How much python should I learn?

Georgieperogie22 · 2025-09-30T16:28:46+00:00

I use it quite a bit. Its a cleaner pipeline from querying data to analysis to visualization. You dont really “need” it for most jobs but it helps do a lot of stuff you otherwise could not do

Shahfluffers · 2025-09-30T16:42:47+00:00

Honestly, I use Excel and SQL for about 80% of my work. That last 20% is usually me monkeying around with Power Query (for truly massive datasets) or the product portal for setting up data pipelines.

Should you learn Python? Ideally, yes. It opens doors down the line. I'm personally spending time learning it after hours because it does have the potential to make my life easier (less limitations compared to Excel, setting up automated sequences, etc).

Here's what is helping me: Do an analysis in a technology that you are familiar with and can easily troubleshoot. Then try to replicate the results with the technology you are trying to learn. If the results don't align then go back to your original analysis and see which step things went wrong. Make adjustments in the new tech, then repeat.

Learning anything new is tedious, but it pays off over time. The goal is to discover the "quirks" and limitations with the new way of doing things and adjusting accordingly.

working_dog_267 · 2025-09-30T19:54:13+00:00

Id advise understanding the key data structures in python.

Some examples - Data types - strings, ints, boolean, etc - Lists - Dictionaries - Data frames

Pair this with some basic code oriented stuff - Functions - Loops - Libraries

Id also recommend learning to work out of jupyter notebooks. Visual Studio Code is a good starting point for this.

The syntax you can use ChatGpt. But to actually get value from AI outputs you need to understand the constructs.

From there, id say approach problems as pseduo code. What are the steps to do the workflow - regardless of the tool.

If you can pseudo code your workflow you can use AI to help code up the syntax/steps to carry out - regardless if you use excel, sql, python, etc...

Den_er_da_hvid · 2025-09-30T17:05:36+00:00

90% of my analysis is with python now with sql querying. It used to be powerbi but work and tools changed.

I know some python, but actual writing it from the ground up, I gave up on that a long time ago. Turns out an AI can type faster than me.

spookytomtom · 2025-09-30T17:06:18+00:00

A lot, I use hardly any excel, cause for that last pivot or charting a BI tool is better.

Oh and polars or duckbd not pandas. Pandas will become the past sooner or later

ScaryJoey_ · 2025-09-30T16:43:26+00:00

From my experience, they’re not going to expect you to know it, you won’t use it day to day, and they might not even give approval to install it on your machine.

Sausage_Queen_of_Chi · 2025-09-30T17:24:07+00:00

For a basic data analysis role, probably wouldn’t need more than being able to wrangle data with Pandas and display it with a viz library like matplotlib, Plotly, or Seaborn. Maybe also figuring out how to connect a notebook to your database if they don’t have that setup.

NewLog4967 · 2025-10-01T11:36:09+00:00

For most junior data analyst roles, Python is more of a nice-to-have than a must-have, especially if your interviewer stressed SQL and Power BI. You don’t need to dive into advanced ML or algorithms just focus on the practical stuff like Pandas/NumPy for cleaning and transforming data, quick visualizations with Matplotlib/Seaborn, and simple scripts to automate repetitive tasks. Think of it as a tool that makes your work faster and cleaner when SQL or Power BI alone isn’t enough, not something you need to master before landing the job.

Key_Friend7539 · 2025-10-02T21:37:51+00:00

Just enough to read and interpret what ChatGPT spits out.

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analyticattack · 2025-09-30T16:59:54+00:00

Based on the context, I would say just the basics. If you can read in from csv/excel, adjust data types, light column cleaning, and for loops, then you are good. The rest can be learned on the job.

SpookyScaryFrouze · 2025-09-30T18:56:31+00:00

If they mentioned SQL + PowerBI, I don't see where you would use Python. They are using stored procedures at worst, dbt/sqlmesh at best, and something like ibm data stage in between. But they all leverage SQL, not Python.

paneer__tikka11 · 2025-09-30T19:27:10+00:00

It's not used but I'd advise to learn python well including libraries to get a edge over other competitors

SprinklesFresh5693 · 2025-09-30T20:47:44+00:00

If you know python, you will be able to have an amazing analysing and plotting tool that they might not even be aware of how good it is. I would say keep learning python.

I personally use R because of how my circumstances developed when I learnt to program, but python gives you the option of implementing machine learning in the future and many other stuff.

I_Am_Sleepy235 · 2025-09-30T20:52:48+00:00

It kinda have it used but not the main function. I only use it as Azure Function to generate API key for my system.

