🚀 How to Land a Data Analyst Job Without Experience?
Many people asked me this question, so I thought to answer it here to help everyone. Here is the step-by-step approach i would recommend:
✅ Step 1: Master the Essential Skills
You need to build a strong foundation in:
🔹 SQL – Learn how to extract and manipulate data
🔹 Excel – Master formulas, Pivot Tables, and dashboards
🔹 Python – Focus on Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib for data analysis
🔹 Power BI/Tableau – Learn to create interactive dashboards
🔹 Statistics & Business Acumen – Understand data trends and insights
Where to learn?
📌 Google Data Analytics Course
📌 SQL – Mode Analytics (Free)
📌 Python – Kaggle or DataCamp
✅ Step 2: Work on Real-World Projects
Employers care more about what you can do rather than just your degree. Build 3-4 projects to showcase your skills.
🔹 Project Ideas:
✅ Analyze sales data to find profitable products
✅ Clean messy datasets using SQL or Python
✅ Build an interactive Power BI dashboard
✅ Predict customer churn using machine learning (optional)
Use Kaggle, Data.gov, or Google Dataset Search to find free datasets!
✅ Step 3: Build an Impressive Portfolio
Once you have projects, showcase them! Create:
📌 A GitHub repository to store your SQL/Python code
📌 A Tableau or Power BI Public Profile for dashboards
📌 A Medium or LinkedIn post explaining your projects
A strong portfolio = More job opportunities! 💡
✅ Step 4: Get Hands-On Experience
If you don’t have experience, create your own!
📌 Do freelance projects on Upwork/Fiverr
📌 Join an internship or volunteer for NGOs
📌 Participate in Kaggle competitions
📌 Contribute to open-source projects
Real-world practice > Theoretical knowledge!
✅ Step 5: Optimize Your Resume & LinkedIn Profile
Your resume should highlight:
✔️ Skills (SQL, Python, Power BI, etc.)
✔️ Projects (Brief denoscriptions with links)
✔️ Certifications (Google Data Analytics, Coursera, etc.)
Bonus Tip:
🔹 Write "Data Analyst in Training" on LinkedIn
🔹 Start posting insights from your learning journey
🔹 Engage with recruiters & join LinkedIn groups
✅ Step 6: Start Applying for Jobs
Don’t wait for the perfect job—start applying!
📌 Apply on LinkedIn, Indeed, and company websites
📌 Network with professionals in the industry
📌 Be ready for SQL & Excel assessments
Pro Tip: Even if you don’t meet 100% of the job requirements, apply anyway! Many companies are open to hiring self-taught analysts.
You don’t need a fancy degree to become a Data Analyst. Skills + Projects + Networking = Your job offer!
🔥 Your Challenge: Start your first project today and track your progress!
Share with credits: https://news.1rj.ru/str/sqlspecialist
Hope it helps :)
Many people asked me this question, so I thought to answer it here to help everyone. Here is the step-by-step approach i would recommend:
✅ Step 1: Master the Essential Skills
You need to build a strong foundation in:
🔹 SQL – Learn how to extract and manipulate data
🔹 Excel – Master formulas, Pivot Tables, and dashboards
🔹 Python – Focus on Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib for data analysis
🔹 Power BI/Tableau – Learn to create interactive dashboards
🔹 Statistics & Business Acumen – Understand data trends and insights
Where to learn?
📌 Google Data Analytics Course
📌 SQL – Mode Analytics (Free)
📌 Python – Kaggle or DataCamp
✅ Step 2: Work on Real-World Projects
Employers care more about what you can do rather than just your degree. Build 3-4 projects to showcase your skills.
🔹 Project Ideas:
✅ Analyze sales data to find profitable products
✅ Clean messy datasets using SQL or Python
✅ Build an interactive Power BI dashboard
✅ Predict customer churn using machine learning (optional)
Use Kaggle, Data.gov, or Google Dataset Search to find free datasets!
✅ Step 3: Build an Impressive Portfolio
Once you have projects, showcase them! Create:
📌 A GitHub repository to store your SQL/Python code
📌 A Tableau or Power BI Public Profile for dashboards
📌 A Medium or LinkedIn post explaining your projects
A strong portfolio = More job opportunities! 💡
✅ Step 4: Get Hands-On Experience
If you don’t have experience, create your own!
📌 Do freelance projects on Upwork/Fiverr
📌 Join an internship or volunteer for NGOs
📌 Participate in Kaggle competitions
📌 Contribute to open-source projects
Real-world practice > Theoretical knowledge!
✅ Step 5: Optimize Your Resume & LinkedIn Profile
Your resume should highlight:
✔️ Skills (SQL, Python, Power BI, etc.)
✔️ Projects (Brief denoscriptions with links)
✔️ Certifications (Google Data Analytics, Coursera, etc.)
Bonus Tip:
🔹 Write "Data Analyst in Training" on LinkedIn
🔹 Start posting insights from your learning journey
🔹 Engage with recruiters & join LinkedIn groups
✅ Step 6: Start Applying for Jobs
Don’t wait for the perfect job—start applying!
