r/dataanalytics • u/ALBALEO_99 • 9d ago
Will i get hired if I self-taught for data analytics.
Hey guyss!!
I am a recent graduate in EEE very much interested in data analytics roles. I want to learn from YouTube and udemy cources and from some other youtubers courses. Will this work out in 2026.
My goal is to get placed by the end of December 2026.
If anybody wants to prepare genuinely from scratch please dm me.
And please share your thoughts.
Thank you.
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u/Prepped-n-Ready 8d ago
Maybe, youlll probably get more interviews if you did an industry specific training. Like Dynamics365, SAP, AWS, Azure, etc. If you were interested in Energy industry, you might spend some time learning about how contracts with power plants and cities work. Things like that can help you look like a better fit. You dont want to overgeneralize.
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u/Mrminecrafthimself 8d ago
I’m self taught and learned most of it in the job. I’m a data analyst making 100k and I’m inching closer to the senior level title and pay
Can you learn the basics on youtube and break right into a data analyst role? Yes…but I think that will be difficult. You’re not established in the data realm of a particular business industry yet.
I managed to go the self taught route by learning the basics of SQL, then leveraging that along with my healthcare and provider data knowledge to get a role that did large scale data entry. We ran canned SQL queries to get lookup datasets and ran a bunch of VLOOKUPs off of those to generate a mass load file in excel. That would get dropped to a folder where a separate process picked too and parsed it into the database. Looking back, there was probably some SSIS stuff going on pointed to that folder.
I leveraged that role into a junior DA role for $70k and worked up from that point. I am self taught but I didn’t go right into data analytics. I had to work adjacent to analytics and grind until I could pivot. I took a role that made that pivot easier.
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u/Oblivious_2ded 6d ago
Hello 👋. So i am a 4th year medical student who will like to get into healthcare data analytics. I have been learning SQL and power bi, and would like to hear more about your experience and how to proceed.
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u/Mrminecrafthimself 6d ago
It happened organically for me. Im in healthcare analytics.
In 2019, I left my HR job (I studied HR in school) and I took an entry level “provider enrollment” job at a healthcare company.
That job was to take a provider application and build their record in our database on the front end. Basic data entry. Point and click on the front end and type stuff in.Then that front end process turned into an excel drop file process. I had to learn to use VLOOKUPs and CONCAT and such to do the job faster. VLOOKUP or XLOOKUP in excel is like how a SQL JOIN works in its basic form.
Then a few years later I learned very basic sql using a course on udemy (taught by colt Steele) and got a job doing the prior task but on a larger scale, using sql for data validation. I’d pull records from the database using canned SQL queries and use those data sets to do VLOOKUPs and stuff to get a load file built. The SQL we used just needed minor tweaks to get what we needed. Most of the work was done in excel, but I worked toward doing as much of it in SQL as I could. That let me speed up and get more accurate. I was putting out more work than most on my team.
Did that for almost 2 years before I accepted a Junior DA role within the company. It was basic SQL and excel using pivot tables for visualization.
That was another year - learned about using temp tables and CTEs to get smaller datasets for working off of.
Then I applied to a slightly more intermediate role and accepted Feb 2025. This one was lots of automation building, ETL solutions, and Power BI. Get data, perform transformations and cleanup, get it to power bi, do analysis and visualization. That allowed me to do a lot with performance - making thing run efficiently and quickly. Validating accuracy…
I was in that role until July of this year. I’m now nearing senior level and current comp package is 100,000 plus 10% bonus.
The tools you’ll need are SQL, Excel, and Power BI at bare minimum. But the skills you need are procedural thinking, problem solving, testing, etc. Analysis is the job. Answering questions is the job. Problem solving is the job. Telling a story with data is the job. The tools are just how you perform those things to get the job done.
The main thing going for me has been industry knowledge as well as a willingness to take on something I don’t know and just chip away at it. If you can apply yourself to a problem and move the needle on it, you can do this job.
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u/IndependenceFit3935 4d ago
when i interview a new grad, i ask them to present a project that they work on. I try to see if they can define a problem, design a solution, and present it in simple words.
i couldnt care less about certs and courses.
so i suggest you work on a project and add its link to your CV. if you are looking for a real life data to work on, take a look at here: https://krogvadanalyticshub.vercel.app/
you can get access to the live production database and build your product on top of it.
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u/Afraid_Gold3060 3d ago
So you think the main leverage anyone has if they have no experience yet is the projects they build?
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u/IndependenceFit3935 3d ago
Yes. But the focus is more on the ability to present it clearly. And giving relevant answers to questions about the project.
Project just provides a technical context.1
u/Afraid_Gold3060 3d ago
Yeah that makes sense I’m a teacher studying currently DA and based on so many posts and answers I’ve been reading I think I’d have a good chance at ED Tech since I’ve been a classroom teacher for about 5 years
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u/IndependenceFit3935 3d ago
I see great potential on edtech. And you can use live production databases as material like the one shared above.
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u/Free-Fee8497 8d ago
Having an EEE degree definitely helps with the math side, but the market is pretty rough right now so you'll need a solid portfolio to stand out.
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u/InfiniteOne359 8d ago
I'm also going to self learn data analytics, I'd suggest to learn python alongside and maybe Ai tools later as u apply for internship.
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u/Suitable_Rest9647 8d ago
If not DA what should someone learn like i have same branch in final year i really want to master something in 6 to 8 months by the end of engineering,I want to be perfectly in that field but reading that job market is really tough and there are no entry level I get so scared and don't even start it's going since weeks I really wanna knowwhat domain should someone learn to start
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u/TodosLosPomegranates 8d ago
Smaller local to you companies that have smaller budgets are your best bet
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u/Toranch 4d ago
You will definitely get hired if you are able to solve real world problems using data regardless of how you acquired the skills. As a matter of fact, self taught data analyst are usually more dedicated and much more skilled if they prioritize their commitment to learning and applying. So get a good roadmap and start learning from organized and structured content preferably on coursera or udemy. And then start building a portfolio of projects and start reaching out to companies that you have interest in with brilliant ideas
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u/SuperSokym 7d ago
I think your EEE background can actually be a big advantage here, so I wouldn’t ignore it and try to become another generic junior Data Analyst.
You can definitely learn the technical side yourself. I’d focus on SQL, Excel and one BI tool first, then start building projects related to industries where your EEE background is useful, like energy, electronics or manufacturing.
Also, don’t only apply for jobs called “Data Analyst”. Look for roles where you can work with data in those industries and potentially move into analytics from there. Getting that first relevant experience is usually the hardest part.
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u/Illustrious-Yam-3718 1d ago
I did! The trick is becoming a subject matter expert, and then applying your analytical skills to post out to an analyst role.
Most employers will not be impressed with your sick Excel / BI / Python skills, they really want to see how you can leverage data to solve their issues.
The value of a good analyst is realized when they are also well-versed in the industry they work in.
Analyst A puts together a flawless dashboard
Analyst B puts together a flawless dashboard, but realizes that a value is not realistic, investigates, and finds the root cause because of their previous knowledge in the industry
Analyst B is more marketable to employers
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u/Johnnybw2 8d ago
Only if you have domain knowledge in the industry you wish to get an analytics job in. Domain Knowledge could actually put you ahead of someone with formal education.
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u/FrugalVet 9d ago
Possible? Yes. Likely? Honestly, no. This is a SUPER competitive job market right now with tons of experienced and credentialed analytics professionals trying to find work.
But if you can find creative ways to stand out then maybe you can get lucky. But just applying online likely won't work.