Here are some commonly asked SQL interview questions along with brief answers:

1. What is SQL?
- SQL stands for Structured Query Language, used for managing and manipulating relational databases.

2. What are the types of SQL commands?
- SQL commands can be broadly categorized into four types: Data Definition Language (DDL), Data Manipulation Language (DML), Data Control Language (DCL), and Transaction Control Language (TCL).

3. What is the difference between CHAR and VARCHAR data types?
- CHAR is a fixed-length character data type, while VARCHAR is a variable-length character data type. CHAR will always occupy the same amount of storage space, while VARCHAR will only use the necessary space to store the actual data.

4. What is a primary key?
- A primary key is a column or a set of columns that uniquely identifies each row in a table. It ensures data integrity by enforcing uniqueness and can be used to establish relationships between tables.

5. What is a foreign key?
- A foreign key is a column or a set of columns in one table that refers to the primary key in another table. It establishes a relationship between two tables and ensures referential integrity.

6. What is a JOIN in SQL?
- JOIN is used to combine rows from two or more tables based on a related column between them. There are different types of JOINs, including INNER JOIN, LEFT JOIN, RIGHT JOIN, and FULL JOIN.

7. What is the difference between INNER JOIN and OUTER JOIN?
- INNER JOIN returns only the rows that have matching values in both tables, while OUTER JOIN (LEFT, RIGHT, FULL) returns all rows from one or both tables, with NULL values in columns where there is no match.

8. What is the difference between GROUP BY and ORDER BY?
- GROUP BY is used to group rows that have the same values into summary rows, typically used with aggregate functions like SUM, COUNT, AVG, etc., while ORDER BY is used to sort the result set based on one or more columns.

9. What is a subquery?
- A subquery is a query nested within another query, used to return data that will be used in the main query. Subqueries can be used in SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements.

10. What is normalization in SQL?
- Normalization is the process of organizing data in a database to reduce redundancy and dependency. It involves dividing large tables into smaller tables and defining relationships between them to improve data integrity and efficiency.

Around 90% questions will be asked from sql in data analytics interview, so please make sure to practice SQL skills using websites like stratascratch. ☺️💪

Common Requirements for data analyst role 👇

👉 Must be proficient in writing complex SQL Queries.

👉 Understand business requirements in BI context and design data models to transform raw data into meaningful insights.

👉 Connecting data sources, importing data, and transforming data for Business intelligence.

👉 Strong working knowledge in Excel and visualization tools like PowerBI, Tableau or QlikView

👉 Developing visual reports, KPI scorecards, and dashboards using Power BI desktop.

Nowadays, recruiters primary focus on SQL & BI skills for data analyst roles. So try practicing SQL & create some BI projects using Tableau or Power BI.

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❯ Jobs ➟ https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaxjq5a4dTnKNrdeiZ0J

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❯ Data Analysts ➟ https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaGgzAk72WTmQFERKh02

❯ Python ➟ https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaiM08SDuMRaGKd9Wv0L

I am planning to come up with interview series as well to share some essential questions based on my experience in data analytics field.

Like this post if you want me to start the interview series 👍❤️

Hope it helps :)

Data Analyst Interview Questions 👇

1.How to create filters in Power BI?

Filters are an integral part of Power BI reports. They are used to slice and dice the data as per the dimensions we want. Filters are created in a couple of ways.

Using Slicers: A slicer is a visual under Visualization Pane. This can be added to the design view to filter our reports. When a slicer is added to the design view, it requires a field to be added to it. For example- Slicer can be added for Country fields. Then the data can be filtered based on countries.
Using Filter Pane: The Power BI team has added a filter pane to the reports, which is a single space where we can add different fields as filters. And these fields can be added depending on whether you want to filter only one visual(Visual level filter), or all the visuals in the report page(Page level filters), or applicable to all the pages of the report(report level filters)


2.How to sort data in Power BI?

Sorting is available in multiple formats. In the data view, a common sorting option of alphabetical order is there. Apart from that, we have the option of Sort by column, where one can sort a column based on another column. The sorting option is available in visuals as well. Sort by ascending and descending option by the fields and measure present in the visual is also available.


3.How to convert pdf to excel?

Open the PDF document you want to convert in XLSX format in Acrobat DC.
Go to the right pane and click on the “Export PDF” option.
Choose spreadsheet as the Export format.
Select “Microsoft Excel Workbook.”
Now click “Export.”
Download the converted file or share it.