📌 Apply on LinkedIn, Indeed, and company websites
📌 Network with professionals in the industry
📌 Be ready for SQL & Excel assessments
Pro Tip: Even if you don’t meet 100% of the job requirements, apply anyway! Many companies are open to hiring self-taught analysts.
You don’t need a fancy degree to become a Data Analyst. Skills + Projects + Networking = Your job offer!
🔥 Your Challenge: Start your first project today and track your progress!
Share with credits: https://news.1rj.ru/str/sqlspecialist
Hope it helps :)
❤7
If you’re a Data Analyst, chances are you use 𝐒𝐐𝐋 every single day. And if you’re preparing for interviews, you’ve probably realized that it's not just about writing queries it's about writing smart, efficient, and scalable ones.
1. 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐈𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐬 (𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬)
Ever worked on a query that became an unreadable monster? CTEs let you break that down into logical steps. You can treat them like temporary views — great for simplifying logic and improving collaboration across your team.
2. 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
Forget the mess of subqueries. With functions like ROW_NUMBER(), RANK(), LEAD() and LAG(), you can compare rows, rank items, or calculate running totals — all within the same query. Total
3. 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐍𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬)
Yes, they're old school, but nested subqueries are still powerful. Use them when you want to filter based on results of another query or isolate logic step-by-step before joining with the big picture.
4. 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐬 & 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Query taking forever? Look at your indexes. Index the columns you use in JOINs, WHERE, and GROUP BY. Even basic knowledge of how the SQL engine reads data can take your skills up a notch.
5. 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐯𝐬. 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬
Joins are usually faster and better for combining large datasets. Subqueries, on the other hand, are cleaner when doing one-off filters or smaller operations. Choose wisely based on the context.
6. 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:
Want to categorize or bucket data without creating a separate table? Use CASE. It’s ideal for conditional logic, custom labels, and grouping in a single query.
7. 𝐀𝐠𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 & 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏 𝐁𝐘
Most analytics questions start with "how many", "what’s the average", or "which is the highest?". SUM(), COUNT(), AVG(), etc., and pair them with GROUP BY to drive insights that matter.
8. 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐲
Time-based analysis is everywhere: trends, cohorts, seasonality, etc. Get familiar with functions like DATEADD, DATEDIFF, DATE_TRUNC, and DATEPART to work confidently with time series data.
9. 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 & 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐬
Whether it's org charts or product categories, not all data is flat. Learn how to join a table to itself or use recursive CTEs to navigate parent-child relationships effectively.
You don’t need to memorize 100 functions. You need to understand 10 really well and apply them smartly. These are the concepts I keep going back to not just in interviews, but in the real world where clarity, performance, and logic matter most.
1. 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐈𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐬 (𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬)
Ever worked on a query that became an unreadable monster? CTEs let you break that down into logical steps. You can treat them like temporary views — great for simplifying logic and improving collaboration across your team.
2. 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
Forget the mess of subqueries. With functions like ROW_NUMBER(), RANK(), LEAD() and LAG(), you can compare rows, rank items, or calculate running totals — all within the same query. Total
3. 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐍𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬)
Yes, they're old school, but nested subqueries are still powerful. Use them when you want to filter based on results of another query or isolate logic step-by-step before joining with the big picture.
4. 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐬 & 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Query taking forever? Look at your indexes. Index the columns you use in JOINs, WHERE, and GROUP BY. Even basic knowledge of how the SQL engine reads data can take your skills up a notch.
5. 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐯𝐬. 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬
Joins are usually faster and better for combining large datasets. Subqueries, on the other hand, are cleaner when doing one-off filters or smaller operations. Choose wisely based on the context.
6. 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:
Want to categorize or bucket data without creating a separate table? Use CASE. It’s ideal for conditional logic, custom labels, and grouping in a single query.
7. 𝐀𝐠𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 & 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏 𝐁𝐘
Most analytics questions start with "how many", "what’s the average", or "which is the highest?". SUM(), COUNT(), AVG(), etc., and pair them with GROUP BY to drive insights that matter.
8. 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐲
Time-based analysis is everywhere: trends, cohorts, seasonality, etc. Get familiar with functions like DATEADD, DATEDIFF, DATE_TRUNC, and DATEPART to work confidently with time series data.
9. 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 & 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐬
Whether it's org charts or product categories, not all data is flat. Learn how to join a table to itself or use recursive CTEs to navigate parent-child relationships effectively.
You don’t need to memorize 100 functions. You need to understand 10 really well and apply them smartly. These are the concepts I keep going back to not just in interviews, but in the real world where clarity, performance, and logic matter most.
❤4
1. What data sources can Power BI connect to?
Ans: The list of data sources for Power BI is extensive, but it can be grouped into the following:
Files: Data can be imported from Excel (.xlsx, xlxm), Power BI Desktop files (.pbix) and Comma Separated Value (.csv).
Content Packs: It is a collection of related documents or files that are stored as a group. In Power BI, there are two types of content packs, firstly those from services providers like Google Analytics, Marketo, or Salesforce, and secondly those created and shared by other users in your organization.
