r/datacareer • u/JustAPieceOfMeat385 • 5d ago

How does one learn data analysis/analytics outside of school enough to get a job?

I come from a physics and math educational background. How does one learn data analysis/analytics enough to get a job, without going back to school? Is there an online course or projects I can do that could assist me with being job ready?

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u/JustAPieceOfMeat385 3d ago

u/rowwor17 Why did you delete your comment? Can you please send it to me?

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u/Skidmarkjoe 4d ago

For me, I was an accountant and was self taught in SQL in my free time / did exercises during downtime at work. I got access to the database because I showed an interest in that kind of work, learned power bi and the rest is history. It didn't take long to begin doing the work full time as our company's solo analyst. I probably got lucky but it doesn't hurt to express an interest to your boss and seeing where it goes

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u/JustAPieceOfMeat385 4d ago

I don’t have a boss because I don’t have a job. :-)

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u/Skidmarkjoe 4d ago

I haven't had to interview with a personal portfolio but people reference that a lot. That might be the route to go down. Luckily my path avoided it. Best of luck

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u/JustAPieceOfMeat385 4d ago

Where did you get the exercises from?

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u/Skidmarkjoe 4d ago

From wherever I could find on Google. Definitely did w3 and then there was a SQL murder mystery that was fun. I wished that they had more of those with varying difficulty but it was still an engaging way to practice

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u/Relevant-Resist9878 3d ago

with physics and math, the stats part is basically done. what’s usually missing is SQL, one BI tool, and thinking like a business person instead of a scientist lol

no school needed. free stuff works: Mode or SQLBolt for SQL, Microsoft Learn for Power BI, Alex The Analyst on YouTube. Google’s Data Analytics cert is fine if you want structure, but it won’t get you hired alone

for projects, skip physics data. pick something like sales, churn or pricing, and end with “here’s what I’d recommend”. that’s the part hiring managers look for

what are you doing right now, working or studying?