analyze sales funnel and customer data for insights that help improve sales performance

• Analyzing marketing, sales, and channel programs to provide insights and recommendations to program owners

4. Operations Analyst

While the marketing analyst is focused on the effectiveness of the organization’s sales and marketing channels, the operations analyst looks at its internal processes. Depending on the situation, this could mean manufacturing, logistics, distribution, accounting and control systems, staff recruitment and retention, call center operations, or other business function. 

In addition to data analytics expertise, operations analysts need an understanding of the industry segment and the operational domain with which they will be working. Not surprisingly, operations analysts will typically be found working in large organizations, or as consultants.

In general, the operations analyst must be proficient in:

• Identifying problems and bottlenecks in target business operations,

• Deciding suitable methods to analyze operations, with relevant information and data,

• Collecting, collating, and storing data sets related to the identified problem,

• Using methods such as statistical analysis, predictive modeling, and simulations to develop practical solutions, and

• Presenting findings and recommended courses of action to process owners.

For business professionals with the necessary expertise, earning CompTIA Data+ certification validates the data analytics expertise required to be an operations analyst.

5. Transportation Logistics Specialist

Like the marketing analyst and the operations analyst, the transportation logistics specialist position focuses on a particular niche, in this case the transportation of physical goods. Transportation logistics specialist openings are to be found in large shipping organizations, airlines, large city and metropolitan administrations, and the military.

CompTIA Data+ certification assures potential employers that certified individuals have the skills and expertise to:

• Develop and analyze data to support logistics procedures and policies with actionable metrics

• Analyze trends and provide metrics that drive continuous improvement for transportation service

• Develop ongoing analysis, reports, and dashboards

• Ensure compliance with appropriate transportation regulations.

Final Thoughts

We’ve covered just five of the jobs available to holders of the CompTIA Data+ certification. If you’re interested in any of these pathways, then check out CBT Nuggets’ new Data+ training course. You will be guided through the A-to-Z of data analytics and be prepared to take the Data+ (DA0-001) certification exam.