Connectors to databases and other datasets such as Azure SQL, Database and SQL, Server Analysis Services tabular data, etc.
2. What are the different integrity rules present in the DBMS?
The different integrity rules present in DBMS are as follows:
Entity Integrity: This rule states that the value of the primary key can never be NULL. So, all the tuples in the column identified as the primary key should have a value.
Referential Integrity: This rule states that either the value of the foreign key is NULL or it should be the primary key of any other relation.
3. What are some common clauses used with SELECT query in SQL?
Some common SQL clauses used in conjuction with a SELECT query are as follows:
WHERE clause in SQL is used to filter records that are necessary, based on specific conditions.
ORDER BY clause in SQL is used to sort the records based on some field(s) in ascending (ASC) or descending order (DESC).
GROUP BY clause in SQL is used to group records with identical data and can be used in conjunction with some aggregation functions to produce summarized results from the database.
HAVING clause in SQL is used to filter records in combination with the GROUP BY clause. It is different from WHERE, since the WHERE clause cannot filter aggregated records.
4. What is the difference between count, counta, and countblank in Excel?
The count function is very often used in Excel. Here, let’s look at the difference between count, and it’s variants - counta and countblank.
1. COUNT
It counts the number of cells that contain numeric values only. Cells that have string values, special characters, and blank cells will not be counted.
2. COUNTA
It counts the number of cells that contain any form of content. Cells that have string values, special characters, and numeric values will be counted. However, a blank cell will not be counted.
3. COUNTBLANK
As the name suggests, it counts the number of blank cells only. Cells that have content will not be taken into consideration.
Ans: The list of data sources for Power BI is extensive, but it can be grouped into the following:
Files: Data can be imported from Excel (.xlsx, xlxm), Power BI Desktop files (.pbix) and Comma Separated Value (.csv).
Content Packs: It is a collection of related documents or files that are stored as a group. In Power BI, there are two types of content packs, firstly those from services providers like Google Analytics, Marketo, or Salesforce, and secondly those created and shared by other users in your organization.
Connectors to databases and other datasets such as Azure SQL, Database and SQL, Server Analysis Services tabular data, etc.
2. What are the different integrity rules present in the DBMS?
The different integrity rules present in DBMS are as follows:
Entity Integrity: This rule states that the value of the primary key can never be NULL. So, all the tuples in the column identified as the primary key should have a value.
Referential Integrity: This rule states that either the value of the foreign key is NULL or it should be the primary key of any other relation.
3. What are some common clauses used with SELECT query in SQL?
Some common SQL clauses used in conjuction with a SELECT query are as follows:
WHERE clause in SQL is used to filter records that are necessary, based on specific conditions.
ORDER BY clause in SQL is used to sort the records based on some field(s) in ascending (ASC) or descending order (DESC).
GROUP BY clause in SQL is used to group records with identical data and can be used in conjunction with some aggregation functions to produce summarized results from the database.
HAVING clause in SQL is used to filter records in combination with the GROUP BY clause. It is different from WHERE, since the WHERE clause cannot filter aggregated records.
4. What is the difference between count, counta, and countblank in Excel?
The count function is very often used in Excel. Here, let’s look at the difference between count, and it’s variants - counta and countblank.
1. COUNT
It counts the number of cells that contain numeric values only. Cells that have string values, special characters, and blank cells will not be counted.
2. COUNTA
It counts the number of cells that contain any form of content. Cells that have string values, special characters, and numeric values will be counted. However, a blank cell will not be counted.
3. COUNTBLANK
As the name suggests, it counts the number of blank cells only. Cells that have content will not be taken into consideration.
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𝗦𝗤𝗟 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁-𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 📊
Whether you're writing daily queries or preparing for interviews, understanding these subtle SQL differences can make a big impact on both performance and accuracy.
🧠 Here’s a powerful visual that compares the most commonly misunderstood SQL concepts — side by side.
📌 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗻𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘁:
🔹 RANK() vs DENSE_RANK()
🔹 HAVING vs WHERE
🔹 UNION vs UNION ALL
🔹 JOIN vs UNION
🔹 CTE vs TEMP TABLE
🔹 SUBQUERY vs CTE
🔹 ISNULL vs COALESCE
🔹 DELETE vs DROP
🔹 INTERSECT vs INNER JOIN
🔹 EXCEPT vs NOT IN
React ♥️ for detailed post with examples
Whether you're writing daily queries or preparing for interviews, understanding these subtle SQL differences can make a big impact on both performance and accuracy.
🧠 Here’s a powerful visual that compares the most commonly misunderstood SQL concepts — side by side.
