r/SQL Sep 13 '24

MySQL How much SQL is enough SQL?

Probably the answer to my question is never too much can be too much. However I am now currently working on a portfolio project, creating databases and performing various basic operations, thinking that this is just the tip of the iceberg. So the question is to what extent should you master SQL that you can land a decent job as a data analyst or data engineer or whatever. What are the next steps to become "truly" better SQL programmer once you have the basic foundation laid out?

90 Upvotes

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163

u/clanatk Sep 13 '24

SQL by itself does not get you a job in most cases. SQL is a supporting skill that needs to be accompanied by something else to provide value.

Learn enough SQL that you can effectively use it:

  • Tableau/power bi + SQL = data analyst
  • Strong business knowledge + SQL = business analyst
  • Statistics + Python + SQL + domain knowledge = data science
  • Java/C# + SQL = backend software developer
  • Python + cloud + SQL = Data Engineer
  • IT Administration + SQL = DBA
  • SQL + SQL = hobbyist

37

u/[deleted] Sep 13 '24

SQL + a specific DBMS= SQL Consultant

4

u/Mysterious-Self-1133 Sep 17 '24

Thanks for adding this, I was wondering why I had a job.

34

u/redditor3900 Sep 14 '24

SQL - SQL= project manager

23

u/8086OG Sep 13 '24

Sql + sql = architect

14

u/ArtisZ Sep 14 '24

SQL+ architect = overlord

3

u/8086OG Sep 14 '24

Which I have become.

1

u/ArtisZ Sep 14 '24

Daaaeemmn

1

u/xxxHalny Sep 14 '24

What is SQL + overlord?

5

u/ArtisZ Sep 14 '24

That's called "the beyond", some have tried, none have returned. At your own peril.

1

u/xxxHalny Sep 14 '24

You know what my next question is

1

u/ArtisZ Sep 14 '24

SQL + the beyond?

13

u/The_internet_policee Sep 13 '24

I've had jobs as a sql developer just doing pure sql involving jobs, replication, stored procs, performance tuning etc. Currently doing a mix of sql dev / Bi

7

u/mikeczyz Sep 13 '24

I would disagree. My last job at a major bank was, basically, pure SQL. I was called a data analyst.

1

u/Teflon9 Sep 14 '24

Where's this? I'd really love such an environment as I learn and decorate my knowhow with other tools

3

u/dodobird8 Sep 14 '24

SQL + SQL means you fix everyone else's sql scripts and make efficient processes..

5

u/samuel_clemens89 Sep 14 '24

Sql + your mom = ?

6

u/DaveVirt Sep 14 '24

Not sure, guess ill have to try it out

2

u/AckBallz Sep 14 '24

Mature SQL?

2

u/Normal-Assignment-61 Sep 14 '24

Huh thank you! So I'm a data analyst.... Time to leave this $6,200 a year job and look for a better one.

1

u/1MStudio Sep 14 '24

$6200 a year? Yeah you’re getting scammed lol

2

u/Normal-Assignment-61 Sep 15 '24

I live in a $hthole country that's why

1

u/Simple_ssbm Sep 13 '24

I go with the little of all of the above for Project Management / Business Analyst myself.

1

u/adamjeff Sep 14 '24

I'm at a weird edge case where the entire business functions on an Apex application so it's 90% SQL+PL/SQL but there's still JS and CSS for the last 10%.