Questions about the role
How do you clean a messy dataset?
How to answer: Explain checks for missing values, duplicates, wrong types and outliers, and how you record each change.
What is the difference between INNER JOIN and LEFT JOIN?
How to answer: Give a correct definition and a small example.
Tell me about an insight that changed a decision.
How to answer: Describe the question, your analysis and what the team did next.
How do you explain data to non-technical people?
How to answer: Talk about one key message per chart and avoiding jargon.
Which chart would you use to show a trend over time?
How to answer: A line chart, and say why.
Common HR questions
Tell me about yourself.
How to answer: In about a minute: your current role or degree, 1 or 2 results that fit this job, and why you want it.
Why should we hire you?
How to answer: Match 3 of your strengths to the job post, for example SQL, Excel and Power BI, with proof.
What is your notice period?
How to answer: Give the exact period and whether early release is possible.
How to prepare
- Read the job post and list the skills it asks for.
- Prepare 3 short stories from your resume using the STAR method.
- Know the numbers on your resume and how you got them.
- Prepare 2 questions to ask the interviewer.
Skills interviewers often test
Frequently asked questions
What is asked in a data analyst interview?
Role questions about your skills and past work, plus HR questions such as "Tell me about yourself" and notice period. See the list above.
How should a fresher prepare?
Freshers can show analysis projects on public datasets. Say the question, the tools and the answer you found.
What should I bring to the interview?
Copies of your resume, ID, certificates if asked, and a short list of questions for them.