📌 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗻𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘁:
🔹 RANK() vs DENSE_RANK()
🔹 HAVING vs WHERE
🔹 UNION vs UNION ALL
🔹 JOIN vs UNION
🔹 CTE vs TEMP TABLE
🔹 SUBQUERY vs CTE
🔹 ISNULL vs COALESCE
🔹 DELETE vs DROP
🔹 INTERSECT vs INNER JOIN
🔹 EXCEPT vs NOT IN
React ♥️ for detailed post with examples
❤10👍3👎1👏1
Useful websites to practice and enhance your Data Analytics skills
👇👇
1. SQL
https://mode.com/sql-tutorial/introduction-to-sql
https://news.1rj.ru/str/sqlspecialist/232
2. Python
https://www.learnpython.org/
https://bit.ly/3T7y4ta
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/python-programming-language/learn-python-tutorial
3. R
https://www.datacamp.com/courses/free-introduction-to-r
4. Data Structures
https://leetcode.com/study-plan/data-structure/
5. Data Visualization
https://www.freecodecamp.org/learn/data-visualization/
https://www.tableau.com/learn/training/20223
https://www.workout-wednesday.com/power-bi-challenges/
6. Excel
https://excel-practice-online.com/
https://www.w3schools.com/EXCEL/index.php
Join @free4unow_backup for more free courses
ENJOY LEARNING 👍👍
👇👇
1. SQL
https://mode.com/sql-tutorial/introduction-to-sql
https://news.1rj.ru/str/sqlspecialist/232
2. Python
https://www.learnpython.org/
https://bit.ly/3T7y4ta
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/python-programming-language/learn-python-tutorial
3. R
https://www.datacamp.com/courses/free-introduction-to-r
4. Data Structures
https://leetcode.com/study-plan/data-structure/
5. Data Visualization
https://www.freecodecamp.org/learn/data-visualization/
https://www.tableau.com/learn/training/20223
https://www.workout-wednesday.com/power-bi-challenges/
6. Excel
https://excel-practice-online.com/
https://www.w3schools.com/EXCEL/index.php
Join @free4unow_backup for more free courses
ENJOY LEARNING 👍👍
❤12
Data Analytics isn't rocket science. It's just a different language.
Here's a beginner's guide to the world of data analytics:
1) Understand the fundamentals:
- Mathematics
- Statistics
- Technology
2) Learn the tools:
- SQL
- Python
- Excel (yes, it's still relevant!)
3) Understand the data:
- What do you want to measure?
- How are you measuring it?
- What metrics are important to you?
4) Data Visualization:
- A picture is worth a thousand words
5) Practice:
- There's no better way to learn than to do it yourself.
Data Analytics is a valuable skill that can help you make better decisions, understand your audience better, and ultimately grow your business.
It's never too late to start learning!
Here's a beginner's guide to the world of data analytics:
1) Understand the fundamentals:
- Mathematics
- Statistics
- Technology
2) Learn the tools:
- SQL
- Python
- Excel (yes, it's still relevant!)
3) Understand the data:
- What do you want to measure?
- How are you measuring it?
- What metrics are important to you?
4) Data Visualization:
- A picture is worth a thousand words
5) Practice:
- There's no better way to learn than to do it yourself.
Data Analytics is a valuable skill that can help you make better decisions, understand your audience better, and ultimately grow your business.
It's never too late to start learning!
❤12
🗂How to create Formulas To Calculate Values
Entering the cell references for 15 or 20 cells in a calculation would be tedious, but in Excel you can easily enter complex calculations by using the Insert Function dialog box.
The Insert Function dialog box includes a list of functions, or predefined formulas, from which you can choose.
-Average = finds the average of the numbers in the specified cells
-Sum = finds the total/sum of the numbers in the specified cells
-Count = finds the number of entities in the specified cells
-Max = finds the largest value in the specified cells
-Min = finds the smallest values in the specified cells
Entering the cell references for 15 or 20 cells in a calculation would be tedious, but in Excel you can easily enter complex calculations by using the Insert Function dialog box.
The Insert Function dialog box includes a list of functions, or predefined formulas, from which you can choose.
-Average = finds the average of the numbers in the specified cells
-Sum = finds the total/sum of the numbers in the specified cells
-Count = finds the number of entities in the specified cells
-Max = finds the largest value in the specified cells
-Min = finds the smallest values in the specified cells
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Data Analytics isn’t SQL.
Data Analytics isn’t dashboards.
Data Analytics isn’t Python.
Data Analytics isn’t even “finding insights.”
Data Analytics is spending weeks on analysis, only for someone earning 5x more to say, “Just send it in Excel.”
Data Analytics isn’t dashboards.
Data Analytics isn’t Python.
Data Analytics isn’t even “finding insights.”
Data Analytics is spending weeks on analysis, only for someone earning 5x more to say, “Just send it in Excel.”
😁21❤15👍6👏1
Most Asked SQL Interview Questions at MAANG Companies🔥🔥
Preparing for an SQL Interview at MAANG Companies? Here are some crucial SQL Questions you should be ready to tackle:
1. How do you retrieve all columns from a table?
SELECT * FROM table_name;
2. What SQL statement is used to filter records?
SELECT * FROM table_name
WHERE condition;
The WHERE clause is used to filter records based on a specified condition.
3. How can you join multiple tables? Describe different types of JOINs.
SELECT columns
FROM table1
JOIN table2 ON table1.column = table2.column
JOIN table3 ON table2.column = table3.column;
Types of JOINs:
1. INNER JOIN: Returns records with matching values in both tables
SELECT * FROM table1
INNER JOIN table2 ON table1.column = table2.column;
2. LEFT JOIN: Returns all records from the left table & matched records from the right table. Unmatched records will have NULL values.
