From ZERO

to Data Analyst

Your step-by-step

Learning Path:
1.​ Start with the strong foundation
in Databases
★​Learn basic database concepts: These are the core database
concepts
➔​ What are Databases? What are Tables? What are rows and columns?
➔​ Why are databases important?
➔​ Features and Applications of databases
➔​ What is RDBMS? RDBMS vs DBMS
➔​ Types of databases
➔​ Database Architecture and Three schema Architecture
➔​ DBMS vs File System
➔​ Data Independence

★​Jump to Data Modelling: these are helpful for practical

understanding of database model
➔​ ER Model concept. What is an ER Diagram?
➔​ Notations of ER Diagram: entity, attribute, relationships, etc.,
➔​ Mapping Constraints: one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one, and
many-to-many
➔​ DBMS keys: Primary key, Candidate key, Foreign key, Alternate key,
Super key, Composite key, Artificial Key
➔​ DBMS Generalization, Specialization, and Aggregation
➔​ Conversion of ER Diagram to a Table

★​Master Relational Data Model:

➔​ Relational Data Model
➔​ Understand about Join Operations: inner join, left outer join, right outer
join, full outer join, cartesian product, cross product
 ➔​ Integrity Constraints: default, check, primary key, foreign key, not null,
unique

★​Grasp the concept of Normalization

➔​ What is normalization?
➔​ Types of normal forms: 1NF, 2NF, 3NF, Boyce Codd NF, 4NF, 5NF
➔​ Learn about Functional Dependency

★​Make a strong foundation in Transactions

➔​ What are Transactions? State of Transactions
➔​ Life Cycle of Transaction
➔​ ACID Properties
➔​ What is a deadlock?

★​Basics of concurrency control:

➔​ What is concurrency control
➔​ Methods to avoid the concurrency in databases
2.​ Learn SQL basics
★​Introduction of SQL:
➔​ What is SQL?
➔​ Types of commands in SQL: DDL, DML, DQL, DCL, TCL
➔​ How does SQL work?
➔​ Key SQL Tools: MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite

★​Common SQL commands:

➔​ SELECT
➔​ FROM
➔​ WHERE
➔​ GROUP BY
➔​ ORDER BY
➔​ LIMIT
➔​ DISTINCT

★​Learn aggregations commands in SQL:

➔​ Use aggregate functions like: SUM(), AVG(), COUNT(), MAX(), and MIN()
➔​ How to use GROUP BY to aggregate the rows?
➔​ How to filter the grouped rows using HAVING, to enhance the results.

★​Master Combining Data: Joins

➔​ Types of Joins: INNER, LEFT, RIGHT, OUTER, and CROSS
➔​ Know when to use each of the types of JOINs

★​Hands on with the SQL operators

➔​ SQL Arithmetic Operators, Bitwise Operators, Comparison Operators,
and Compound Operators
➔​ Cover SQL Logical Operators in depth: BETWEEN, EXISTS, AND, OR,
NOT, ANY, ALL, and many more.
 3.​ Learn Excel
★​Start with basic excel skills:
➔​ Familiar with Excel interface like worksheet, ribbon, and quick access
toolbar
➔​ Learn basic functions like SUM, COUNT, MAX, MIN, VLOOKUP,
HLOOKUP, COUNT, IF, INDEX, & MATCH
➔​ Cover the data types: Numbers, Texts, Dates, and Currency formats
➔​ Data sorting & filtering techniques

​
★​Learn formatting:
➔​ Cover all the formatting of Numbers, Texts, Cells, Tables, and Rows and
Columns
➔​ Grab concept of conditional formatting to highlight the trends and
patterns
➔​ Perform Data Validation to enhance the quality of the dataset.

★​Master charts and pivot tables:

➔​ Different types of Chart & Graphs, and how to use them
➔​ Use Pivot tables to customize the large datasets for analysis.

