I didn't know coding at all. So, yeah it took 6 months, And what are the things we have to study, which subjects, everything we have to learn, for an interview. So, to become a data analyst, actually you have to know Excel, the basic thing, apart from that, you have to know SQL, and some not all companies have a requirement for Python. So, if you know Python, well and good, it's a good thing if you also know Python. So we'll start from your journey, how did you start? Honestly, when I started, like I said, I didn't know coding at all, so I had heard Anaconda, Python and all for the first time. Yes. But, so I started from YouTube, when you did Python programming language for the first time, how much hard did you think was that, because many people get scared of programming, some don't want to start, and some that do start, get stuck somewhere. They get some doubts. Tell us about your programming language experience,
when you did it for first time. Hi everyone, so today's podcast is going to be very interesting, we have talked a lot about frontend, backend software engineers, but today with us is Nidhi, who is a data analyst. And Nidhi's background is very interesting, Nidhi has never done coding, many of us must have tried coding sometime or another, but Nidhi had a biology background, she worked for 3 years in sales, and after some months of preparation, she was able to crack an offer. Now, from this we get to know that a strategy is very important, and you just have to read some things, it's not like you have to study a lot. You need to study certain things, specific to a role, and you will be able to crack an offer. So, let's talk to Nidhi, let's ask her whole journey, we'll ask Nidhi how to study, how to apply, how much syllabus is there, and the most important thing, how are the salaries as a fresher. So, let's start. Hi, Nidhi. How are you? Hi, Fraz. I am really good, how are you? I am also great. So, Nidhi we have to ask you a lot of questions, we have many people who do coding, some don't do coding, so how to crack an IT job as a data analyst. So that's what we want to ask, but before that, give us a little introduction of yourself. So, I am Nidhi, and I did both my graduation and post graduation from Nutrition. Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics
. And after that I also did internship, in Nutrition. After that I worked for 3 years in sales, and now I am working as a data analyst, in an IT company. Got it. So, the thing that you studied for, where you worked, and what you are doing now, they are quiet different, so tell us how the dots connect, when did you think that you should get in IT? Actually, I stepped in quite a lot of fields, so actually it's quite confusing, so first I did Nutrition, I am really interested in Biology, I had a lot of interest, always, to learn about the human body. And then, that way I landed in Nutrition. After that when I did MSc. Then, growth is something that I needed a lot, so, but in Nutrition I worked at hospital, but I got to know that I can't go hospital side, because I got scared looking at that environment, honestly. Okay. Yeah. After that I tried in sales, when I joined I didn't know what sales waas, and why sales is there. Then when I joined, it felt good, I was there for 3 years, I learnt a lot, honestly, I give all of my credit, whatever I am able to say all of that I can give to sales, and then after that, actually my brother is also in IT, he works for an IT company, so from him I understood that there's good growth in his company, there's a lot of exposure to things, to learn a lot. But, my sales work was getting monotonous, it was always the same thing, so I also needed change, and also needed growth. So, I was also interested in biology, which was left due to sales. So, I thought how can I connect with IT & medical background, due to which I researched a lot and I got to know that data science or data analytics is such field, in which, I can match both of these skills of mine. And move ahead. So, that's how I landed in data science or data analytics. Got it. We have a lot of profiles, be it frontend engineer, backend developer, fullstack. But, what happens is that data analyst is such a profile where even if you don't have a coding background it's syllabus is very specific, it's not like, you should have strong computer fundamentals, there's a very certain syllabus, we will talk about that with Nidhi, ask her the whole journey. So, you have told us that in a very interesting way. And that hospital thing that you told, you got a little scared, in fact, I remember that when I visited hospital during Covid, what a terrific scene that you used to be. So yes it is difficult for many of us. Exactly. So, Nidhi tell us how much time it takes to complete preparation, and what are the things that we have to study, first let's see the syllabus, tell us what the syllabus is. So, honestly, if we want to study data science or analytics, it takes an unlimited amount of time, because there's no such end in this, but then, yes, if you want to know the basics, and you want to learn a bit up than basics in data analytics to become a data analyst, so, I think 6 months is apt, to learn basics, and to crack a job. That I can say. Got it. It took you around 6 months? Yes, it took me 6 months, perfect that too with non coding background. Yeah, I didn't know coding at all, so yeah it took 6 months with that. And what are the things that we study, the subjects, things we have to learn, for an interview. So, to become a data analyst, actually you need Excel, the basic thing, apart from that you need SQL, and some companies, not all, that have a requirement for Python. So, if you know Python, well and good, it's good if you know Python, apart from that, data visualisation, we have a lot of data visualisation tools, but then the very famous are tableau and PowerBi, if you know either of them, it's alright. So, these 4 skills are mandatory, but some companies, again, if they ask it, sometimes, they