SELECT * FROM table1
LEFT JOIN table2 ON table1.column = table2.column;
3. RIGHT JOIN: Returns all records from the right table & matched records from the left table. Unmatched records will have NULL values.
SELECT * FROM table1
RIGHT JOIN table2 ON table1.column = table2.column;
4. FULL JOIN: Returns records when there is a match in either left or right table. Unmatched records will have NULL values.
SELECT * FROM table1
FULL JOIN table2 ON table1.column = table2.column;
4. What is the difference between WHERE & HAVING clauses?
WHERE: Filters records before any groupings are made.
SELECT * FROM table_name
WHERE condition;
HAVING: Filters records after groupings are made.
SELECT column, COUNT(*)
FROM table_name
GROUP BY column
HAVING COUNT(*) > value;
5. How do you calculate average, sum, minimum & maximum values in a column?
Average: SELECT AVG(column_name) FROM table_name;
Sum: SELECT SUM(column_name) FROM table_name;
Minimum: SELECT MIN(column_name) FROM table_name;
Maximum: SELECT MAX(column_name) FROM table_name;
Here you can find essential SQL Interview Resources👇
https://news.1rj.ru/str/mysqldata
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Preparing for an SQL Interview at MAANG Companies? Here are some crucial SQL Questions you should be ready to tackle:
1. How do you retrieve all columns from a table?
SELECT * FROM table_name;
2. What SQL statement is used to filter records?
SELECT * FROM table_name
WHERE condition;
The WHERE clause is used to filter records based on a specified condition.
3. How can you join multiple tables? Describe different types of JOINs.
SELECT columns
FROM table1
JOIN table2 ON table1.column = table2.column
JOIN table3 ON table2.column = table3.column;
Types of JOINs:
1. INNER JOIN: Returns records with matching values in both tables
SELECT * FROM table1
INNER JOIN table2 ON table1.column = table2.column;
2. LEFT JOIN: Returns all records from the left table & matched records from the right table. Unmatched records will have NULL values.
SELECT * FROM table1
LEFT JOIN table2 ON table1.column = table2.column;
3. RIGHT JOIN: Returns all records from the right table & matched records from the left table. Unmatched records will have NULL values.
SELECT * FROM table1
RIGHT JOIN table2 ON table1.column = table2.column;
4. FULL JOIN: Returns records when there is a match in either left or right table. Unmatched records will have NULL values.
SELECT * FROM table1
FULL JOIN table2 ON table1.column = table2.column;
4. What is the difference between WHERE & HAVING clauses?
WHERE: Filters records before any groupings are made.
SELECT * FROM table_name
WHERE condition;
HAVING: Filters records after groupings are made.
SELECT column, COUNT(*)
FROM table_name
GROUP BY column
HAVING COUNT(*) > value;
5. How do you calculate average, sum, minimum & maximum values in a column?
Average: SELECT AVG(column_name) FROM table_name;
Sum: SELECT SUM(column_name) FROM table_name;
Minimum: SELECT MIN(column_name) FROM table_name;
Maximum: SELECT MAX(column_name) FROM table_name;
Here you can find essential SQL Interview Resources👇
https://news.1rj.ru/str/mysqldata
Like this post if you need more 👍❤️
Hope it helps :)
❤5
Quick SQL functions cheat sheet for beginners
Aggregate Functions
COUNT(*): Counts rows.
SUM(column): Total sum.
AVG(column): Average value.
MAX(column): Maximum value.
MIN(column): Minimum value.
String Functions
CONCAT(a, b, …): Concatenates strings.
SUBSTRING(s, start, length): Extracts part of a string.
UPPER(s) / LOWER(s): Converts string case.
TRIM(s): Removes leading/trailing spaces.
Date & Time Functions
CURRENT_DATE / CURRENT_TIME / CURRENT_TIMESTAMP: Current date/time.
EXTRACT(unit FROM date): Retrieves a date part (e.g., year, month).
DATE_ADD(date, INTERVAL n unit): Adds an interval to a date.
Numeric Functions
ROUND(num, decimals): Rounds to a specified decimal.
CEIL(num) / FLOOR(num): Rounds up/down.
ABS(num): Absolute value.
MOD(a, b): Returns the remainder.
Control Flow Functions
CASE: Conditional logic.
COALESCE(val1, val2, …): Returns the first non-null value.
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Aggregate Functions
COUNT(*): Counts rows.
SUM(column): Total sum.
AVG(column): Average value.
MAX(column): Maximum value.
MIN(column): Minimum value.
String Functions
CONCAT(a, b, …): Concatenates strings.
SUBSTRING(s, start, length): Extracts part of a string.
UPPER(s) / LOWER(s): Converts string case.
TRIM(s): Removes leading/trailing spaces.
Date & Time Functions
CURRENT_DATE / CURRENT_TIME / CURRENT_TIMESTAMP: Current date/time.
