Skip to main content

Should I Learn SQL?

What is SQL? Does it fit the kind of career path that I am aiming for? I needed to figure this out, so I decided to blog about it.

What is SQL? Should I Learn It?

My prediction is that my conclusion will be, "yes."

What is SQL?

SQL Wordcloud. SQL, database, data, query oracle, ISO/IEC, language are all notable words in the cloud.
Does making this wordcloud count as exploratory data visualization?

SQL stands for "Structured Query Language" and is a language used to get information from databases (thanks for breaking it down for me Encyclopaedia Britannica). You send a command to the database and records are returned that match your command. You can also use it to update a database. Because my goal is to work in quantitative marketing research, this does seem like it could be useful.

So, Should I, Gabby Giannuzzi, Learn SQL?

Should I learn SQL? This depicts the reader staring expectantly at their screen, waiting for the answer (jokeing of course).
Deciding to learn SQL or not is tough because I'm working and in the MSU Master's of Science in Marketing Research program at the same time.

It appears that the answer is yes! According to PayScale, if you want to be a Data Analyst, gathering data through surveys and then interpreting, and, eventually, presenting it, then it is important to be knowledgeable in SQL. I guess I better get crackin'! Say, how should I go about learning SQL?

How to Learn SQL.

Code on a computer screen that could very well be SQL.
Coding on a computer screen that could very well be SQL for all I know right now, before taking a course!

I've made a little list of free resources to learn SQL.

  • W3 Schools offers free study materials and then a $95 certification exam (for SQL and many other programming languages)
  • SQL Course is another online source to learn the basics of SQL
  • Code Academy- I like this one because it is interactive.
  • Khan Academy - I haven't used it yet, but this looks like it goes really in depth.



Connect with me on LinkedIn!

Comments

  1. You totally should! Sql has been a major player in data analysis and other careers for a hot minute!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Introversion Explained: Understand Your Introverted Employees

There's nothing wrong with being introverted vs extroverted, yet many bosses misunderstand the value of introverts. If you think introversion is a negative trait, read below to see why you're WRONG . Introversion: Not a Second-Class Personality I'm not going to try to convince you that introverted individuals are better than extroverted individuals. I'm simply arguing that introverts are not worse, not team players, less engaged, paying less attention, boring, dry, tired, less creative, more sensitive, less charismatic, etc, etc, etc. Instead, I'd like to introduce a new way of interpreting social signals and cues from introverts to understand and recognize how introverts are an asset to any professional team. Most people just want to do a great job, but introverts go and about it differently than an extrovert would, and this is a good thing. What Are "Introversion" and "Extroversion"? Introversion...

Worried About COVID's Impact on Your Business? The Solution is Consumer Insight

The way the world works completely changed overnight. Consumers can't exists within their day-to-day lives the same way, whether they're shopping, working, or even taking care of their children. This has had an understandably huge impact on the economy. Why? Because nothing in a consumer's life can be taken for granted, so we shouldn't expect their behavior to remain unchanged. Consumer Insights During COVID-19 What is "Consumer Insight"? A customer insight, or consumer insight, is an interpretation of trends in human behaviors which aims to increase the effectiveness of a product or service for the consumer, as well as increase sales for the financial benefit of those provisioning the product or service. ( x ) In layperson terms, consumer insight is knowledge and understanding about what products/services consumers want, need, and how they go about getting them. This concept has been around long before the explosion of ...