Top Data Analyst Interview Questions with Example Answers [2022]

Prepare for your Data Analyst interview by going through these most asked Data Analyst interview questions. Additionally, get access to sample answers and interviewer's expectations.

Interview Practice

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  • Question: What are your strengths?
  • Question Overview: This is a classic question that lets you assess how well candidates communicate. It also gives you insight into their self-awareness.

    Sample Answer: I'm a good communicator. I can explain complex topics in a way that people can understand. I'm also very organized and detail-oriented. I'm good at spotting patterns and trends.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to speak about strengths
    • - Ability to speak about weaknesses
    • - Mention of soft skills

  • Question: What do you think you need to improve?
  • Question Overview: This is a question that is often asked at the end of an interview. It gives you a chance to see how well candidates think on their feet and how they handle criticism.

    Sample Answer: I'm not as good at communicating with people as I'd like to be. I'm more comfortable with numbers and analysis. I know that's an important part of this job, so I'm working on it.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to take criticism
    • - Ability to self-evaluate
    • - Ability to think on feet

  • Question: Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?
  • Question Overview: This question is a classic and is asked of every candidate. It is a way to see if candidates are realistic about their career goals and if they have a plan to get there.

    Sample Answer: I see myself as a data analyst in a growing company. I'd like to be able to work on more complex projects and have more opportunities for advancement.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Career goals
    • - Plans to achieve those goals
    • - How the job fits into those plans

  • Question: Why do you think you are suitable for this job?
  • Question Overview: This question is a classic. It lets you see how well candidates sell themselves and how well they know the job.

    Sample Answer: I have a lot of experience in data analysis and I'm very familiar with the software you use. I've worked on projects similar to this one, and I know how to work with people. I'm also very good at finding patterns in data and communicating my results.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to sell self
    • - Knowledge of job
    • - Ability to speak with confidence

  • Question: Can you tell me about yourself?
  • Question Overview: This is a classic interview question that gives you insight into how candidates present themselves. You want to hire someone who can sell themselves and who can be a good representative of your company.

    Sample Answer: I'm a data analyst with a background in mathematics and computer science. I'm a quick learner and have a knack for spotting patterns. I'm also very organized and detail-oriented.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to speak about strengths
    • - Ability to speak about weaknesses
    • - Ability to speak about accomplishments

  • Question: How will you define an array?
  • Question Overview: This question tests how well candidates understand basic data structures. It also gives you insight into how they think.

    Sample Answer: An array is a collection of data elements that have the same data type and are stored contiguously in memory.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Correct definition
    • - Ability to explain why it is correct
    • - Ability to explain why other definitions are incorrect

  • Question: If a online shop is deciding to purchase or not purchase the BloomReach site search service, how would you help them to decide?
  • Question Overview: This question is similar to the previous one, but it is more specific. It also tests your ability to think on your feet.

    Sample Answer: I would look at the data on how many people use the site search and what they are searching for. I'd also look at the data on how many people use BloomReach and how much they are paying for it. I'd also look at the data on how many people use other site search services and how much they are paying for them.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to identify variables/data segments
    • - Ability to communicate thought process
    • - Creativit

  • Question: Why do you want to work for us?
  • Question Overview: This question is a classic. It's a good way to see if candidates are familiar with the company and if they have done any research on the company.

    Sample Answer: I've been impressed with your company's commitment to the environment and sustainability. I think it's important for companies to be socially responsible. I'm also impressed with your commitment to employee training and development. I want to work for a company that values its employees.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Knowledge of company
    • - Ability to communicate why they want to work for you
    • - Knowledge of company's products/services

  • Question: What do you know about SQL?
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to gauge a candidate's technical skills.

    Sample Answer: I know how to create tables and how to use them in queries. I also know how to create indexes and how to use them in queries.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Basic knowledge of SQL
    • - Knowledge of how to use SQL
    • - Knowledge of how to use SQL to solve problems

  • Question: Tell me about a time you had to deal with an unreasonable stakeholder.
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to see how candidates handle difficult people. You want to see how they handle conflict and how they communicate.

