How to Become a Data Analyst in 2025 Using FREE Resources
Best Guide for becoming a Data Analyst
Lekan Akinsande
12/31/20243 min read
Data analytics is one of the most in-demand and exciting careers of the 21st Century. Companies across industries—finance, healthcare, retail, and more—rely on data analysts to turn raw information into actionable insights that drive decision-making. The best part? You don’t need a degree or expensive courses to break into the field. With free resources and a clear roadmap, you can build the skills and portfolio needed to land your first role in data analytics.
In this blog, I’ll share a 90-day roadmap to become a data analyst, using some of the best free resources available online. Let’s get started!
Why Choose Data Analytics?
Data analytics combines problem-solving, storytelling, and technical skills to help organizations make data-driven decisions. It’s a versatile career path with opportunities in virtually every industry.
Here’s why data analytics is worth exploring:
High demand with competitive salaries.
Opportunities across industries like tech, finance, healthcare, and more.
A future-proof career with endless possibilities for growth.
If you’re ready to get started, follow this step-by-step guide to build your skills and portfolio in just 90 days.
The 90-Day Data Analyst Roadmap
This roadmap is designed to help you learn key tools and concepts while building real-world projects to showcase your skills.
Step 1: Learn Spreadsheets (MS Excel) (Days 1–12)
Excel is the foundation of data analytics. Mastering it will help you clean, analyze, and visualize data.
🎙️ Tutorials -
🏗️ Projects -
💡 Project Idea: Create a sales dashboard or analyze your personal expenses.
Step 2: Learn Basic Statistics (Days 13–15)
Understanding statistics is essential for analyzing data. Focus on key concepts like mean, median, mode, and standard deviation.
Step 3: Learn Power BI , Tableau or Looker Studio (Days 16–35)
Power BI is a popular tool for creating interactive dashboards and data visualizations.
🎙️ Tutorials -
🏗️ Projects -
Tableau Tutorial: https://www.tableau.com/learn
Looker studio Tutorial: https://youtu.be/YemkRaFy5VI?si=Z5UkVtZ6S2B1iokE
💡 Project Idea: Visualize COVID-19 trends or analyze public datasets to tell a story.
✅ If you're learning PowerBI, I recommend you take the Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/data-analyst-associate/?practice-assessment-type=certification
Step 4: Learn SQL (Days 36–55)
SQL is essential for querying and managing databases. Learn how to retrieve and manipulate data with this free resource.
🎙️ Tutorials -
🏗️ Projects -
💡 Project Idea: Query a mock e-commerce database to analyze customer behavior.
Step 5: Learn Python (Days 56–75)
Python is a versatile programming language widely used in data analysis.
🎙️ Tutorials -
🏗️ Projects -
💡 Project Idea: Write a script to clean and analyze a messy dataset from kaggle.com
Step 6: Build Your Portfolio (Days 76–90)
Your portfolio is your chance to showcase your skills to potential employers. Include projects that demonstrate:
Cleaning and analyzing data with Excel or Python.
Writing SQL queries to retrieve and manipulate data.
Visualizing data with Power BI or Tableau.
Portfolio Guide: How to Build a Data Analytics Portfolio
Project Playlist: 39 Data Projects to Build Your Portfolio
💡 Pro Tip: Use GitHub to host and share your projects professionally.
Free Virtual Internships
To gain real-world experience, consider completing these free virtual internships from top companies. Explore Job Simulations .These programs provide hands-on training and certifications to enhance your resume.
Why Projects and Portfolios Matter
Building projects and showcasing them in your portfolio is critical for landing a role as a data analyst. Here’s why:
Practical Application: Projects demonstrate your ability to solve real-world problems.
Skill Validation: Employers want to see how you use tools and concepts in practice.
Storytelling: A well-crafted portfolio tells the story of your journey and expertise.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a data analyst in 2025 is absolutely achievable with the right mindset, resources, and dedication. This 90-day roadmap, paired with free resources, gives you everything you need to start your journey.
Start learning today, stay consistent, and don’t forget to build and share your projects. With focus and effort, you’ll be ready to launch your career in no time.
Happy learning! 🚀
FASTEST Way To Become A Data Analyst
