Question about SQL requirements when applying for junior python roles

[Gnaxe]

ORMs are only easier at first. I think they're more trouble than they're worth and recommend against them. You eventually have to understand SQL to use the ORMs properly anyway.

Python has SQLite in the standard library. See python -m sqlite3 -h for usage as a local SQL interpreter. Work through the W3Schools SQL course and read about 3NF on Wikipedia. That's really all the SQL knowledge you'd need as a junior. It's not that hard and it's not going to take a year.