4. How to enable macros in excel?

Click the file tab and then click “Options.”
A dialog box will appear. In the “Excel Options” dialog box, click on the “Trust Center” and then “Trust Center Settings.”
Go to the “Macro Settings” and select “enable all macros.”
Click OK to apply the macro settings.

1. List the different types of relationships in SQL.

One-to-One - This can be defined as the relationship between two tables where each record in one table is associated with the maximum of one record in the other table.
One-to-Many & Many-to-One - This is the most commonly used relationship where a record in a table is associated with multiple records in the other table.
Many-to-Many - This is used in cases when multiple instances on both sides are needed for defining a relationship.
Self-Referencing Relationships - This is used when a table needs to define a relationship with itself.

2. What are the different views available in Power BI Desktop?

There are three different views in Power BI, each of which serves another purpose:
Report View - In this view, users can add visualizations and additional report pages and publish the same on the portal.
Data View - In this view, data shaping can be performed using Query Editor tools.
Model View - In this view, users can manage relationships between complex datasets.


3. What are macros in Excel?

Excel allows you to automate the tasks you do regularly by recording them into macros. So, a macro is an action or a set of them that you can perform n number of times. For example, if you have to record the sales of each item at the end of the day, you can create a macro that will automatically calculate the sales, profits, loss, etc and use the same for the future instead of manually calculating it every day.

Q1: How do you ensure data consistency and integrity in a data warehousing environment?

Ans: I implement data validation checks, use constraints like primary and foreign keys, and ensure that ETL processes have error-handling mechanisms. Regular audits and data reconciliation processes are also set up to ensure data accuracy and consistency.

Q2: Describe a situation where you had to design a star schema for a data warehousing project.

Ans: For a retail sales data warehousing project, I designed a star schema with a central fact table containing sales transactions. Surrounding this were dimension tables like Products, Stores, Time, and Customers. This structure allowed for efficient querying and reporting of sales metrics across various dimensions.

Q3: How would you use data analytics to assess credit risk for loan applicants?

Ans: I'd analyze the applicant's financial history, including credit score, income, employment stability, and existing debts. Using predictive modeling, I'd assess the probability of default based on historical data of similar applicants. This would help in making informed lending decisions.

Q4: Describe a situation where you had to ensure data security for sensitive financial data.

Ans: While working on a project involving customer transaction data, I ensured that all data was encrypted both at rest and in transit. I also implemented role-based access controls, ensuring that only authorized personnel could access specific data sets. Regular audits and penetration tests were conducted to identify and rectify potential vulnerabilities.

Practise these 5 intermediate SQL interview questions today!

1. Write a SQL query for cumulative sum of salary of each employee from Jan to July. (Column name – Emp_id, Month, Salary).

2. Write a SQL query to display year on year growth for each product. (Column name – transaction_id, Product_id, transaction_date, spend). Output will have year, product_id & yoy_growth.

3. Write a SQL query to find the numbers which consecutively occurs 3 times. (Column name – id, numbers)

4. Write a SQL query to find the days when temperature was higher than its previous dates. (Column name – Days, Temp)

5. Write a SQL query to find the nth highest salary from the table emp. (Column name – id, salary)

SQL CHEAT SHEET👩‍💻

SQL is a language used to communicate with databases it stands for Structured Query Language and is used by database administrators and developers alike to write queries that are used to interact with the database. Here is a quick cheat sheet of some of the most essential SQL commands:

SELECT - Retrieves data from a database

UPDATE - Updates existing data in a database

DELETE - Removes data from a database

INSERT - Adds data to a database

CREATE - Creates an object such as a database or table

ALTER - Modifies an existing object in a database

DROP -Deletes an entire table or database

ORDER BY - Sorts the selected data in an ascending or descending order

WHERE – Condition used to filter a specific set of records from the database

GROUP BY - Groups a set of data by a common parameter

HAVING - Allows the use of aggregate functions within the query

JOIN - Joins two or more tables together to retrieve data

INDEX - Creates an index on a table, to speed up search times.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯-𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 (𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿!) 📊

Wanna break into data science but feel overwhelmed by too many courses, buzzwords, and conflicting advice? You’re not alone.

Here’s the truth: You don’t need a PhD or 10 certifications. You just need the right skills in the right order.