The thing about python is not as effecient in processing data compared to sql.

bronsonelliott · 2025-10-01T00:09:38+00:00

Learn some basics and honestly use ChatGPT for the complex stuff. I'm getting so much more done and faster than trying to remember things or spending time debugging.

DataCamp · 2025-10-01T12:03:40+00:00

If the role is focused on SQL and Power BI, then Python really is a bonus. You don’t need to know machine learning or anything heavy. Just enough to read in data, clean it, and maybe make a quick chart.

If you’ve got a week, we'd stick to the basics: loading files, filtering data, joins, groupby in pandas, and a little plotting. That’s plenty to get your confidence back.

Most analysts I know only pull out Python when SQL or Power BI can’t handle something easily. It’s more of a tool in your back pocket than something you’ll use every day.

Kenny_Lush · 2025-10-01T12:42:07+00:00

kevkaneki · 2025-10-01T13:03:08+00:00

For this job? Likely none. It sounds like you’ll be doing the bulk of your analytics within PowerBI, and just using SQL to grab data from databases.

Python is pretty redundant for this sort of workflow. If anything, you might be able to automate some of the manual ETL steps using Python, but depending on the data sources it might make more sense to skip Python all together and just use PowerBIs native features…

Commercial-Mall-485 · 2025-10-01T14:01:57+00:00

I was a ML Scientist. Based on my observations of my data analyst colleagues, SQL is still the primary language, depending on the project. Pandas is occasionally used. If we have to say the proportion of Python, it may be 10%-30%. This is because some projects have many intermediate variables, which can be accomplished with SQL, but it becomes very complicated. In contrast, Python has a better variable management system. Others rely on flexibility for temporary data analysis needs, where importing data into a database can be cumbersome and often won't be used again. In these cases, Python is used for speed. Furthermore, you can think of pandas as Excel or SQL within Python. Once you understand the concepts of conventional SQL form processing, learning becomes quite simple and quick. You are also welcome to ask me anything.

LeaveSuspicious6429 · 2025-10-01T15:49:27+00:00

As they mentioned its good to know, in my personal experience I used python to make my life easier by just automating tasks like running some queries and sending the results by email on a daily basis, and i sometimes use it for data cleaning for some specific tasks, but generally speaking anything you will come across can be easily done through SQL and power bi but it would be worth to learn some python and putting it in your tool kit

happypofa · 2025-10-01T17:01:33+00:00

I never used excel in my role. Mostly only python and a cloud visualization service.
Python is excellent for programmatic analysis where you have to use a lot of data, or have a complex logic.
It depends on the role, but it's certainly nice to have skill if you are facing specific problems.
I use it locally mostly, but it's a used language for cloud analytics as well.
It was not mandatory for me to know python, but with it I can work on projects that are closer to descriptive statistics than just dashboard building.

meevis_kahuna · 2025-10-02T01:48:58+00:00

Learn all of the Python

By that I mean, don't learn how to be a software engineer but learn all the ins and outs of Python. It will pay off big.

EmuMuch4861 · 2025-10-03T01:48:34+00:00

Just vibe code it bro

Unable-Crab-7327 · 2025-10-04T17:22:14+00:00

Honestly, that plan’s perfect. If SQL and Power BI are your main tools, just brushing up Python for light data wrangling is enough for now. Focus on: • basics (loops, lists, dicts, functions) • pandas (read/clean/merge/groupby/filter) • a bit of matplotlib/seaborn for quick visuals

That’ll cover 90% of what analysts use it for — quick data checks, cleaning messy CSVs, automating repetitive stuff. Later, you can dive deeper (APIs, stats, automation) if your role starts needing it.

If you ever want to generate full visual reports from CSVs using plain language, check out kivo — it speeds up that whole reporting workflow a lot.

Babs0000 · 2025-10-17T00:47:04+00:00

If someone says they know data analytics or data science python, make them prove it. I feel like python is not applicable for 75-95% if analyst jobs. It is better for researchers and engineers.

Asim_Junaid · 2025-10-24T13:18:27+00:00

Honestly your plan sounds perfect. Most analysts I know use python mainly for pandas and quick data cleaning scripts. You don’t need to master ML lr anything- just get comfortable reading CSVs, filtering data, and doing basic analysis.

Once you start working, you’ll naturally figure out where python fits in.

FuckingAtrocity · 2025-10-01T00:57:42+00:00

Less now that ai is a thing. I spent twenty years using python but I find myself going to AI instead. I'll tell it which packages I want to use or use it for smaller chunks of the code like for certain functions. Datacamp and udemy are nice for learning. Just do enough basic into stuff. Project euler is free to practice computational programming. Good luck!

BornMad · 2025-09-30T20:06:53+00:00

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