will also basics of machine learning, but specifically, if you want to go in data analytics, then they don't ask, till Python is enough. Okay. Alright. So basically we need Python as a programming language, for data visualisation you have told us, PowerBi and Tableau. You have an option, choose either of them, then Excel and then SQL. They are not very difficult things, they are very basic. So, we will start from your journey, tell us how you started. Honestly, when I started, like I said I didn't know coding at all, Right. So Anaconda, Python, I heard all that the first time. Yes. But, so I started from YouTube, because I thought that before I join any platform, I should myself have some knowledge, and I should know what data analytics is, and the things I require. Yeah, and what all will be asked. Yeah. So, just as I am giving an interview today, I saw someone's interview, in which I got to know these things are to be studied, then, I started basic Excel, and Python, I did that from YouTube. After that, when I got to know how to type hello world, then after that, you can do 1+2 without a calculator, in a programming language. So, that way I started searching for some platforms, where I can study, and from where I can get placement. Very important. Okay. Nidhi I would like to ask something, when you did Python programming language for the first time, how much hard did you find it was, because many people get scared of it, some don't want to start, and some that do start, get stuck somewhere, they get such doubts. So, when you started programming language, I can understand for Excel, Excel is simple, tell us about programming language, how was that experience, when you did it for the first time. Actually, when I first started programming language, like I said, hello world, 2+2, I didn't understand it's meaning, because we can also generally do that, like that, Yeah. But, I found it simple at the start, I can do this, after that, when actual coding started, granted, we don't really need much coding in data analytics, but we do require some basics, so for that I started a little, then I got to know why people say it's difficult. Because, in that, with the english language you should also know how write in coding language. And some logic should be applied, because I am Nutrition, obviously, logic is applied in sales, but this coding logic is very different, so I didn't know that, so I had to learn that. Yeah. I wouldn't say difficult, but yeah, you would have to use your logic mind, to understand things. Approximately, how much time did you take to be comfortable in it, I wouldn't say, to become an expert, because it takes time for that, but how much time did it take to be comfortable? Yeah, I would say I am not an expert even now, but then, yeah it took me 15-20 days to be comfortable. To understand, what coding exactly is, apart from that, when I started solving data analytics code, for that, it took me full 6 months of practice, after that I moved a little bit from the basic level, so every day for 6 months, if done for half an hour, the logics will easily, like I said, you require to use logic, you are able to apply logic if we practice daily. That's the very important thing. So, you did all this preparation on your own? Or did you take help from someone? Actually, I did start, after that I joined a platform, like I said, I searched a lot of platforms, to which I should go, where I get placement, because I am in biology background, I didn't know about placement, even the interview. So I thought of joining some platform, where I also get exposure of placement, so I joined a platform called OdinSchool. And they, moved me from my 1+2 to the Python required for data analytics, they gave me the introduction, and started that from the basic level. Which was very easy for me to understand, because again, people like us who don't know coding, we won't think it as gibberish if we start from the basic. We understand it properly. Got it. But you did the basics on your own before joining? Yeah, I started Python from YouTube. Even in Udemy there are courses, but in Udemy it was from a higher level, so first from YouTube then from Udemy. A little bit, then I joined OdinSchool. So, then your journey must have situations, where you think you are not able to get these things, not uderstanding it so let's drop it, did any point come where you felt demotivation? That you are not able to do it anymore. Actually, we were talking about Python, when Python proceeded, I did feel demotivated, and with that when machine learning was added, because machine learning was also a module in OdinSchool. So, which was quite difficult for me since it had maths, which I had left a long while ago. I mean, I was in 10th, 12th when I left it. So, it was a little demotivating, but I never thought of quitting it, it's because I had the motivationg of going in IT, so when I have to go in IT, when I am able to see growth in front of me, my brother is showing me that in front of me everyday. So, there was no thought of quitting in my mind. But, yeah, there was a fear of whether I will be able to do it, but I did do it. Okay, so who pulled you out when you would get stuck, because that is something very important, some people go to Google, they get the solutions, some have their own friends, some have their seniors, who was there for you, who would get you out of difficult? Honestly, the greatest friend in this was Google, because again, every small thing if we ask that in class, then, our instructors do say that even in OdinSchool, they are very great instructors, they say, you can ask any silly doubt, but then, because we are working, we are grown up, so it feels weird, that's why Google was a very good friend, apart from that, instructors were very good, they would teach from the basic level, but even if we asked weird doubts, they would solve it, actually I joined OdinSchool, one of my friend used to work there, so I joined due to that, yeah, they did help me a lot, to