What Skills Should I Learn First to Get Hired in Data? A Data Career Coach Answers
Category :
Expert Videos
Expert :
Amy Elliott
Published :
Updated :
Breaking into data can feel overwhelming, with dozens of tools and languages competing for your attention. Amy Elliott, a career coach and data consultant, hears this question all the time from people trying to get hired. Here's her answer.
Short answer: Start with SQL, then learn Python. Beyond technical skills, build business acumen and communication skills, and lead with business outcomes.
What skills should I learn first to get hired in data?
According to Amy, start with SQL. It's the foundation for any data role, so it's the first technical skill to master.
Do I need Python for a data job?
Increasingly, yes. Amy says that five years ago she would have called Python optional. Today, with so many roles and companies using it, Python is becoming a core foundation for many organizations, so learn it right after SQL.
What non-technical skills matter in data roles?
Business acumen and communication. Business acumen helps you understand the industry you work in and how your work ties back to business objectives and KPIs. Communication skills help you bridge the gap between technical and non-technical people.
How do I stand out when applying for data jobs?
Master the technical foundation, then lead with outcomes. Amy's advice is to master SQL and Python first, but frame your work around the business results it drives.
Transcript
"A question I get asked all the time from people trying to break into data is, 'What skills should I learn first to get hired?' Start with SQL. This is going to be the foundation for any data role. Then work on Python. Python is a secondary technical foundation. I would have said Python is optional five years ago, but with the number of roles and number of companies that are leveraging Python, it's becoming a core foundation for many organizations. Outside of technical skills, you're going to want to focus on business acumen and communication skills. Business acumen is going to be incredibly valuable because it will help you understand the industries that you're working in and how your work ties back to the business objectives and KPIs. And communication skills are critical for helping bridge that gap between technical and non-technical individuals. So, master SQL and Python first, but lead with business outcomes. My name is Amy Elliott. I'm a career coach and data consultant, and you can find me on ProPass in the App Store."
Watch Amy answer the question (tap the video to play):
Blog
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I learn SQL or Python first?
Start with SQL. It's the foundation for any data role. Learn Python next, since it's becoming a core skill at many companies.
Is Python required for data jobs?
More and more often, yes. Python used to be optional for many data roles, but so many companies now use it that it's becoming a core foundation.
What soft skills do data professionals need?
Business acumen and communication. They help you connect your work to business goals and explain technical findings to non-technical teammates.
What does business acumen mean in a data role?
It means understanding the industry you work in and how your analysis ties back to business objectives and KPIs.
How can I talk to Amy Elliott?
Amy is on ProPass, where you can follow her content, message her, and book a session or package. Download ProPass on the App Store.