    Sample Answer: I had a difficult time with a stakeholder who wanted the data in a format that was not conducive to analysis. I explained why it was not possible and offered other options. We were able to reach a compromise.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to remain calm
    • - Ability to communicate effectively
    • - Ability to find common ground

  • Question: What is your experience with relational databases?
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to assess a candidate's hard skills. It also serves as a way to weed out candidates who don't have the basic skills you need.

    Sample Answer: I've used Access, SQL Server and Oracle. I've worked with relational databases for over 10 years. I've created tables and queries, and I've used them to store data. I've also used them to create reports.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Experience with specific relational databases
    • - Experience with SQL
    • - Ability to speak about the databases

  • Question: What kind of job are you looking for?
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to find out if the candidate is a good fit for your company. It also gives you insight into what the candidate is looking for.

    Sample Answer: I'm looking for a job where I can use my data analysis skills to help a company make good decisions. I'd like to work with a team that is collaborative and innovative.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Answers that show interest in the company
    • - Answers that show interest in the job
    • - Answers that show interest in the team

  • Question: How would you predict consumer behavior in the industry?
  • Question Overview: This question is about how well candidates can identify and use variables to predict behavior. It also tests their ability to communicate their findings.

    Sample Answer: I would look at the amount of disposable income people have and how much they spend on shoes. I'd also look at the number of people who have a job and how many hours they work. I'd also look at the number of people who are unemployed and how long they've been unemployed.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to identify variables
    • - Ability to communicate findings
    • - Ability to explain why variables are important

  • Question: Have you ever had a difficult boss and how did you deal with them?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to see how candidates handle difficult situations. It also gives you insight into how they view their bosses.

    Sample Answer: I've had a few difficult bosses in my career. The first was when I was a junior analyst and the second was when I was a senior analyst. In both cases, I tried to understand where they were coming from and what they wanted. I also tried to be as helpful as possible and to anticipate their needs.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to see the big picture
    • - Ability to communicate effectively
    • - Ability to work well with others

  • Question: How will you sort lines in a txt file by one of the columns using shell scripting?
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to assess how well candidates can think on their feet and how well they can communicate.

    Sample Answer: I would use the sort command to sort the lines by the column I want. I would use the cut command to cut out the column I want and then use the paste command to paste it into a new file.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to explain process
    • - Ability to explain process with clarity
    • - Ability to explain process with clarity and brevity

  • Question: What are your interests?
  • Question Overview: This question is a way to get to know the candidate better. It also helps you assess if the candidate will fit in with the rest of the team.

    Sample Answer: I love to travel. I've been to Europe, Asia and Africa. I also love to read. I'm currently reading "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Passion for something
    • - Ability to communicate
    • - Ability to work well with others

  • Question: Tell me about your previous role.
  • Question Overview: This question is a standard for data analyst interviews. It gives you a chance to see how well candidates can communicate. It also lets you see how well they can talk about themselves and their accomplishments.

    Sample Answer: I was a data analyst at HTWW Company. I worked with a team of five people to collect and analyze data for the company's environmental impact study. I was responsible for collecting and cleaning the data, and then creating tables and graphs in Excel. I also did some data mining to find correlations between the data.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Communication skills
    • - Ability to sell self
    • - Ability to speak about accomplishments

  • Question: What is your biggest concern?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to see how well candidates handle stress. It also lets you know if they are aware of the challenges of the job.

    Sample Answer: My biggest concern is that I won't be able to meet the deadlines. I've always been able to do that in the past and I'm confident I can do it in this job.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to see big picture
    • - Ability to think outside the box
    • - Ability to communicate

  • Question: Please explain how you would use Morningstar data to begin evaluating an equity and a fund.
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to see how well candidates can use data to make decisions. It also shows how well they can communicate their process.

    Sample Answer: I would use Morningstar data to get a sense of the fund's performance over time. I'd look at the fund's Morningstar category and compare it to its peers. I'd also look at the fund's Morningstar risk and return metrics. I'd also look at the fund's Morningstar style box and compare it to its peers.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to explain process
    • - Ability to explain why Morningstar data is useful
    • - Ability to explain why Morningstar data is better than other data