get out of problems, apart from that, even in career services, like I said, I didn't know about interviews there are instructors to help that too in OdinSchool. So, through that I got ahead. Okay, so we will ask you when you started giving interviews, did you ever feel demotivated if you failed in some interview? Were there any ups and downs in the journey? Honestly, there were a lot because, again, companies, it's not like you come from any background you are able to get it easily. It's like it's not even the companies fault in this, companies requirement is also for engineers, so there were many companies, which rejected my resume, that she is from BSc, MSc, so it's not possible, that too Nutrition. So, that happened, apart from that, even after rejection, I didn't feel sad because you get ahead so you face rejection, that feels bad, but then it was resume so it didn't matter, after that, when I started giving interview, because I didn't know anything about interviews in IT. So, initially 3 or 4 interviews were such that in some I got out in first round, some in second, so it was a problem, there were many rejections, but then, after that when my current company, when the current company came, at that time, I was able to go smoothly because I faced rejection where I knew what to do and what not to. So, I just had to show them that I am trainable, granted, I don't know that many skills, or don't know that much, but yeah I am trainable, and I know these basic things which you can have use of. So, I portrayed that, and I got the job, probably in the 5th or 6th face to face interview, is what I cracked. Got it. Many times when fresher sit in for interviews, this thing demotivates them a lot, if they are rejected. That happens, rejection happens to everyone, and as Nidhi told, she took it as a learning, she did feel demotivated but she learnt from it, what's the reason, why did I get rejected in this particular interview. So taking that as a learning, you will improve automatically. So, yes I think this what you can take away from Nidhi's experience. Besides, Nidhi there's an important thing here, suppose someone wants to be a data analyst then how much salary can they expect from this field, what's the minimum and maximum range? If you join as a fresher. Honestly, I've seen some people, who as a fresher, crack very nice packages like I've seen people who cracked 15-20 lakhs, again depends on the skills and company, because the range of the company also matters, in how much range, the company is ready to give. Apart from that, the average that I've seen, that is, either in OdinSchool or or some interviews, I've got to know that 4-8 lakhs is something that a fresher can expect Got it. Again, your skills should be clean, without skills you won't be able to crack, so 4-8 lakhs is something that you can crack, after that if your skills are very good, like you have been in kaggle competitions or posted lot of projects on Github, then definitely you can take more than, as a fresher. If you have experience, that becomes additional. But then, yeah, this is what I think is a range. Yes, there is no range in experience, you can go to 80 lakhs, 90 lakhs, but with time. If you join as a fresher, this is what you can expect, we've told you the truth, else, yes, you have the whole journey, you have all the topics, you have Nidhi's expeperience to learn from. So, yes, now you have everything, you just have to go out and try by yourself. Like Nidhi said, you will feel demotivated in the journey, but you should not give up. So, Nidhi this was a very good experience, I felt really good, others must also have gooten a ton of help from this experience. So thanks a lot, besides, would you like to give any other tip? As we go. Actually, I would like to say the things that we discussed already, one thing is, whoever ask me, whether on Linkedin or anywhere, I definitely say to practice Python, initially it will feel a little difficult, but then, yes, keep practicing I think, you can beat a coder who's already coding, apart from that, second thing is we were talking about demotivation, so, again I would say, many students asked me, I am really scared, I feel like giving up, this is my only option. So, I don't think you have only options in this world, you have tons of options, so don't give up and a person does get demotivated, but then, it's okay, that's also again, you will be teling someone your success story, it won't be fun if you just tell the success, so if you feel a little demotivated, it is alright, but then don't give up, if it's not this, you will get some other company, give 50-60 interviews, there are many people who crack interviews of 50 lakhs, but then, they get it at their 10th or 15th attempt. So, it is completely fine, you are young to learn anything, even if you are 30, 40, you are still young to learn, so I think that's one thing that I wanna tell. Absolutely right. Well Nidhi, when you joined as an analyst, did you get the growth that you wanted? Honestly, I am still getting it's just been around 10&a half months, I've been here, but I really like, everyday there's a new thing to learn, I just knew about a few skills, but the people in the team or the company talk about new terms like hadoon, or spark, so even I feel like, I want to learn this and this, so that curiosity has awaken, apart from that, growth in terms of there's Nutrition, or in sales, I used to talk to only people around me, but here on calls, you talk to hundreds of people, you give presentations, so I think all of the things are adding up to a point, and they are helping me grow a little more, so yes I am very happy here. Great. So, all the best to you Nidhi and your life and your career. And it was great, thanks a lot for being here, and sharing so much. Thank you so much to you and all the best, anyone who wants to get into data analytics or science I would wish all of you all the best. Thank you, we'll meet with you in another podcast. Until then, ByeBye! Definitely, bye!
