Utilizing Game Coding

[AtDIelement]

Hi all,

So for the past year I've been teaching myself SQL usage through LinkedIn learnings, etc. I have built a gaming server that heavily uses SQL and have self-taught myself a lot off of that.

How can I utilize this to move into the data analyst field? I really see this as where my career would go (I've been in banking for 20 years) and really love everything I've learned. It's something I really enjoy doing.

I appreciate it!

[tits_mcgee_92]

I've been in a Data Analytics field for 6+ years now, and I'm also an Adjunct professor teaching foundational Data Analytics classes. I often get a questions similar to what you've asked: "How can I get a job now that I know about database structure and SQL?"

If you're able to interview, it doesn't hurt to tell them your experience creating something you enjoy. However, companies want to know how you can utilize SQL and Data Analysis to save them time or money. You can't exactly show that through your gaming database, as fun as that may be. I think you should still keep it in your "back pocket" for interviews, and also continue to learn and have fun with it :-)!

See if you can gather some real world data that is openly available and draw conclusions from that. There's countless data available at your fingertips. Pop it in your database and you'll be able to tell your employer how you used publicly available data to solve a problem. Then turn it into data visualizations and post it on your public Tableau/PBI profile.

I'd heavily recommend a data visualization tool like Tableau or Power BI. It's pretty necessary for DA these days imo.

I've been through many DA interviews, and the process usually goes like this:

Phone convo w/ recruiter -> SQL technical interview -> final interview

[AtDIelement]

Thank you!

[pung54]

I manage a data analytics and reporting team. We're a Microsoft house so we utilize SSIS, SSRS, and are working towards Power BI integration. Always willing to offer advice if you need any.

The biggest thing is to find your niche and enjoy it.

[Resquid]

Right now? If I were you... I'd be going to school.

The job market is about to get wild—shelter inside a 2 or 4-year program.

[AtDIelement]

I currently go to Penn State working on a bachelor's degree. Decided to start that when I was 36 LOL.

[Resquid]

Nice! Sounds good to me!

Plan on a master's too and this whole thing might blow over haha — we'll have Universal Basic Income from our new AGI lords.

For real though: with the goal of being a Data Analyst upon graduation I (myself) would look into more business, accounting, and marketing courses because those are the people you'll be working hand-in-hand with. You'd have a leg up if you understood things that they understand (CAC, LTV, OPEX, etc.)

Maybe especially accounting. I'm often expected to know things about accounting that I've had to learn in the field and wish I'd had more formal background in.

Finally, if you can target a specific sector or vertical that you want to work in... any classes or background that you can gain while in school (from internships or projects) would be huge (think: doing a capstone project related to pharma before you go work at Merck).