Let me show you a proven 5-step roadmap that actually works for landing data science roles (even entry-level) 👇

🔹 Step 1: Learn the Core Tools (This is Your Foundation)

Focus on 3 key tools first—don’t overcomplicate:

✅ Python – NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, Seaborn
✅ SQL – Joins, Aggregations, Window Functions
✅ Excel – VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, Data Cleaning

🔹 Step 2: Master Data Cleaning & EDA (Your Real-World Skill)

Real data is messy. Learn how to:

✅ Handle missing data, outliers, and duplicates
✅ Visualize trends using Matplotlib/Seaborn
✅ Use groupby(), merge(), and pivot_table()

🔹 Step 3: Learn ML Basics (No Fancy Math Needed)

Stick to core algorithms first:

✅ Linear & Logistic Regression
✅ Decision Trees & Random Forest
✅ KMeans Clustering + Model Evaluation Metrics

🔹 Step 4: Build Projects That Prove Your Skills

One strong project > 5 courses. Create:

✅ Sales Forecasting using Time Series
✅ Movie Recommendation System
✅ HR Analytics Dashboard using Python + Excel
📍 Upload them on GitHub. Add visuals, write a good README, and share on LinkedIn.

🔹 Step 5: Prep for the Job Hunt (Your Personal Brand Matters)

✅ Create a strong LinkedIn profile with keywords like “Aspiring Data Scientist | Python | SQL | ML”
✅ Add GitHub link + Highlight your Projects
✅ Follow Data Science mentors, engage with content, and network for referrals

🎯 No shortcuts. Just consistent baby steps.

Every pro data scientist once started as a beginner. Stay curious, stay consistent.

Free Data Science Resources: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VauCKUI6WaKrgTHrRD0i

ENJOY LEARNING 👍👍

Complete roadmap to learn Python for data analysis

Step 1: Fundamentals of Python

1. Basics of Python Programming
- Introduction to Python
- Data types (integers, floats, strings, booleans)
- Variables and constants
- Basic operators (arithmetic, comparison, logical)

2. Control Structures
- Conditional statements (if, elif, else)
- Loops (for, while)
- List comprehensions

3. Functions and Modules
- Defining functions
- Function arguments and return values
- Importing modules
- Built-in functions vs. user-defined functions

4. Data Structures
- Lists, tuples, sets, dictionaries
- Manipulating data structures (add, remove, update elements)

Step 2: Advanced Python
1. File Handling
- Reading from and writing to files
- Working with different file formats (txt, csv, json)

2. Error Handling
- Try, except blocks
- Handling exceptions and errors gracefully

3. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
- Classes and objects
- Inheritance and polymorphism
- Encapsulation

Step 3: Libraries for Data Analysis
1. NumPy
- Understanding arrays and array operations
- Indexing, slicing, and iterating
- Mathematical functions and statistical operations

2. Pandas
- Series and DataFrames
- Reading and writing data (csv, excel, sql, json)
- Data cleaning and preparation
- Merging, joining, and concatenating data
- Grouping and aggregating data

3. Matplotlib and Seaborn
- Data visualization with Matplotlib
- Plotting different types of graphs (line, bar, scatter, histogram)
- Customizing plots
- Advanced visualizations with Seaborn

Step 4: Data Manipulation and Analysis
1. Data Wrangling
- Handling missing values
- Data transformation
- Feature engineering

2. Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA)
- Descriptive statistics
- Data visualization techniques
- Identifying patterns and outliers

3. Statistical Analysis
- Hypothesis testing
- Correlation and regression analysis
- Probability distributions

Step 5: Advanced Topics
1. Time Series Analysis
- Working with datetime objects
- Time series decomposition
- Forecasting models

2. Machine Learning Basics
- Introduction to machine learning
- Supervised vs. unsupervised learning
- Using Scikit-Learn for machine learning
- Building and evaluating models

3. Big Data and Cloud Computing
- Introduction to big data frameworks (e.g., Hadoop, Spark)
- Using cloud services for data analysis (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud)

Step 6: Practical Projects
1. Hands-on Projects
- Analyzing datasets from Kaggle
- Building interactive dashboards with Plotly or Dash
- Developing end-to-end data analysis projects

2. Collaborative Projects
- Participating in data science competitions
- Contributing to open-source projects

👨‍💻 FREE Resources to Learn & Practice Python 

1. https://www.freecodecamp.org/learn/data-analysis-with-python/#data-analysis-with-python-course
2. https://www.hackerrank.com/domains/python
3. https://www.hackerearth.com/practice/python/getting-started/numbers/practice-problems/
4. https://t.iss.one/PythonInterviews
5. https://www.w3schools.com/python/python_exercises.asp
6. https://t.iss.one/pythonfreebootcamp/134
7. https://t.iss.one/pythonanalyst
8. https://pythonbasics.org/exercises/
9. https://t.iss.one/pythondevelopersindia/300
10. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/python-programming-language/learn-python-tutorial
11. https://t.iss.one/pythonspecialist/33

Join @free4unow_backup for more free resources

ENJOY LEARNING 👍👍

🎭 𝗥𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘃𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

We often romanticize roles in tech. The truth? It's not always as shiny as it seems on the surface.