EXTRACT(unit FROM date): Retrieves a date part (e.g., year, month).
DATE_ADD(date, INTERVAL n unit): Adds an interval to a date.
Numeric Functions
ROUND(num, decimals): Rounds to a specified decimal.
CEIL(num) / FLOOR(num): Rounds up/down.
ABS(num): Absolute value.
MOD(a, b): Returns the remainder.
Control Flow Functions
CASE: Conditional logic.
COALESCE(val1, val2, …): Returns the first non-null value.
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❤4
Top 5 data analysis interview questions with answers 😄👇
Question 1: How would you approach a new data analysis project?
Ideal answer:
I would approach a new data analysis project by following these steps:
Understand the business goals. What is the purpose of the data analysis? What questions are we trying to answer?
Gather the data. This may involve collecting data from different sources, such as databases, spreadsheets, and surveys.
Clean and prepare the data. This may involve removing duplicate data, correcting errors, and formatting the data in a consistent way.
Explore the data. This involves using data visualization and statistical analysis to understand the data and identify any patterns or trends.
Build a model or hypothesis. This involves using the data to develop a model or hypothesis that can be used to answer the business questions.
Test the model or hypothesis. This involves using the data to test the model or hypothesis and see how well it performs.
Interpret and communicate the results. This involves explaining the results of the data analysis to stakeholders in a clear and concise way.
Question 2: What are some of the challenges you have faced in previous data analysis projects, and how did you overcome them?
Ideal answer:
One of the biggest challenges I have faced in previous data analysis projects is dealing with missing data. I have overcome this challenge by using a variety of techniques, such as imputation and machine learning.
Another challenge I have faced is dealing with large datasets. I have overcome this challenge by using efficient data processing techniques and by using cloud computing platforms.
Question 3: Can you describe a time when you used data analysis to solve a business problem?
Ideal answer:
In my previous role at a retail company, I was tasked with identifying the products that were most likely to be purchased together. I used data analysis to identify patterns in the purchase data and to develop a model that could predict which products were most likely to be purchased together. This model was used to improve the company's product recommendations and to increase sales.
Question 4: What are some of your favorite data analysis tools and techniques?
Ideal answer:
Some of my favorite data analysis tools and techniques include:
Programming languages such as Python and R
Data visualization tools such as Tableau and Power BI
Statistical analysis tools such as SPSS and SAS
Machine learning algorithms such as linear regression and decision trees
Question 5: How do you stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in data analysis?
Ideal answer:
I stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in data analysis by reading industry publications, attending conferences, and taking online courses. I also follow thought leaders on social media and subscribe to newsletters.
By providing thoughtful and well-informed answers to these questions, you can demonstrate to your interviewer that you have the analytical skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in the role.
Like this post if you want more interview questions with detailed answers to be posted in the channel 👍❤️
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Question 1: How would you approach a new data analysis project?
Ideal answer:
I would approach a new data analysis project by following these steps:
Understand the business goals. What is the purpose of the data analysis? What questions are we trying to answer?
Gather the data. This may involve collecting data from different sources, such as databases, spreadsheets, and surveys.
Clean and prepare the data. This may involve removing duplicate data, correcting errors, and formatting the data in a consistent way.
Explore the data. This involves using data visualization and statistical analysis to understand the data and identify any patterns or trends.
Build a model or hypothesis. This involves using the data to develop a model or hypothesis that can be used to answer the business questions.
Test the model or hypothesis. This involves using the data to test the model or hypothesis and see how well it performs.
Interpret and communicate the results. This involves explaining the results of the data analysis to stakeholders in a clear and concise way.
Question 2: What are some of the challenges you have faced in previous data analysis projects, and how did you overcome them?
Ideal answer:
One of the biggest challenges I have faced in previous data analysis projects is dealing with missing data. I have overcome this challenge by using a variety of techniques, such as imputation and machine learning.
Another challenge I have faced is dealing with large datasets. I have overcome this challenge by using efficient data processing techniques and by using cloud computing platforms.
Question 3: Can you describe a time when you used data analysis to solve a business problem?
Ideal answer:
In my previous role at a retail company, I was tasked with identifying the products that were most likely to be purchased together. I used data analysis to identify patterns in the purchase data and to develop a model that could predict which products were most likely to be purchased together. This model was used to improve the company's product recommendations and to increase sales.
Question 4: What are some of your favorite data analysis tools and techniques?
Ideal answer:
Some of my favorite data analysis tools and techniques include:
Programming languages such as Python and R
Data visualization tools such as Tableau and Power BI
Statistical analysis tools such as SPSS and SAS
Machine learning algorithms such as linear regression and decision trees
Question 5: How do you stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in data analysis?
Ideal answer:
I stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in data analysis by reading industry publications, attending conferences, and taking online courses. I also follow thought leaders on social media and subscribe to newsletters.
By providing thoughtful and well-informed answers to these questions, you can demonstrate to your interviewer that you have the analytical skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in the role.
Like this post if you want more interview questions with detailed answers to be posted in the channel 👍❤️
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❤10👍2
Soft skills questions will be part of your next data job interview!
