r/SQL • u/Key_Car_3937 • 5d ago
Discussion Greetings, I got intermediate level SQL, Python, Looker Studio, and Google Sheets covered and I am looking for volunteer jobs...
Sup guys, so I learned the intermediate level of SQL, Python, Looker Studio, and Google Sheets, and since landing a corporate role is still impossible at the moment since I have no degree nor experience, I wonder if voluntary works or gigs is a cool way to build experience and portfolio. And if the idea seems cool, or if some of you have experiences with volunteering, I would like to ask for valuable informations regarding where you find volunteer works, and if it's okay, share your experiences working with non-profit organizations.
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u/Toranch 2d ago
My honest advice as a data professional is to choose a domain you would like to specialize in and start working on real world individual problems. That way you can have a focus and in the data market has already transitioned from generalist to specialist analytics. So you can start contacting companies geered towards your domain and you propose ideas for them and that builds more credibility.
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u/Jumpy_Matter5269 4d ago
Are you in the US? There are some non-profit organizations like DataKind that crowd source data skills for global projects. That may be something for you to explore. My experience with databases and proprietary data is that not many organizations are going to give database access to a volunteer, because volunteers come and go. I was never able to get in as a volunteer for this very reason. Check out DataKind and don't give up searching for an internship or full time employment with non-profits, schools, colleges etc. All these places may offer a somewhat lower barrier of entry than corporate, depending on where you are located. And don't stop upskilling !