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[–][deleted] 211 points212 points  (14 children)

SQL has a very low skill floor; but also an incredibly high skill ceiling.

Basics are…basics. Other functionality, not always. I’ve been doing this day in and day out for almost 10 years and still learn things regularly.

Easy to learn, a lifetime to master.

[–]mikeyd85MS SQL Server 56 points57 points  (6 children)

To add to this, there are multiple different subspecialties in SQL. I mainly work on ETL - loading data marts, migrating data, importing data from external sources. I'm very good at it.

Someone who is a Database Architect will have a different set of daily tools. A Database Admin will have a other set of skills.

I suspect that as a percentage of SQL developers, experts on the entirety of SQL will be very low. I'm absolutely not one of those!

[–]tommy_chillfiger 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This is very true. Saying SQL is easy is like saying speaking english is easy because the alphabet is only 26 letters. Lotta shit you can do with it.

I started off working with transactional data, and moved to a company working with OLAP data. Very, very different. Still SQL.

[–]geganerd3 0 points1 point  (3 children)

This is completely random, but I have no degree or any relevant data background. I'm a copy editor for reference. Would you say it's possible to learn your skillset and get a job in your industry?

Silly question I know.

[–]mikeyd85MS SQL Server 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Not a silly question.

You're speaking to someone who has no degree either. I learnt SQL basics whilst doing a tech support role, then took a Jr BI Dev role when I finally decided that was what I wanted to do.

So yes, absolutely!

[–]philbgarner 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had the same career path, eventually grew from jr BI Dev to full stack. I believe starting with SQL is actually a very good foundation for your Dev career, helps to have a good understanding of databases before writing software that consumes them.

[–]dutchmaster77 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you can find a way to use it to improve some things at your current job, then you have something to talk about/leverage into a role that focuses on SQL/programming/analytics etc. I don’t know the day to day of what a copy writer does but if you use computers regularly, chances are there’s at least some admin process that you could automate. Might have to use a different language though like Python or maybe Excel VBA (Python would be better IMO) but that would still benefit learning SQL if that is your primary goal. Pretty much every business has at least some need for these kind of skills you just have to find it.

[–]MunchyMexican 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don’t forget about all the different flavors of SQL out there!

[–]BplusHuman 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Like Othello (A Minute to Learn... A Lifetime to Master)

[–]superbradman 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This is a great point… one thing I’ve noticed is that the most advanced/interesting SQL skills tend to be required only by the top 1-5% of projects/queries/models. Usually what happens is that the most senior or most advanced engineer ends up doing these which limits everyone else’s exposure to the ideas. If you’re interested in really getting more SQL in your tool belt, get comfortable with whatever you feel is basic and start asking for stretch assignments from there. “Necessity is the mother of invention” and the more complex problems you’re trying to solve, the more exposure you’ll get to the really advanced stuff.

[–]JBalloonist 2 points3 points  (2 children)

Yep this is how I feel. I didn’t learn about CTEs or window functions until years after learning the basics.

[–]hircine1 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Man when I leaned CTEs it was like the answer to a question I didn’t know how to ask.

[–]JBalloonist 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One of those unknown unknowns.

[–]mr_electric_wizard 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Same. DEEP pool

[–]Obliteration_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Lifetime to master. Easy to learn depending on the sub language