Here is what you should prepare for:
1. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Be ready to discuss how you explain complex data insights to non-technical stakeholders.
𝘌𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯:
“How do you ensure that your data insights are understood and get used by non-technical stakeholders?”
2. 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Show your ability to work well with others.
𝘌𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯:
“Can you talk about a time when you had to manage a conflict within a team? How did you resolve it?”
3. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺-𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴: Highlight your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
𝘌𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯:
“Describe a situation where you had to make a quick decision based on incomplete data. What was the outcome?”
4. 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Demonstrate your flexibility and openness to change.
𝘌𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯:
“How do you handle sudden changes in project priorities or scope?”
5. 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Prove your ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
𝘌𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯:
“Tell me about a time when you were under tight deadlines. How did you manage to meet them?”
6. 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: Show your ability to understand stakeholder needs.
𝘌𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯:
“How do you approach understanding the needs of different stakeholders when starting a new project?”
Structure your answers using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). This helps you provide clear and concise responses that highlight your skills.
By preparing for these soft skills questions, you’ll demonstrate that you’re not just technically fit, but also a well-rounded professional ready to make an impact on the business.
You can find useful tips to improve your soft skills here: 👇 https://news.1rj.ru/str/englishlearnerspro/
Here is what you should prepare for:
1. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Be ready to discuss how you explain complex data insights to non-technical stakeholders.
𝘌𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯:
“How do you ensure that your data insights are understood and get used by non-technical stakeholders?”
2. 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Show your ability to work well with others.
𝘌𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯:
“Can you talk about a time when you had to manage a conflict within a team? How did you resolve it?”
3. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺-𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴: Highlight your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
𝘌𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯:
“Describe a situation where you had to make a quick decision based on incomplete data. What was the outcome?”
4. 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Demonstrate your flexibility and openness to change.
𝘌𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯:
“How do you handle sudden changes in project priorities or scope?”
5. 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Prove your ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
𝘌𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯:
“Tell me about a time when you were under tight deadlines. How did you manage to meet them?”
6. 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: Show your ability to understand stakeholder needs.
𝘌𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯:
“How do you approach understanding the needs of different stakeholders when starting a new project?”
Structure your answers using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). This helps you provide clear and concise responses that highlight your skills.
By preparing for these soft skills questions, you’ll demonstrate that you’re not just technically fit, but also a well-rounded professional ready to make an impact on the business.
You can find useful tips to improve your soft skills here: 👇 https://news.1rj.ru/str/englishlearnerspro/
❤8
🎯 Top 20 SQL Interview Questions You Must Know
SQL is one of the most in-demand skills for Data Analysts.
Here are 20 SQL interview questions that frequently appear in job interviews.
📌 Basic SQL Questions
1️⃣ What is the difference between INNER JOIN and LEFT JOIN?
2️⃣ How does GROUP BY work, and why do we use it?
3️⃣ What is the difference between HAVING and WHERE?
4️⃣ How do you remove duplicate rows from a table?
5️⃣ What is the difference between RANK(), DENSE_RANK(), and ROW_NUMBER()?
📌 Intermediate SQL Questions
6️⃣ How do you find the second highest salary from an Employee table?
7️⃣ What is a Common Table Expression (CTE), and when should you use it?
8️⃣ How do you identify missing values in a dataset using SQL?
9️⃣ What is the difference between UNION and UNION ALL?
🔟 How do you calculate a running total in SQL?
📌 Advanced SQL Questions
1️⃣1️⃣ How does a self-join work? Give an example.
1️⃣2️⃣ What is a window function, and how is it different from GROUP BY?
1️⃣3️⃣ How do you detect and remove duplicate records in SQL?
1️⃣4️⃣ Explain the difference between EXISTS and IN.
1️⃣5️⃣ What is the purpose of COALESCE()?
📌 Real-World SQL Scenarios
1️⃣6️⃣ How do you optimize a slow SQL query?
1️⃣7️⃣ What is indexing in SQL, and how does it improve performance?
1️⃣8️⃣ Write an SQL query to find customers who have placed more than 3 orders.
1️⃣9️⃣ How do you calculate the percentage of total sales for each category?
2️⃣0️⃣ What is the use of CASE statements in SQL?
You can find detailed answers here! ⬇️
https://news.1rj.ru/str/sqlspecialist/1112
Hope it helps :)
SQL is one of the most in-demand skills for Data Analysts.
Here are 20 SQL interview questions that frequently appear in job interviews.
📌 Basic SQL Questions
1️⃣ What is the difference between INNER JOIN and LEFT JOIN?
2️⃣ How does GROUP BY work, and why do we use it?
3️⃣ What is the difference between HAVING and WHERE?
4️⃣ How do you remove duplicate rows from a table?
5️⃣ What is the difference between RANK(), DENSE_RANK(), and ROW_NUMBER()?
📌 Intermediate SQL Questions
6️⃣ How do you find the second highest salary from an Employee table?
7️⃣ What is a Common Table Expression (CTE), and when should you use it?
8️⃣ How do you identify missing values in a dataset using SQL?
