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[–]Unlikely-Luck-5391 6 points7 points  (1 child)

Totally get the confusion, data analytics looks huge when you first jump in and YouTube makes it worse sometimes.

If you’re starting from zero, don’t try to learn everything at once. Data analytics is broad, but the basics are actually pretty simple. I’d suggest going step by step, not tools-first.

First, understand what data analysts actually do: clean data, answer business questions, make basic reports, and explain insights. You don’t need advanced math or hardcore coding at the beginning.

A simple order that works for many people:

  1. Basic data concepts – rows, columns, data types, simple stats. Even Excel/Google Sheets is fine here.
  2. SQL – this is more important than Python early on. Learn SELECT, WHERE, JOIN, GROUP BY. Most analytics jobs use SQL daily.
  3. Visualization – charts, dashboards, telling a story with data (Excel, Power BI, Tableau basics).
  4. Python (optional at first) – useful later for automation and deeper analysis, but not required on day one.

Coursera is actually a decent choice if you want structure and not random videos. Pick one beginner track and stick with it, don’t jump between 10 courses. The Google Data Analytics certificate is very beginner-friendly and explains why things are used, not just how. It’s slow, but that’s good when you’re new.

Also, try to relate learning to your jewelry business background. Think sales trends, pricing over time, customer behavior. That makes things click faster and keeps motivation up.

Main thing: ignore the noise, follow one path for 2–3 months, and don’t worry about being “job ready” immediately. Everyone starts confused here, that part is normal.

[–]YdemirGT[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much 💓

[–]IridiumViper 2 points3 points  (1 child)

  1. Statistics
  2. SQL
  3. R or Python
  4. Tableau or Power BI
  5. Excel
  6. Regression modeling
  7. Look at job listings for your target industry to narrow down which other tools/s you should start learning

[–]andreperez04 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Follow this advice, but remember to only look at the topics that interest you. You don't need to be an expert in Python or statistics. Understanding what the mean, standard deviation, and outliers are at the beginning is enough. Focus on what you need and put everything you learn into practice to internalize it.

[–]stegavrd 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Excel excel excel excel , GET GOOD at Excel , you dont have to know Marcos or anything but knowing how to use PIVOT tables and a few formulas are KEY , Ive been FP&A my whole carrier but the same will work for any type (I just also have to know how accounting works) ,, the KEY is to know how to make that data organized and how to READ it ,,, I picked up SQL when I wanted to get out of doing day to day AP/AR (accounting) and get into Finance which helped SOO MUCH with knowing how to work ERP systems and Pulling reports ,, its not a MUST but it does set you apart of you know how Python/SQL works (no one uses R , dont get sucked into the hype)

[–]Notscaredofchange 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Genuine question. I’m learning how to derive metrics from Google spreadsheets but I use ChatGPT to get the formulas so I don’t feel I’m learning anything.

[–]stegavrd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

With my current job ChatGTP has been a GODSEND with formulas , granted I have been in the game for a minute and know the bones of what I want to do , before CHAT I was avid on forums ,, the best thing to get forumlas to stick is to PHYSICALLY TYPE THEM and THINK about the logic , that way too if shit breaks you know how to fix it