How to Be Data Visualization Specialist - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Nov 15, 2021 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

Professional Organizations

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Data Visualization Specialists are an essential part of data analysis. They use specialized software and tools to transform complex data sets into visually appealing graphic representations. This helps organizations to make sense of large amounts of data and to understand trends, patterns, and correlations within the data.

As a result, businesses can leverage such insights to make better decisions, optimize operations, and develop effective strategies for the future. Furthermore, Data Visualization Specialists can also create interactive dashboards, allowing decision makers to explore data from various angles and uncover new insights. All of this makes Data Visualization Specialists an invaluable part of any organizations data analysis team.

Steps How to Become

Earn a Degree. To become a data visualization specialist, you'll need to begin with a bachelor's degree in a related field such as computer science, mathematics, statistics, or a related field.
Gain Experience. Once you have your degree, the next step is to gain some experience in the field of data visualization. This could include working as an intern or freelancer in the area, or taking courses at a local university or community college.
Learn Data Visualization Tools. To become a data visualization specialist, you'll need to be familiar with the various tools and techniques that are used to create data visualizations. This includes learning software such as Tableau or R, as well as other programming languages such as HTML or JavaScript.
Get Certified. A good way to demonstrate your expertise in the field is to obtain a certification from a recognized organization such as the International Association of Data Visualization Professionals (IADVP).
Network. Lastly, networking is key to becoming a successful data visualization specialist. Attend conferences and seminars, join discussion forums and social media groups, and make connections with other professionals in the industry.

Data visualization is an important tool for effectively and efficiently conveying information. When done correctly, it can help to accurately portray complex and interrelated data, allowing for more reliable and easier understanding of data. By visualizing data, specialists are able to unlock and reveal underlying patterns and trends that would otherwise be difficult to detect and grasp.

data visualization can be used to identify correlations and relationships between various entities. Furthermore, data visualizations can be used to predict future trends and make more informed decisions. data visualization specialists are essential in helping to make sense of data, uncover hidden insights, and make more reliable decisions.

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Job Description

Data Visualization Analyst
Data Visualization Developer
Data Visualization Consultant
Data Visualization Engineer
Data Visualization Designer
Data Visualization Architect
Data Visualization Programmer
Data Visualization Scientist
Data Visualization Manager
Data Visualization Instructor

Skills and Competencies to Have

Strong knowledge of data visualization principles and techniques.
Proficiency in a range of data visualization tools such as Tableau, QlikView, and PowerBI.
Experience with data analysis and manipulation using SQL, Excel, and other analytical tools.
Ability to interpret and communicate data insights to stakeholders in a clear and meaningful way.
Familiarity with basic statistical methods and analysis techniques.
Ability to develop creative visualizations to effectively tell stories with data.
Working knowledge of software development processes and related technologies.
Experience developing custom dashboards and reports.
Knowledge of data security best practices and privacy regulations.
Strong problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.

Data visualization is a critical skill for any professional working with data. It is the process of creating visuals, such as charts and graphs, to help make complex data easier to interpret and analyze. With data visualization, professionals can quickly identify trends, outliers, and correlations between different datasets.

This process is also important in communicating the results of analyses to other people. Good data visualization specialists have a deep understanding of the data they are working with, as well as an eye for design. They must be able to recognize patterns and trends in the data, and craft visuals that effectively communicate those patterns to the intended audience.

they must have a good understanding of software tools used to create the visuals, such as Tableau or Power BI. Data visualization specialists are key players in the data science field, helping organizations to make sense of large amounts of data and extract valuable insights from it.

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Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have creating data visualizations?
What techniques do you use for creating effective visualizations?
How do you ensure the accuracy of your data visualizations?
What challenges have you faced when working with data visualization tools?
How do you ensure that your data visualizations are understandable to all viewers?
What methods do you use to track the success of a data visualization?
How do you stay up-to-date on the latest technologies and trends in data visualization?
What do you consider to be the most important factor when creating a data visualization?
How do you develop strategies to overcome difficult challenges related to data visualization?
What has been your most successful data visualization project, and why?

Common Tools in Industry

Tableau. Tableau is a powerful data visualization tool used to create interactive dashboards and visualizations from large datasets. Example: A Tableau dashboard that shows the number of sales for each product over the past year.
Power BI. Power BI is a suite of business analytics tools used to visualize and analyze data. Example: A Power BI dashboard that shows customer satisfaction over time.
Chartio. Chartio is a cloud-based data visualization tool used to quickly create custom charts and graphs from any dataset. Example: A Chartio chart that shows the total number of orders per month over the past year.
Looker. Looker is an analytics platform used to create custom data visualizations and dashboards from large datasets. Example: A Looker dashboard that shows the average revenue per user over time.
Highcharts. Highcharts is a JavaScript library used to create interactive charts and graphs from any data source. Example: A Highcharts graph that shows the total number of visitors to a website over the past year.

Professional Organizations to Know

American Statistical Association (ASA)
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM)
National Council on Information Technology (NCIT)
National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT)
Society for Technical Communication (STC)
Tableau Software User Group (TUG)
Visualization and Analytics Professionals (VAP)
International Society for Quality Electronic Design (ISQED)

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Common Important Terms

Data Science. The study of how to extract knowledge from data. It involves applying algorithms and techniques from mathematics, statistics, and computer science to uncover patterns and insights from structured or unstructured data.
Data Analysis. The process of collecting, organizing, and interpreting data to answer questions and draw meaningful conclusions. Data analysis techniques include descriptive statistics, graphical techniques, predictive modelling, machine learning, and data mining.
Data Visualization. The process of transforming data into graphical representations such as charts, maps, diagrams, and tables in order to make it easier to understand and interpret.
Dashboards. An interactive visual display of data that can be used to monitor and track performance against goals.
Reporting Tools. Software applications used to generate reports from data sources.
Business Intelligence (BI). The process of gathering, analyzing, and reporting data to help organizations make better decisions. BI tools and techniques include data mining, data warehousing, predictive analytics, and visualization.
Machine Learning. The study of algorithms and techniques used to build systems that can learn from data and improve their performance over time without being explicitly programmed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical salary for a Data Visualization Specialist?

The average salary for a Data Visualization Specialist is approximately $93,000 per year.

What skills are essential for a Data Visualization Specialist?

Essential skills for a Data Visualization Specialist include data analysis, data modeling, data visualization, programming, and communication.

What software programs are commonly used by Data Visualization Specialists?

Commonly used software programs by Data Visualization Specialists include Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, D3.js, and R.

What type of degree do most Data Visualization Specialists have?

Most Data Visualization Specialists have a degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field.

What types of roles do Data Visualization Specialists usually fill?

Data Visualization Specialists typically fill roles such as data analyst, data scientist, and business intelligence analyst.

Web Resources

Become a Data Visualization Specialist: Concepts careerdesignlab.sps.columbia.edu
Data Visualization | Ohio State University Libraries library.osu.edu
Introduction to Data Visualization - Johns Hopkins guides.library.jhu.edu