With Data being the base of possibly everything that we can think of, understanding it is, without a doubt, important. Someone looking to make a career in data should be well-acquainted with how to make the best of data. In a nutshell, you need to be data literate. One of the easiest definitions of data literacy is the ability to read, analyze and work on data. Though we live in a technology-rich world, the task of making well-informed decisions is entrusted with data scientists. This is why it becomes all the more critical in being data literate. There is probably nothing that can replace the potential and competency that data analysts and data scientists hold. All of this is possible only because they are data literate.

No wonder, the question as to why understanding data is critical pops up quite often. Well, here's why. Today, we live a life that is undergoing regular changes with every passing day. A business is said to be successful when it is in a position to match the pace of life changes. This is because, with every change that comes into play, an altogether different analysis based on the new data makes it into the worklist. The faster the analysis, the faster is the decision-making ability. Needless to say, someone who is data-literate can get done with the analysis aspect in as little time as possible.

Now that the organizations have humungous data to deal with on a regular basis, they are in constant search for individuals who are data literate. That said, if you want to know whether you could be categorized as data literate, here are 5 signs that indicate you are data literate.

• Not getting impacted by overwhelming information – No second thoughts about the fact that data is massive and the extent to which it keeps increasing every day is insane. However, being data literate implies that you know what information is reliable and what is not. This parameter of overwhelming information cannot be overlooked upon as that might result in certain important things getting missed out on.
• Communication – Needless to say, communication is one of the most crucial parameters in all the career opportunities out there. The same is the case here. You are considered to be data literate when you are able to communicate your point well to others, be it your colleagues, senior management, junior associates, clients, etc. As a data-literate individual, you should ensure that the message you deliver should be crisp and to the point. A complicated explanation is something that doesn't tag you as a data literate
• Curiosity – A person who possesses every reason to be called data literate is always interested in data and curious enough to know all the latest information. Well, this definitely doesn't mean you should keep mining data but being up-to-date with the latest happenings is expected.
• Actions – The whole concept of being data literate revolves around the fact that one is able to take the right action at the end of the day. Data literacy revolves around the ability to process the data in a manner that it is easier beyond anticipation to take the desired action. Since taking the right action relies heavily on data; the importance of being literate as far as data is concerned is evident.
• Questioning – It is quite obvious that all the data that one might come in association with need not be true or relevant. If that is the case, a data literate person wouldn't leave it untouched. It is here that questions pertaining to how true is this data, is this data relevant, etc., naturally o u in the minds of data literate

Now that you know what are the most common signs to conclude whether you are data literate or not, ask yourself if you are already one and suitable enough to step into the magical career of data.