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Six-Month Guide to Becoming a Data Analyst

Apr 30, 2025

Becoming a Data Analyst in 6 Months: A Roadmap

Introduction

  • Speaker's Background: Over 10 years of experience as a data analyst.
  • Objective: To provide a 6-month self-study plan to become a data analyst.
  • Quote: "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail" - Benjamin Franklin.
  • Timeline: 6 months, with 3-4 hours of study per day.

Three-Part Roadmap

  1. Skills Development (Months 1-3)
  2. Projects (Month 4)
  3. Job Applications (Months 5-6)

Skills Development (Months 1-3)

  • Focus on Three Tools: Excel, SQL, and Tableau.
  • Reasoning: Most entry-level data analyst roles require these tools.

Excel

  • Importance: Most popular BI tool across industries.
  • Skill Level: Intermediate, including functions like VLOOKUP, pivot tables, and creating visualizations.
  • Learning Strategy:
    • Break learning into smaller pieces: week-by-week focus.
    • Practice by analyzing personal data, like bank statements.

SQL

  • Importance: Fundamental for accessing data in databases.
  • Skill Level: Intermediate, including SELECT, WHERE, GROUP BY, HAVING, JOINS, and window functions.
  • Learning Resources: DataCamp, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, YouTube.

Tableau

  • Alternative Tools: PowerBI, Looker, QlikView.
  • Skill Level: Intermediate, including connecting data, adding data sources, creating visualizations with filters.
  • Practice: Use free Tableau to practice with personal data.

Projects (Month 4)

  • Purpose: To demonstrate skills on resume and in interviews.
  • Tips for Projects:
    1. Combine skills in projects (e.g., Excel and SQL, or SQL and Tableau).
    2. Start with a problem statement to guide analysis and storytelling.
    3. Use free resources for datasets (Kaggle, Reddit, data.gov).

Job Applications (Months 5-6)

  • Preparation: Update resume, LinkedIn, and prepare for technical interviews.
  • Interview Preparation:
    • Emphasis on SQL technical assessments.
    • Use platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank for practice.

Conclusion

  • Start and Then Learn: Begin the journey with action.
  • Additional Resources: Video recommendations for resume tips and soft skills development.
  • Overall Message: Following the roadmap can effectively prepare individuals for a career in data analytics within 6 months through focused learning, practical projects, and strategic job applications.

Full transcript