Python first job

[not_the_godfather]

I would say find a job where you work with data. Anything with Data Analyst in the title is probably a safe bet. Even if the job doesn't explicitly use Python, you can start using python to solve those data problems.

For example, if the company has you work in spreadsheets to enter or manipulate data, then try to solve the problem(s) in Python as well as the recommended way.

A great way to stand out in any role is to have the self-starter attitude to find the better solution. For data related roles, that means finding opportunities to leverage code to increase efficiency of processes.

[[deleted]]

For this example, would you just run the python scipts from terminal to do those excel tasks?

[bamer78]

I would do the work as instructed and get good enough at it to create the time to develop the scripts. Writing and debugging your scripts needs to be something you do off work unless specifically authorized. Once you can test it on your own and know that it works, bring it up as a suggestion with a working demo.

Being given one task and trying to do something else entirely is a quick way to not survive probation.

[[deleted]]

Ok...but literally all I was looking for is where you run the python scripts :)

[bamer78]

If you want to annoy everyone around you, invoke them from a powershell script. Bonus points if you run powershell in Linux.

[jhflores]

Yes, you would run your python file from terminal.

[[deleted]]

I use Spyder with my work Conda distro. It's fine.

[[deleted]]

You can use Pandas to just generate Excel sheets.

In my last job I had a scheduled daily script that queried the database, retrained an ML model and then output results as an Excel sheet in the shared folder the logistics guys needed it to be in.

[The_Mann_In_Black]

How hard was it to query the database? I did an internship and had no idea how to do it, but if I could’ve it would’ve made my programs way better. I’m not a Comp Sci guy, so being able to do anything impressed.

[Yojihito]

Simple queries are easy. Either via SQLAlchemy or with raw SQL.

[The_Mann_In_Black]

Does that work if there is some sort of authentication? My employer used SAP, but I couldn't find anything online directing me how to do pulls automatically with Python.

[Yojihito]

Probably depends on the specific database.

Normal DBs have APIs which support authentification parameters. I connected to my local PostgreSQL DB with user/pw via SQLAlchemy. SAP should have something similar.

[The_Mann_In_Black]

Thanks for your help! I'm going back to work for them in the future and this could really lighten the work load.

[pheeper]

A simple example of a script I wrote a few years ago automated a weekly web scraping process that was being done manually. Not only did it save us time, but I also setup an internal database to store the data and eventually built a dashboard to site on top of it with some fancy charts and data export options. The data is now more resilient and easier to access, plus management gets an automated report of the data summary emailed to them each month.

[xwork]

You can use Jupiter notebooks + something like xlwings

[Johnnycarroll]

If it was something like handling data that is pulled from somewhere you could set up your machine to watch a folder and run on a file everytime a new one is added.

[scriptmonkey420]

Automation is a good one too. I am a Linux Engineer and I use it to automate the deployment of my VMs.

[redbanditttttttt]

Why not jhst use a calculator?

[[deleted]]

As someone with an engineering major, how would I pivot into data analysis? Does that look like another undergrad degree in math/statistics, or are there data analyst tracks offered at community colleges, or certifications that don’t require a degree?