Data Analytics Training for Veterans

Are you a veteran returning to civilian life or a member of a veteran’s family aiming to avail yourself of entitlements and benefits? This article is designed to help you navigate your options for taking advantage of these services to enter a professional skills training program and learn the data analytics skills you’ve always wanted to learn. Data analytics is a skill set that can prepare you to work in various industries, such as healthcare, finance, marketing, hospitality, or the government. The value data professionals bring to their organization is essential for improving profit margins, operational efficiency, products, and services. Those who have the skills to analyze data and clearly communicate their findings have many career options; they can find employment in both large and small organizations, nonprofits, startups, or freelance work.

What is Data Analytics?

Data analytics is a broad term that describes the various techniques used to analyze raw, unprocessed data so that relevant insights and trends can be extracted. Organizations then use this information to make more informed, data-driven decisions. The data analytics process includes gathering data, organizing them, and performing statistical analysis on these numbers. Once the analysis is complete, the Data Analyst offers predictions that can inform the company’s next steps.

Each day, an estimated 2.5 quintillion bytes of data is created. This number is expected to grow as more organizations embrace technological advances and expand their online presence. However, until these data are analyzed, they are just numbers. A Data Analyst’s job involves combining computer programming, math, and statistics to interpret these numbers and transform them into actionable insights that they can share with various stakeholders in their organization.

Read more about why you should learn data analytics.

What Can You Do with Data Analytics Skills?

The field of data analytics has many real-world applications across industries and professions. At the core of the data analytics process is the goal of using data to make better decisions. Companies rely on the data's insights to make more informed business decisions, which can help their organization grow, increase revenue, or better serve employees and customers. 

Data analytics can help with marketing campaigns by eliminating the bulk of the guesswork in planning, creating content, and developing products. It also provides an overview of customers, which can help organizations better meet their needs. By better understanding your audience and what they want, targeting them with more pointed marketing initiatives and campaigns is easier.

Another widespread use of data analytics is to improve customer service. When data is analyzed, it reveals important insights about customers, which makes it possible to offer them more personalized service. Data can provide information on how customers prefer to communicate, what interests they have, what concerns they hold, and what products they look at most often. In addition, having data stored in a central location allows an organization’s customer service team to be on the same page as their marketing and sales teams. 

Another use of data analytics is to improve the efficiency of operations within an organization. Data can reveal weaknesses in operations, as well as opportunities to streamline various processes. This not only helps the business perform more efficiently but can save money over time. For example, if you have a clearer idea of what your target audience is looking for, you won’t need to waste time and resources designing ads or writing content that doesn’t directly target their interests. This leads to less wasted money, as well as better campaign results.

Support for Veterans

If you’re a veteran interested in studying data analytics, support is available from various organizations. The GI Bill, which is also known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, was made into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a way to provide World War II veterans with a range of benefits. In its current form, the GI Bill pertains to the educational benefits provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, such as stipends and educational grants. G.I. Bill benefits are typically available to veterans, active-duty service members, and their dependents. 

The G.I. Bill covers various training options, such as associate and bachelor degrees, as well as advanced degrees. Technical and vocational training, which includes non-college degree programs, are also covered. In addition, these benefits can assist with apprenticeships, on-the-job training, certifications, and licensing. The G.I. Bill also can be used for correspondence training, flight training, work-study programs, and tutorial assistance.

Another resource for veterans is the Forever GI Bill, or the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act. This Bill eliminates the 15-year limit for veterans on using their G.I. benefits. Instead of expiring, those who are eligible have indefinite access to educational benefits. In addition, the VET TEC program is also available for veterans and their dependents. This program helps veterans acquire computer experience or launch a career in technology. Those enrolled in the VET TEC program can receive training in fields like computer programming, information science, data processing, computer software, and media applications. (Programs offered by Noble Desktop don’t qualify for VET TEC funding.)

To explore your options for VA-supported programs through Noble Desktop, please visit their Veterans Support page to learn about data analytics classes for veterans. Noble’s VA-supported programs are available for in-person study options in the greater New York City area. Full-time study options are generally supported by the VA.

Why Learn Data Analytics

Learning data analytics is a valuable skill set for anyone interested in working with data. It’s also a great skill to acquire if you’re entering or reentering the workforce after military service. Data is all around us. Every day, 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created. In 2021, more than three million emails were sent each second, two trillion Google searches were executed, and nearly a quarter-million kinds of malware were designed each day. As more people rely on online banking, streaming services, and social media, even larger volumes of data are expected to be created. 

