If you’ve been working for a few years, what do you actually show when someone asks for examples? Rebuild a dashboard with fake data?

If you can’t share your real work (NDA, etc), here’s a workaround i saw many times in practice, interviewers are usually impressed:

1. Pick a dashboard that actually drove a decision.
2. Generate a synthetic dataset with the same structure (an LLM does this in minutes).
3. Rebuild the dashboard on that data.
4. Add one paragraph: what business question it answered, what decision it supported, what changed.

Real skill, real business thinking, and something to show.

what do you think?

Ask your question or drop a CV for review

Hi. I'm 34 with primary experience in copywriting and content writing from India. Last year, a series of layoff started in my company and I ended up joining a family business of a relative for a year. That didn't work for me. So, keeping in mind that copywriting is a dying field because of AI, I decided to get into tech. So I started learning how to be a data analyst on Coursera.

Keep in mind I have no tech background, not even a degree. I have a Diploma in Pharmacy and no money to start my own business. With over a year in the field out of marketing/copywriting, getting back into is way too difficult because everyone's holding on to their job tight, trying not to lose. I decided to jump the ship to a new field.

So given this is a totally new field. How do I go about getting an entry level job in this field in 2026? Somehow, I ended up enjoying learning data analysis and using excel, SQL and BI on a day-to-day basis. I want to take it further. Right now, money is tight and I want to get an entry level job in this with no tech or much education background, what can I do?

Do I need a portfolio? What do I write in my CV? etc. Any help would be appreciated.

I will be graduating Vanderbilt University this Spring as a Math and Econ double major, and am looking to break into Data Science or ML/AI Engineering. I am thinking about doing an MS in Data Science but have read here that this degree is frowned down upon compared to an MS in Math or CS. What is the best path going forward?

Hey, i want advice, i have recently graduated in BBA, and i took an year drop and I want to pursue data analyst course, so i wanna know is it worth it for a bba grad? The institute I will learn from is verified by someone close to me, they guarante 100%job placement & the person ik got placed, otherwise im thinking about digital marketing course and generative AI course too

Ofc I'll do mba later so i wanna make use of the gap and upscale my profile, I've did my research on reddit, many say data analyst is oversupplied and digital marketing has very low entry jobs or any jobs at all, im not sure what to do rn, i really wanna do course only and not go for ca, cms other than mba, and offline only

I started my career in pharmacovigilance, where I gained exposure to clinical trial phases and clinical research. I then completed my Master’s hoping to transition into Statistical Programming, eventually pursue another Master’s in Biostatistics, and become a Biostatistician.

After graduation, I couldn’t land a Statistical Programmer role, so I accepted a Data Analyst position at a medical device company, thinking the SAS experience would be a good stepping stone.
It’s been over a year now.

My work mainly involves troubleshooting and developing SAS programs, and we’re currently transitioning from SAS to R. While I’m gaining programming experience, I feel stuck because I don’t have hands-on clinical trial or CDISC (SDTM/ADaM) experience. I’ve been learning CDISC independently and applying for Statistical Programmer roles, but haven’t had any luck. Even entry-level positions seem to require CDISC experience or no opportunities in the US

Has anyone made a similar transition? How can I break into statistical programming? Would personal projects help, or should I consider another path?
I really don’t want to give up on this goal, but I’m struggling to figure out my next stepn.

Hi everyone,

I’ve been working as a Paraplanner in financial advising for almost three years and am now looking to move into Business Analysis, as I feel it aligns better with my long-term career goals.

I’m currently taking a course covering BA theory and a real-life project. I’m also considering the BCS Foundation Certificate and developing my skills in SQL, Tableau and Power BI.

I’d love to hear from current Business Analysts about whether this would be enough to start applying for entry-level roles, how to gain more practical project experience, and what else I could do to strengthen my CV and stand out to employers.

Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! 😊

Hey everyone,

If you’ve interviewed for a Data Analyst, BI Developer, or Analytics Engineer role recently, you already know this: Window Functions (specifically ranking functions paired with CTEs) are tested in almost every single technical screen.

To help anyone currently preparing for technical screens, here is a quick conceptual refresher followed by practical problem patterns:

Complete 15-Question Step-by-Step Video Walkthrough:

I recorded a full, comprehensive 50-minute live masterclass breaking down 15 progressive interview questions (5 Basic, 5 Intermediate, 5 Advanced):

• Tiered order ranking & gap comparisons
• Grouping & aggregate ranking (SUM(Sales) inside OVER())
• Partitioning across multiple categorical fields (Year + Region)
• Handling edge cases and ties cleanly with CTEs

📺 Watch the complete solved walkthrough here:

https://youtu.be/jw8qZdbOzzo

A Quick Note for Career Switchers & Learners:

I’m a Data Analytics Trainer and BI Architect. I coach working professionals and students daily across the entire end-to-end data stack (SQL, Power BI, Excel, Tableau, and Python).

The biggest differentiator in technical interview rounds is moving past simple textbook syntax and demonstrating that you can translate complex business rules into performant, clean SQL.

If you are preparing for data interviews, building a project portfolio, or trying to structure your learning roadmap, feel free to drop a question below or shoot me a DM. I'm always happy to provide feedback or share study resources.

Hope this helps anyone prepping for upcoming technical rounds! Which ranking function do you find yourself using most frequently in production queries?

was reading the alteryx 2026 state of the data analyst report and this one got me. analysts spend up to 6 hours a week checking and correcting what AI produced. that’s almost a whole day

also 85% said AI insights already affect big business decisions where they work. and more than half plan to let agents generate insights on their own in the next year. so the checking part probably isn’t going away lol

their take is that analysts are becoming the people who own the business logic behind the numbers. which honestly makes sense to me

if you’re interviewing right now I’d mention it if you do this kind of validation work. it’s a real part of the job now

how many hours a week does it eat for you?