★​Excel for Data Analysis & Visualizations

➔​ Use Power Query to transform large dataset
➔​ Use Power Pivot to establish the relationships between datasets and
perform data modelling.
➔​ Create interactive Dashboards using charts, slicers, and pivot tables.
➔​ Use statistical methods such as descriptive statistics, correlation &
regression, and trend analysis, time series analysis &Machine Learning
Models to do advanced operations.
 4.​ Learn a Data Visualization tool
★​Choose the right tool:
➔​ Based on your need, pick the right tool to learn. In the market there are
many trending tools like Power BI, Tableau, &Google Data Studio.
➔​ Don’t jump over the tools, learn everything about one tool then, as per
need can learn another tool.

★​Understand the basics of Data Visualization:

➔​ Understand various chart types.

➔​ Learn how to select the appropriate chart based on data and business
requirements.
➔​ Follow basic principles: simplicity, accuracy, and clarity.
➔​ Avoid misleading or complex charts (e.g., 3D charts).

★​Learn about data sources and preparation:

➔​ Learn how to import datasets from various sources (databases, CSVs,
Excel files, APIs, etc.).
➔​ Understand basic functionalities: data connections, transformations,
modeling, and visualizations.
.
★​Master the art of Dashboard creation

➔​ Build interactive dashboards with modified datasets, applying filters,

calculated fields, and aggregates.
➔​ Use a variety of visualizations (charts, graphs, tables, slicers) for
effective comparison and clarity.
➔​ Choose colors & themes that align with the business vision.
 5.​ Learn Advanced SQL
★​Master Subqueries:
➔​ Learn to apply nested &correlated subqueries for advanced filtration,
computation, and aggregation.
➔​ Write efficient subqueries with joins to enhance results.

★​Dive into Window Functions

➔​ Master window functions like RANK(), LEAD(), LAG(), OVER(),

ROW_NUMBER(), etc. for advanced analysis such as moving averages,
advanced aggregations and rankings.
➔​ Learn the difference between window functions and GROUP BY clause
​
★​Use Common Table Expressions (CTE’s)
➔​ Use CTEs to simplify complex queries for better readability and
understanding.
➔​ Understand recursive queries to manage parent-child relationships.

★​Work with advanced string and date functions:

➔​ Perform advanced analysis using date functions like EXTRACT(),
DATEADD(), and DATEDIFF().
➔​ Use complex string functions like REGEXP, CONCAT, and SUBSTRING
to extract insights.

★​Ensure Query Optimization:

➔​ Add indexes on columns to speed up filtering and joining, especially with
large datasets.
➔​ Minimize joins, SELECT* statements, and correlated queries to improve
performance.
6.​ For ultimate growth and a
sustainable growth: Start learning
Python
★​Python basics: Laying the foundation:
➔​ Master basic syntax and concepts like variables, keywords, data types,
loops, and conditional statements.
➔​ Get comfortable with advanced data types such as lists, tuples, strings,
sets, and dictionaries.

★​Learn Data Wrangling with Pandas:

➔​ Explore Pandas for data manipulation.
➔​ Learn about Series and DataFrames, along with relevant in-built
methods for analysis.
➔​ Practice handling duplicates, null values, grouping, filtering, and
reshaping data for analysis.

★​Convert data into interactive Visualizations using Matplotlib

and Seaborn:
➔​ Learn Matplotlib and Seaborn for static data visualizations (charts,
graphs, plots).
➔​ Understand how to derive insights from visualizations.
➔​ Use Plotly for advanced and optimized plots and dashboards.
 ★​Statistical analysis with SciPy:
➔​ Learn and implement statistical concepts like mean, median, mode, and
standard deviation.
➔​ Use SciPy for correlation & regression, hypothesis testing, probability
calculations, and p-value determination.

★​Dive into Machine Learning:

➔​ Start with scikit-learn basics to explore machine learning approaches.
➔​ Learn how to train, test, and tune models.
➔​ Explore methods to solve classification and regression problems.

​
Have any questions ❓
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