👨💻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻:

"Just learn SQL, Python, and build a dashboard in Power BI or Tableau… and you're all set!"

It feels achievable. Even fun. And while these are important, they’re just the beginning.

💥 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸:
Most real-world data analyst roles demand far more:
🔹 Snowflake for data warehousing
🔹 Databricks for collaborative data engineering
🔹 AWS for scalable cloud computing
🔹 Git for version control
🔹 Airflow for orchestrating complex data pipelines
🔹 Bash scripting for automation and operations

📊 The transition from classroom projects to production environments is where most struggle — not because they aren’t smart, but because the expectations shift drastically.

💡 𝗠𝘆 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁𝘀?

Learn the basics, yes. But don't stop there.

🔍 Go beyond tutorials. Get comfortable with tools used in enterprise environments.

🛠️ Build side projects that mimic real data complexity.

🤝 Connect with professionals to understand the real challenges they face.

✅ This post isn't meant to discourage — it's a wake-up call.

The gap between “𝗥𝗲𝗲𝗹” 𝗮𝗻𝗱 “𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆” is exactly where growth happens.

Top 5 data analysis interview questions with answers 😄👇

Question 1: How would you approach a new data analysis project?

Ideal answer:
I would approach a new data analysis project by following these steps:
Understand the business goals. What is the purpose of the data analysis? What questions are we trying to answer?
Gather the data. This may involve collecting data from different sources, such as databases, spreadsheets, and surveys.
Clean and prepare the data. This may involve removing duplicate data, correcting errors, and formatting the data in a consistent way.
Explore the data. This involves using data visualization and statistical analysis to understand the data and identify any patterns or trends.
Build a model or hypothesis. This involves using the data to develop a model or hypothesis that can be used to answer the business questions.
Test the model or hypothesis. This involves using the data to test the model or hypothesis and see how well it performs.
Interpret and communicate the results. This involves explaining the results of the data analysis to stakeholders in a clear and concise way.

Question 2: What are some of the challenges you have faced in previous data analysis projects, and how did you overcome them?

Ideal answer:
One of the biggest challenges I have faced in previous data analysis projects is dealing with missing data. I have overcome this challenge by using a variety of techniques, such as imputation and machine learning.
Another challenge I have faced is dealing with large datasets. I have overcome this challenge by using efficient data processing techniques and by using cloud computing platforms.

Question 3: Can you describe a time when you used data analysis to solve a business problem?

Ideal answer:
In my previous role at a retail company, I was tasked with identifying the products that were most likely to be purchased together. I used data analysis to identify patterns in the purchase data and to develop a model that could predict which products were most likely to be purchased together. This model was used to improve the company's product recommendations and to increase sales.

Question 4: What are some of your favorite data analysis tools and techniques?

Ideal answer:
Some of my favorite data analysis tools and techniques include:
Programming languages such as Python and R
Data visualization tools such as Tableau and Power BI
Statistical analysis tools such as SPSS and SAS
Machine learning algorithms such as linear regression and decision trees

Question 5: How do you stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in data analysis?

Ideal answer:
I stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in data analysis by reading industry publications, attending conferences, and taking online courses. I also follow thought leaders on social media and subscribe to newsletters.

By providing thoughtful and well-informed answers to these questions, you can demonstrate to your interviewer that you have the analytical skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in the role.

Like this post if you want more interview questions with detailed answers to be posted in the channel 👍❤️

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Technical Skills Required to become a data analyst 😄👇

Tool 1: MS-Excel (Google sheets knowledge is a plus)

👉 Lookups (vlookup, xlookup, hlookup and its use cases)
👉 Pivot tables, Pivot charts
👉 Power Query, Power Pivot
👉 Conditional formatting
👉 Various charts and its formatting
👉 Basic VBA/Macro
👉 Major Excel functions/formulas (text, numeric, logical functions)

Tool 2: SQL (with any one RDBMS tool)

