Interview practice

Data Analyst

2–5 years · Mid — SQL · Excel · Power BI / Tableau · Statistics · Python · Stakeholder reporting

0–2 years 2–5 years 5–8 years 8+ years
technical Data Quality Assurance 1 of 6
You are given a dataset that is reported to have missing values in critical fields. How do you assess the extent of the issue and decide on a response?
What a strong answer covers

Calculates the percentage of missing values per column; examines patterns of missingness to identify randomness; evaluates the impact on analyses; considers imputation methods or dropping rows/columns; documents assumptions made in handling missing data.

The follow-up you would get

What if the missing values are not random and you suspect bias?

Could you have answered that?
technical Statistical Analysis 2 of 6
You are tasked with determining whether there is a statistically significant difference in conversion rates between two marketing campaigns. What steps do you take to conduct this analysis?
What a strong answer covers

Defines null and alternative hypotheses; selects the appropriate statistical test, such as a t-test or chi-square test; checks assumptions for normality and variance; calculates p-values; interprets results in the context of confidence intervals.

The follow-up you would get

What actions do you take if the sample size is too small to draw conclusions?

Could you have answered that?
technical Data Presentation 3 of 6
You have created a dashboard in Power BI that displays a key performance indicator (KPI) which stakeholders believe is not accurately representing the data. How do you approach verifying your findings?
What a strong answer covers

Revisits the data source to ensure accuracy; checks the DAX calculations for errors; validates the aggregation methods used in visuals; compares results with raw data; engages with the stakeholders to clarify their expectations and definitions.

The follow-up you would get

What if the stakeholders insist on their interpretation despite your findings?

Could you have answered that?
scenario Data Analysis Trade-offs 4 of 6
You are asked to provide insights from a large dataset, but the deadline is tight. You need to balance depth of analysis with the time available. How do you prioritise?
What a strong answer covers

Defines the key questions stakeholders want answered; selects the most relevant subset of data; employs summary statistics and visualisations for quick insights; communicates assumptions and limitations clearly; schedules a follow-up for deeper analysis post-deadline.

The follow-up you would get

After delivering the initial insights, stakeholders want more detailed analysis. How do you manage their expectations?

Could you have answered that?
ownership A data migration mishap 5 of 6
Describe a situation where you led a data migration that encountered unexpected issues. What did you learn?
What a strong answer covers

Names the specific migration context and data involved; details the unexpected issues faced and their impact on the project timeline; explains the steps taken to rectify the issue and how it affected the final outcome; reflects on lessons learned regarding planning and testing.

The follow-up you would get

What would you do differently in future migrations?

Could you have answered that?
ownership A feature enhancement failure 6 of 6
Tell me about a feature enhancement you implemented that did not deliver the expected results. What went wrong?
What a strong answer covers

Describes the specific feature and its intended impact; identifies the key assumptions made during the design phase that proved incorrect; mentions the metrics used to evaluate success and how they fell short; discusses any changes made after the failure and their outcomes.

The follow-up you would get

In hindsight, what additional data would have informed your decision?

Could you have answered that?
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