However, raw data is just numbers. It’s not until someone with data analytics training makes sense of it that insights can be found and used. More companies and businesses than ever are seeing the value in these numbers and are looking to hire Data Analysts to help them spot patterns or trends, as well as locate outliers. Their data findings can help a company improve its operations, reduce its costs, and increase its profits. Even the VA sees the benefits of leveraging big data to help predict injury and disease in veterans.

Not only does data analytics contribute to an organization’s financial well-being, but it can be a high-paying career choice as well. While pay rates depend on job role, location, and company, most Data Analysts earn a competitive salary. Even entry-level Data Analyst positions typically pay above the U.S. median income. If you’re just starting as a Data Analyst, you can earn about $55,000 a year. After just four years, most Analysts earn over $60,000. The average pay rate for Data Analysts in the U.S. is $65,000. This is over $10,000 more than the average worker made in 2022 in the U.S.

Why Choose a Skills Bootcamp?

Many traditional colleges and universities offer coursework in data analytics. However, these programs generally take four or more years to complete. They also cost tens of thousands of dollars a year, making them prohibitive for some learners. In addition, for those interested in learning just data analytics, college study is not the most efficient way to master this topic. Since most colleges and universities require students to complete a range of general education requirements to graduate, only a portion of your coursework would pertain to data analytics. 

Another method of learning data analytics is to enroll in a certificate program. Certificates in data analytics typically provide more focused study. Programs such as Noble Desktop’s Data Analytics Certificate offer lessons focused on the tools needed to analyze data, such as Excel, Python, SQL, and Tableau. In addition to more pointed coursework, certificates are also much shorter than college study. Instead of requiring four years of study, most certificate programs span weeks or months and cost less than a four-year degree.

Enrolling in a bootcamp in data analytics is a great way to prepare for a career working with data. Bootcamps provide skill-specific training in one data analytics tool, such as Excel or Tableau. Instead of requiring months or years to complete, bootcamps are often much shorter, requiring just a few days or weeks for study. Most bootcamps cost significantly less than college or certificate study as well, ranging in price from several hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. They are an excellent learning option for those who need to learn job-specific skills, like how to create Excel spreadsheets or visualize data using Tableau, but don’t want to devote years to study.

Learn Data Analytics at Noble Desktop

There’s never been a better time to study data analytics. If you’re interested in learning more about this popular field, Noble Desktop has you covered. Noble offers several data analytics classes for beginners and those with a background in data who want to master specific or advanced tools and skills. 

Noble’s Data Analytics Certificate is a project-based course designed to teach students how to collect, wrangle, analyze, and visualize data. Participants complete several real-world projects using predictive and prescriptive analytics to prepare them for careers as Business Analysts or Data Analysts. This course provides all students with one-on-one mentoring, as well as the option of a free course retake to revisit the material. 

In addition, Noble’s SQL Bootcamp is a great learning option for learners interested in studying SQL to help with their data journey. This 18-hour class teaches participants how to use PostgreSQL to find information in databases. Those who enroll will learn how to write SQL queries, aggregate data, join tables, and filter results. 

For students who want to work with Tableau for data analytics and visualization, Noble’s Tableau Bootcamp is a solid choice. This class is taught by an expert instructor and is available both in-person in Manhattan and in the live online format for those who wish to study remotely. This course takes students on a learning journey, starting with the basics of data visualization. Those enrolled also work with Tableau Public and its various tools for analysis and visualization. By course completion, participants will be able to analyze, filter, structure, and visualize data and publish the results. All students have the option of a free course retake.

Key Insights

• Learning data analytics is an excellent skill set for veterans. Those with analytics training can contribute valuable insights to their organization. They can also be paid well for their skills.
• A range of learning formats is available for veterans interested in studying data analytics. Four-year programs are typically the most expensive and longest option; certificates tend to span several weeks or months and cost much less; bootcamps offer skill-specific training in one data analytics tool and often take just days or weeks to complete.
• Veterans who want to learn how to work with data may qualify for funding for their education from the G.I. Bill, the Forever G.I. Bill, or the VET TEC program.
• If you want to get started studying data analytics, Noble Desktop provides comprehensive data analytics training in the in-person and live online format.