Being data literate is becoming just as important as knowing how to use a computer.

Increasingly, people want to build their data skills, but it's not part of their day job, they don't have a license for a professional data analysis tool and don't know where to start.

If this is you, don't despair. There are things you can do even with basic software, thanks to many great resources on the internet.

1) Find like minded people

Do this step first so you don't have to learn alone. Where can you connect with fellow data enthusiasts?

• Set up an account on Data.World

• Reach out to the data visualisation community on Twitter

• Create an account for Tableau Public or the PowerBI Community (or both!)

• Join local and virtual user groups to meet people in person and hear how companies use data and analysis

2) Start with the basics

Understanding statistics gives you a great foundation for data analysis.

There are many free resources to build these skills and it's important to have a grasp of statistical analysis, because analysing and interpreting data isn't easy and straight-forward, even when tools make it simple.

Much like new drivers go through driving schools and exams, it's a good and responsible thing to do to build the basic knowledge that will help you become a better and - in the long term - more successful data analyst.

Here's a link to a free course on Statistics at the Khan Academy.

3) Use the tools you have

Many professional tools offer free trials and even free versions. Use those if you like.

Alternatively, it's totally okay to get started in Excel or Google Sheets and experiment there.

Working with numbers is a great way to familiarise yourself with the actual data itself. Sure, it will be hard to see trends and patterns in a spreadsheet. But you can get a good idea of the values, the data types and the completeness of the dataset by working your way through the numbers.

Take these three steps and you're well on your way. From there it's down to practice, practice and more practice. And once you have your foundations and your network, it become easier to find opportunities for jobs where data is your main focus.

Good luck! Let me know if you have any questions.