Hi guys,

I've been working in social media and digital marketing for around 8–9 years, and I'm looking to pursue a Master's to develop stronger analytical and technical skills.

My goal isn't to become a data scientist or engineer. I want to build on my marketing experience and eventually move into roles where I can use data to make strategic decisions around customers, growth, revenue and business performance.

I'm currently comparing two Master's programmes with

slightly different skillsets:

Option A – Information Management & BI

- SQL, database design and data management

- R, statistics and Bayesian analysis

- BI Concepts

- Some ML & data visualisation

- Other subjects: CRM/ERP, information systems, business process modelling and management strategy

Option B – Business Analytics

-R, predictive modelling and ML

- Business analytics and advanced statistics - this is an elective

- BI architecture, ETL and data governance

- Tableau (another elective), with not much SQL coverage

- Other subjects: Product/service design and digital strategy

For context, I have spent almost 9 years in Marketing, but I want to upskill and make myself very employable and attractive. Possibly position myself as a Marketer who can make marketing/business decisions by understanding data.

Which path makes sense from the folks within the space?

Hello, I’ve been applying to data analyst jobs for a couple of months and can’t even land an interview. Any advice on how to make my resume better is welcome. Thank you!

​

So I am 25M, I took a gap of 2 years(from Jan 2023 to march 2025) after my grad to prep for SSC(2023-2025 march). I couldn't clear it, so I started a job, but the issue is, I wasn't able to find a job easily, which is Obv due to the gap, and worked where i got selected first.

I was hired as a Data Analyst in March 2025, but I was given completely different profiles to work on, and salary was paid in cash, although I do have the documentation and everything. i am now looking for a switch, whether in my own field or something else, I just don't want to work in this toxic place much longer.

I have knowledge in course designing, Research, Bids/tenders, OEM dashboards, and Excel, Sql. I also know Data analysis (self taught) using SQL and Excel.

Before that I have also worked as an intern in the domains of business management and web development.

It would be a great help guys if anyone here could help me find a job in my domain(data analysis preferred) I'm willing to start all over as a fresher.

Location preferred is Delhi/Noida, but i can work in other areas too as well.

I can work both in office and remote

Day 8 of posting until i find a job.

For context, I am in a rotational program for industrial engineers and my official job title during all rotations is “Rotational, Ops”.

What this means is, and my manager supports this, it’s up to my discretion what I call myself on my resume… as long as it’s honest and defensible. With that being said, I’d like to find a more technical role name that supports my aspirations to become a project engineer.

My current role:
\- owner of site MES, and technical lead for all ERP data projects
\- I occasionally dabble in SQL, R, or Python for various data projects
\- I use my statistics/probability background for building our defect density models
\- I am the local SME for Power BI and Power apps

Is there an honest job title I could use that gets “engineer” onto my resume? Where is the line between data science and analytics, and what side do I fall on?

I'm 24, with a Bachelor's in Audiovisual Communication and experience in Global PR & Communications at Glovo (tech company).

I'm considering a Master's in Data Science and Society at Tilburg University, but I'm worried about entering a technical field without a STEM background. I'm interested in data analysis, business intelligence and using data to make strategic decisions, rather than spending all day programming or developing statistical models.

My goal is to develop practical, marketable skills that differentiate me from a general communications professional, while improving my salary potential and career flexibility.

For those working in data analytics or BI:

• Can a one-year Master's in Data Science realistically prepare someone with my background for entry-level roles?
• Would you recommend this over a business/communications Master's supplemented with basic technical skills?
• Does a non-technical Bachelor's significantly limit your career prospects?

I'd really appreciate honest advice, especially from anyone who made a similar transition. Thanks!

I'm currently in the process of learning SQL but I am seeing a lot of posts and comments that it isn't worth it to learn data analytics in this day and age. Which data-related role should I learn the skills of so I can increase my chances of getting a job?

Opinions

Hi! Need some advice/opinions.

I am in a masters program for Businsss Analytics right now at a top university in Michigan. Currently in 1st semester but want to start planning a path.

Taking an intro to python course and stats using excel/statistical software right now. SQL and intro to databases nexg semester along with business analytics course.

Guess my question is when should I start looking for internships? A little background: i was a college athlete who wanted to study CS in undergrand but decided against it due to travel schedule for hockey so studied business. Have been in sales & consulting for the past 6 years but wanted to get a more technical job as it's always been on my mind so decided to go back to school. Hoping I can leverage my sales background for a job once I learn the tech aspects of analytics.

Would love some advice or any opinions you all have on what I should do from now and my expected 2028 grad date. Thank you!!!

I'm a final-year B.Sc. Data Science student preparing for my first job, and I'd like to hear some honest advice from people already working in the industry.

There are several career paths, such as Data Analyst, Data Scientist, Data Engineer, BI Analyst, ML Engineer, and Analytics Engineer. As a fresher, it's difficult to understand which skills to prioritize and what companies actually expect from entry-level candidates.

I'd like to ask:

- If you were starting your career today, which data role would you target first, and why?

- What skills are essential for getting your first job, and which ones can be learned later?

- How can a fresher stand out when competing with candidates who already have internship or work experience?

- What mistakes should beginners avoid when preparing for these roles?

- Would you recommend focusing on one role or applying to multiple related roles initially?

I'd especially appreciate advice from people who have recently started their careers or have experience hiring freshers.

What would you recommend to someone in their final year who wants to become job-ready and build a strong career in the data field?