There are lots of ways to make decisions. You could rely on the mystical, divining rods, casting lots, or horoscopes. Or you could try using things like data, facts, modeling, math, and science. It probably won’t surprise you that most companies prefer the second approach. (It’s so crazy, it just might work.)

It’s a golden age for data. With every keystroke, click, application, and purchase, the world is filling up with numbers and figures. But all that information is simply noise without someone to make sure it’s clean, reliable, and helpful. Enter the data analyst.

The data analyst might have a passion for sales, marketing, healthcare, strategy, operations, or any of the other elements that help businesses run smoothly. These are people who love efficiency, are hungry for insights, and who really want to see an organization flourish.

That doesn’t seem like a bad way to make a living.