👉 Database fundamentals (primary key, foreign key, relationships, cardinality, etc.)
👉 DDL, DML statements (commonly used ones)
👉 Basic Select queries (single table queries)
👉 Joins and Unions (multiple table queries)
👉 Subqueries and CTEs
👉 Window functions (Rank, DenseRank, RowNumber, Lead, Lag)
👉 Views and Stored Procedures
👉 SQL Server/MySQL/PostGreSQL (any one RDBMS)
👉 Complete Roadmap for SQL

Tool 3: Power BI (equivalent topics in Tableau)

👉 Power Query, Power Pivot (data cleaning and modelling)
👉 Basic M-language and Intermediate DAX functions
👉 Filter and row context
👉 Measures and calculated columns
👉 Data modelling basics (with best practices)
👉 Types of charts/visuals (and its use cases)
👉 Bookmarks, Filters/Slicers (for creating buttons/page navigation)
👉 Advanced Tooltips, Drill through feature
👉 Power BI service basics (schedule refresh, license types, workspace roles, etc.)
👉 Power BI Interview Questions

Tool 4: Python (equivalent topics in R)

👉 Python basic syntax
👉 Python libraries/IDEs (Jupyter notebook)
👉 Pandas
👉 Numpy
👉 Matplotlib
👉 Scikitlearn

You may learn a combination of any 3 of these tools to secure an entry-level role and then upskill on the 4th one after getting a job.

➡ Excel + SQL + Power BI/ Tableau + Python/ R

So, in my learning series, I will focus on these tools mostly.

If we get time, I'll also try to cover other essential Topics like Statistics, Data Portfolio, etc.

Obviously everything will be free of cost.

Stay tuned for free learning

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Essential Python Libraries for Data Science

- Numpy: Fundamental for numerical operations, handling arrays, and mathematical functions.

- SciPy: Complements Numpy with additional functionalities for scientific computing, including optimization and signal processing.

- Pandas: Essential for data manipulation and analysis, offering powerful data structures like DataFrames.

- Matplotlib: A versatile plotting library for creating static, interactive, and animated visualizations.

- Keras: A high-level neural networks API, facilitating rapid prototyping and experimentation in deep learning.

- TensorFlow: An open-source machine learning framework widely used for building and training deep learning models.

- Scikit-learn: Provides simple and efficient tools for data mining, machine learning, and statistical modeling.

- Seaborn: Built on Matplotlib, Seaborn enhances data visualization with a high-level interface for drawing attractive and informative statistical graphics.

- Statsmodels: Focuses on estimating and testing statistical models, providing tools for exploring data, estimating models, and statistical testing.

- NLTK (Natural Language Toolkit): A library for working with human language data, supporting tasks like classification, tokenization, stemming, tagging, parsing, and more.

These libraries collectively empower data scientists to handle various tasks, from data preprocessing to advanced machine learning implementations.

ENJOY LEARNING 👍👍

Powerful One-Liners in Python You Should Know!


1. Swap Two Numbers

n1, n2 = n2, n1


2. Reverse a String

reversed_string = input_string[::-1]


3. Factorial of a Number

fact = lambda n: [1, 0][n > 1] or fact(n - 1) * n


4. Find Prime Numbers (2 to 10)

primes = list(filter(lambda x: all(x % y != 0 for y in range(2, x)), range(2, 10)))


5. Check if a String is Palindrome

palindrome = input_string == input_string[::-1]


Free Python Resources: https://t.iss.one/pythonproz

Important visualization questions for a data analyst interview 😄👇

1. Can you explain the importance of data visualization in data analysis and decision-making?

2. What are the key principles of effective data visualization?

3. Describe how visualization helped you in any data analysis project you've worked on. How did you approach it, and what were the results?

4. How do you choose the most appropriate type of chart or graph for different types of data?

5. Can you discuss the advantages and disadvantages of common data visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, and Python libraries like Matplotlib and Seaborn?

6. Explain the concept of data storytelling and its role in data visualization.

7. What is the difference between exploratory and explanatory data visualization?

8. How do you deal with outliers or anomalies in data visualization?

9. Describe a situation where you had to present complex data to non-technical stakeholders. How did you ensure your visualization was effective and understandable?

10. What best practices do you follow for ensuring accessibility and inclusivity in data visualizations?

11. How do you handle situations where the data you have doesn't seem to lend itself to meaningful visual representation?

12. Can you discuss the challenges and techniques associated with visualizing big data or real-time data streams?

13. Have you used any data visualization libraries or frameworks in programming languages like R or Python? Describe your experience.

14. What are the ethical considerations in data visualization, and how do you address them in your work?

15. Walk me through the process of creating a data visualization from raw data to a final, polished result.

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Data Analyst Interview Questions & Preparation Tips

Be prepared with a mix of technical, analytical, and business-oriented interview questions.

