Employers hunting for data analysts are no longer just hunting for number crunchers with technical mastery; they want professionals who bring human intelligence to artificial intelligence.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, data-related jobs are projected to grow 35% by 2032, far outpacing the national average for all occupations. In the UK, the demand for data analysts is also surging, with over 28,000 job listings posted in early 2025 alone, many of which offer UK visa sponsorship to attract global talent.
Whether you’re already in the industry or planning to pivot into it (primarily through a career change program), here are the top five personal traits that employers in the USA and UK value deeply in data analytics professionals.
1. Curiosity: The Drive to Ask “Why?”
Good analysts build dashboards. Great analysts ask questions that challenge assumptions.
Employers seek candidates who show intellectual curiosity the ability to dig deeper into the ‘why’ behind patterns. Curiosity fuels innovation and often leads to uncovering insights others miss.
Tip for CV: Include a project or case study where your questions led to improved outcomes, better strategy, or risk reduction.
Applying to UK visa sponsorship jobs? Global employers especially value candidates who show initiative and curiosity across cultural and regulatory contexts. Be sure to highlight how your curiosity helped navigate complex data scenarios or multi-country projects.
2. Critical Thinking: Connecting Dots That Aren’t Obvious
Critical thinking is what transforms data from noise to narrative.
Employers in both the US and UK want analysts who can:
- Interpret ambiguous data
- Spot trends and outliers
- Challenge data biases
In the UK’s public sector, where analytics inform policies and budgets, critical thinking is indispensable. International candidates applying for UK visa sponsorship jobs should especially focus on examples where they’ve used data to make strategic business recommendations.
3. Communication Skills: Translating Data into Business Impact
Your job isn’t just to know what the data says, it’s to make stakeholders care about what the data says.
In the US, storytelling with data is considered a top-tier skill. In the UK, this is even more crucial, as cross-functional teams often include non-technical stakeholders from operations, compliance, and even the legal department.
Whether you’re applying for a US-based analytics role or aiming for a UK visa sponsorship job, make sure your CV and interview responses reflect your ability to:
- Present insights clearly
- Use visualisations to support arguments
- Tailor messaging to different audiences
4. Adaptability: The Ability to Learn, Unlearn, and Relearn
The tools change. The tech field is more dynamic now. But your adaptability, your ability to embrace and drive change, will always be in demand.
From mastering SQL to understanding the ethics of AI, the best data analysts are those who stay relevant through constant learning. In UK-based companies hiring international talent, adaptability is often seen as a prerequisite for visa sponsorship roles, as the stakes of hiring from abroad are higher and the expectation is to grow rapidly.
According to LinkedIn’s 2025 Global Talent Trends report, adaptability ranks in the top 3 soft skills valued across all data roles.
5. Collaboration: Because Data is a Team Sport
Data rarely lives in a silo. You’ll work with developers, marketers, sales leaders, and product teams, and employers want someone who thrives in that mix.
In both the US and UK, companies are building a data culture, not just hiring data talent. They want analysts who can:
- Build trust
- Receive and act on feedback
- Influence decisions without authority
For international candidates eyeing UK visa sponsorship jobs in data, this soft skill becomes even more important because effective collaboration in cross-border teams requires emotional intelligence and cultural sensitivity.
Bonus Tip: Tailoring Your CV for UK Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Data Analytics
If you’re applying to UK-based data roles and require visa sponsorship, here’s how to make your CV stand out:
- State your visa status clearly (e.g., “Open to Skilled Worker visa sponsorship”)
- Use job-specific keywords like Power BI, SQL, Python, Tableau, or AWS Data Lakes
- Highlight global or remote collaboration projects
- Quantify your impact (e.g., “Saved $250K by optimising inventory data flow”)
Pro Tip: Companies offering UK visa sponsorship want to see a clear return on investment. Make every bullet point about business value, not just tasks.
It’s Not Just What You Know, But Who You Are
In the age of ChatGPT and automated dashboards, employers already expect you to know how to analyse data. What sets you apart is how you think, communicate, adapt, and collaborate.
Whether you’re based in Chicago or Chennai, looking for remote roles or targeting UK visa sponsorship jobs, building these five personal qualities into your resume and professional brand will put you ahead in a competitive but rewarding field. And if you are simply looking for a traineeship program with a Job Guarantee, then Fortray is here to serve you.
