What is Data?
What does “Data” mean in tech?
Section titled “What does “Data” mean in tech?”Data work is about turning raw information into useful decisions.
Typical questions in data roles:
- What happened?
- Why did it happen?
- What is likely to happen next?
- What should we do now?
Common data roles
Section titled “Common data roles”- Data Analyst: creates reports and dashboards, explains trends.
- Data Engineer: builds pipelines and data infrastructure.
- Data Scientist: builds models and experiments.
If you are just starting, Data Analyst is usually the most accessible entry point.
What you need to learn first
Section titled “What you need to learn first”- SQL
- Querying tables, joins, grouping, filtering.
- Spreadsheets
- Fast analysis with formulas and pivot tables.
- Python (or R)
- Basic data cleaning and analysis scripts.
- Data visualization
- Build clear charts and dashboards.
- Statistics basics
- Mean, median, variance, hypothesis basics.
Suggested 6-month path
Section titled “Suggested 6-month path”- Month 1-2
- SQL fundamentals and spreadsheet fluency.
- Month 3-4
- Python basics, pandas, and small analysis projects.
- Month 5
- Dashboard tools (Power BI, Tableau, or Looker Studio).
- Month 6
- Build 2 portfolio projects and publish case studies.
First project ideas
Section titled “First project ideas”- Sales dashboard from public CSV data.
- Customer churn analysis notebook.
- Product KPI weekly report with SQL queries.
- A/B test result summary and recommendation.
Tools you will see often
Section titled “Tools you will see often”- SQL databases: PostgreSQL, BigQuery, MySQL
- Notebooks: Jupyter, Colab
- BI tools: Power BI, Tableau, Looker Studio
- Version control: Git and GitHub
Key takeaway
Section titled “Key takeaway”Data is a strong path if you like analysis and decision-making. Start with SQL and one dashboard tool, then publish practical projects.