1. Technical Questions (Data Analysis & Reporting)

SQL Questions:

How do you write a query to fetch the top 5 highest revenue-generating customers?

Explain the difference between INNER JOIN, LEFT JOIN, and FULL OUTER JOIN.

How would you optimize a slow-running query?

What are CTEs and when would you use them?

Data Visualization (Power BI / Tableau / Excel)

How would you create a dashboard to track key performance metrics?

Explain the difference between measures and calculated columns in Power BI.

How do you handle missing data in Tableau?

What are DAX functions, and can you give an example?

ETL & Data Processing (Alteryx, Power BI, Excel)

What is ETL, and how does it relate to BI?

Have you used Alteryx for data transformation? Explain a complex workflow you built.

How do you automate reporting using Power Query in Excel?


2. Business and Analytical Questions

How do you define KPIs for a business process?

Give an example of how you used data to drive a business decision.

How would you identify cost-saving opportunities in a reporting process?

Explain a time when your report uncovered a hidden business insight.


3. Scenario-Based & Behavioral Questions

Stakeholder Management:

How do you handle a situation where different business units have conflicting reporting requirements?

How do you explain complex data insights to non-technical stakeholders?

Problem-Solving & Debugging:

What would you do if your report is showing incorrect numbers?

How do you ensure the accuracy of a new KPI you introduced?

Project Management & Process Improvement:

Have you led a project to automate or improve a reporting process?

What steps do you take to ensure the timely delivery of reports?


4. Industry-Specific Questions (Credit Reporting & Financial Services)

What are some key credit risk metrics used in financial services?

How would you analyze trends in customer credit behavior?

How do you ensure compliance and data security in reporting?


5. General HR Questions

Why do you want to work at this company?

Tell me about a challenging project and how you handled it.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Where do you see yourself in five years?

How to Prepare?

Brush up on SQL, Power BI, and ETL tools (especially Alteryx).

Learn about key financial and credit reporting metrics.(varies company to company)

Practice explaining data-driven insights in a business-friendly manner.

Be ready to showcase problem-solving skills with real-world examples.

React with ❤️ if you want me to also post sample answer for the above questions

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The Biggest Mistake New Data Analysts Make (And How to Avoid It)


Let’s be real, when you’re new to data analysis, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of building dashboards, writing SQL queries, and creating fancy visualizations. It feels productive, and it looks good. But here’s the truth: the biggest mistake new data analysts make is jumping straight into tools without fully understanding the problem they’re trying to solve.


It’s natural. When you’re learning, it feels like success means producing something tangible, like a beautiful dashboard or a clean dataset. But if you don’t start by asking the right questions, you could spend hours analyzing data and still miss the point.


The Cost of This Mistake
You can build the most detailed, interactive dashboard in the world, but if it doesn’t answer the real business question, it’s not useful.
→ You might track every metric except the one that truly matters. → You could present trends, but fail to explain why they matter. → You might offer data without connecting it to business decisions.
This is how dashboards end up being ignored. Not because they weren’t built well, but because they didn’t provide the right insights.


How to Avoid This Mistake
Before you open Excel, SQL, or Power BI, take a step back and ask yourself:
📍1. What’s the Real Business Problem?
• What is the company trying to achieve?
• What specific question needs answering?
• Who will use this data, and how will it impact their decisions?
📍2. What Are the Key Metrics?
• Don’t track everything. Focus on the metrics that matter most to the business goal.
• Ask, “If I could only show one insight, what would it be?”
📍3. How Will This Insight Drive Action?
• Data is only valuable if it leads to action.
• Make it clear how your analysis can help the business make better decisions, save money, increase revenue, or improve efficiency.


Why This Approach Matters
In the real world, data roles are about solving problems. Your job is to help people make smarter decisions with data. And that starts by understanding the context.
→ You’re not just building reports - you’re helping the business see what’s working, what’s not, and where to focus next. → You’re not just visualizing trends - you’re explaining why those trends matter and what actions to take. → You’re not just analyzing numbers - you’re telling the story behind the data.


Here’s A Quick Tip
The next time you get a data task, don’t rush to build something.
Start by asking: “What problem am I solving, and how will this help the business make better decisions?”
If you can’t answer that clearly, pause and find out. Because that’s how you avoid wasted effort and start delivering real value.


📌 This is the difference between a data analyst who builds dashboards… and one who drives decisions

Excel Formulas every data analyst should know 👇