As a data analyst, you’ll often work with stakeholders who lack technical background and a deeper understanding of data and databases. Have you ever been in a situation like this and how did you handle this challenge?

Data analysts often face the challenge of communicating findings to coworkers from different departments or senior management with limited understanding of data. This requires excellent skills in interpreting specific terms using non-technical language. Moreover, it also requires extra patience to listen to your coworkers’ questions and provide answers in an easy-to-digest way. Show the interviewer that you’re capable of working efficiently with people from different types of background who don’t speak your “language”.

Example
“In my work with stakeholders, it often comes down to the same challenge – facing a question I don’t have the answer to, due to limitations of the gathered data or the structure of the database. In such cases, I analyze the available data to deliver answers to the most closely related questions. Then, I give the stakeholders a basic explanation of the current data limitations and propose the development of a project that would allow us to gather the unavailable data in the future. This shows them that I care about their needs and I’m willing to go the extra mile to provide them with what they need.”