9️⃣ What is the difference between UNION and UNION ALL?
🔟 How do you calculate a running total in SQL?
📌 Advanced SQL Questions
1️⃣1️⃣ How does a self-join work? Give an example.
1️⃣2️⃣ What is a window function, and how is it different from GROUP BY?
1️⃣3️⃣ How do you detect and remove duplicate records in SQL?
1️⃣4️⃣ Explain the difference between EXISTS and IN.
1️⃣5️⃣ What is the purpose of COALESCE()?
📌 Real-World SQL Scenarios
1️⃣6️⃣ How do you optimize a slow SQL query?
1️⃣7️⃣ What is indexing in SQL, and how does it improve performance?
1️⃣8️⃣ Write an SQL query to find customers who have placed more than 3 orders.
1️⃣9️⃣ How do you calculate the percentage of total sales for each category?
2️⃣0️⃣ What is the use of CASE statements in SQL?
You can find detailed answers here! ⬇️
https://news.1rj.ru/str/sqlspecialist/1112
Hope it helps :)
❤7
If you’re a Data Analyst, chances are you use 𝐒𝐐𝐋 every single day. And if you’re preparing for interviews, you’ve probably realized that it's not just about writing queries it's about writing smart, efficient, and scalable ones.
1. 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐈𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐬 (𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬)
Ever worked on a query that became an unreadable monster? CTEs let you break that down into logical steps. You can treat them like temporary views — great for simplifying logic and improving collaboration across your team.
2. 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
Forget the mess of subqueries. With functions like ROW_NUMBER(), RANK(), LEAD() and LAG(), you can compare rows, rank items, or calculate running totals — all within the same query. Total
3. 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐍𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬)
Yes, they're old school, but nested subqueries are still powerful. Use them when you want to filter based on results of another query or isolate logic step-by-step before joining with the big picture.
4. 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐬 & 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Query taking forever? Look at your indexes. Index the columns you use in JOINs, WHERE, and GROUP BY. Even basic knowledge of how the SQL engine reads data can take your skills up a notch.
5. 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐯𝐬. 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬
Joins are usually faster and better for combining large datasets. Subqueries, on the other hand, are cleaner when doing one-off filters or smaller operations. Choose wisely based on the context.
6. 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:
Want to categorize or bucket data without creating a separate table? Use CASE. It’s ideal for conditional logic, custom labels, and grouping in a single query.
7. 𝐀𝐠𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 & 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏 𝐁𝐘
Most analytics questions start with "how many", "what’s the average", or "which is the highest?". SUM(), COUNT(), AVG(), etc., and pair them with GROUP BY to drive insights that matter.
8. 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐲
Time-based analysis is everywhere: trends, cohorts, seasonality, etc. Get familiar with functions like DATEADD, DATEDIFF, DATE_TRUNC, and DATEPART to work confidently with time series data.
9. 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 & 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐬
Whether it's org charts or product categories, not all data is flat. Learn how to join a table to itself or use recursive CTEs to navigate parent-child relationships effectively.
You don’t need to memorize 100 functions. You need to understand 10 really well and apply them smartly. These are the concepts I keep going back to not just in interviews, but in the real world where clarity, performance, and logic matter most.
1. 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐈𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐬 (𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬)
Ever worked on a query that became an unreadable monster? CTEs let you break that down into logical steps. You can treat them like temporary views — great for simplifying logic and improving collaboration across your team.
2. 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
Forget the mess of subqueries. With functions like ROW_NUMBER(), RANK(), LEAD() and LAG(), you can compare rows, rank items, or calculate running totals — all within the same query. Total
3. 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐍𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬)
Yes, they're old school, but nested subqueries are still powerful. Use them when you want to filter based on results of another query or isolate logic step-by-step before joining with the big picture.
4. 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐬 & 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Query taking forever? Look at your indexes. Index the columns you use in JOINs, WHERE, and GROUP BY. Even basic knowledge of how the SQL engine reads data can take your skills up a notch.
5. 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐯𝐬. 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬
Joins are usually faster and better for combining large datasets. Subqueries, on the other hand, are cleaner when doing one-off filters or smaller operations. Choose wisely based on the context.
6. 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:
Want to categorize or bucket data without creating a separate table? Use CASE. It’s ideal for conditional logic, custom labels, and grouping in a single query.
7. 𝐀𝐠𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 & 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏 𝐁𝐘
Most analytics questions start with "how many", "what’s the average", or "which is the highest?". SUM(), COUNT(), AVG(), etc., and pair them with GROUP BY to drive insights that matter.
8. 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐲
Time-based analysis is everywhere: trends, cohorts, seasonality, etc. Get familiar with functions like DATEADD, DATEDIFF, DATE_TRUNC, and DATEPART to work confidently with time series data.
9. 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 & 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐬
Whether it's org charts or product categories, not all data is flat. Learn how to join a table to itself or use recursive CTEs to navigate parent-child relationships effectively.
You don’t need to memorize 100 functions. You need to understand 10 really well and apply them smartly. These are the concepts I keep going back to not just in interviews, but in the real world where clarity, performance, and logic matter most.
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