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AI is advancing fast, and most data analysts aren't ready for what's coming. But here's the thing: AI won't replace you, it'll just change how you work. I break down what the future of data analytics actually looks like and how you can prepare yourself to thrive in it.

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👩‍💻 Want to land a data job in less than 90 days? 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/daa

👔 Ace The Interview with Confidence 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com//interviewsimulator

⌚ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 AI is changing data analytics faster than we can keep up

01:00 Claude Code and the AI revolution in software development

03:00 Why AI won't take your data analyst job (it's just a tool)

06:20 From individual contributor to AI manager - the mindset shift

08:08 Focus on the "what" and "when", not just the "how"

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Help us become the #1 Data Podcast by leaving a rating & review! We are 67 reviews away!

If you’ve ever dreamed of working in sports analytics, this episode is for you. Nick walks through how he got hired by doing the work first, plus advice for breaking into the field and hopes for a strong Reds season.

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👩‍💻 Want to land a data job in less than 90 days? 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/daa

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⌚ TIMESTAMPS

02:00 — Nick's role with the Cincinnati Reds and how his work fits into the organization

05:00 — Pivot into sports analytics and early career decisions

17:00 — How personal projects and initiative directly led to getting hired

21:00 — What the day-to-day really looks like beyond "just baseball data"

35:00 — Advice for aspiring sports analytics professionals on standing out

🔗 CONNECT WITH [GUEST]

🎥 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/NickWan

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Help us become the #1 Data Podcast by leaving a rating & review! We are 67 reviews away!

I spent a lot of time learning SQL the hard way. Knowing a few key ideas sooner would have changed everything.

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🆘 Feeling stuck in your data journey? Come to my next free "How to Land Your First Data Job" training 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/training

👩‍💻 Want to land a data job in less than 90 days? 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/daa

👔 Ace The Interview with Confidence 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com//interviewsimulator

⌚ TIMESTAMPS

00:03 - #1 It’s Both Super Simple & Insanely Complex

03:48 - #2 You Don’t Have to Memorize Everything

05:39 - #3 Most Beginner SQL Commands Are a Waste of Time

07:25 - #4 You Can Do More Without SQL Than You Think

09:01 - #5 Being Good at SQL Will Not Get You Hired

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Help us become the #1 Data Podcast by leaving a rating & review! We are 67 reviews away!

Here is how I would approach becoming a data analyst in 2026 if I were starting over. Focusing on the right fundamentals early changes everything.

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🆘 Feeling stuck in your data journey? Come to my next free "How to Land Your First Data Job" training 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/training

👩‍💻 Want to land a data job in less than 90 days? 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/daa

👔 Ace The Interview with Confidence 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com//interviewsimulator

⌚ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – How I’d Become a Data Analyst in 2026

02:00 – Learning the Right Skills Through Projects

04:30 – Why Certificates Don’t Matter

06:30 – How to Stand Out and Build Trust With Hiring Managers

07:32 – Creating a Portfolio and Networking to Land the Job

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Join the February Cohort

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Help us become the #1 Data Podcast by leaving a rating & review! We are 67 reviews away!

Over the past few years, I’ve interviewed some of the smartest people in data. You’ll hear three real stories of people with no experience landing their first data job, and exactly how they did it.

💌 Join 30k+ aspiring data analysts & get my tips in your inbox weekly 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/newsletter

🆘 Feeling stuck in your data journey? Come to my next free "How to Land Your First Data Job" training 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/training

👩‍💻 Want to land a data job in less than 90 days? 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/daa

👔 Ace The Interview with Confidence 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com//interviewsimulator

⌚ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Three real stories of breaking into data with no experience

00:38 – Thomas: From high school teacher to data role in 61 days

13:52 – Kadesha Bryant: From warehouse work to senior data roles through networking

24:35 – Rachel Finch: Escaping the night shift and landing a BI role in 95 days

39:45 – The shared pattern behind all three data career pivots

🔗 CONNECT WITH AVERY

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Mentioned in this episode:

Join the February Cohort

Join the bootcamp that lands people data jobs! February Cohort starts on February 9th with a live kickoff call. Join today and save big and get my mock interview software as a bonus!

https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/daa

Help us become the #1 Data Podcast by leaving a rating & review! We are 67 reviews away!

Breaking into data feels harder than ever right now. I break down the real trends shaping the data job market in 2026 and what they mean for your career.

💌 Join 30k+ aspiring data analysts & get my tips in your inbox weekly 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/newsletter

🆘 Feeling stuck in your data journey? Come to my next free "How to Land Your First Data Job" training 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/training

👩‍💻 Want to land a data job in less than 90 days? 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/daa

👔 Ace The Interview with Confidence 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com//interviewsimulator

Special thanks to Live Data Technologies for the data.Learn more about them: https://www.livedatatechnologies.com

⌚ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – The real state of the data job market in 2026

02:18 – Why data engineering keeps growing while other roles slow down

05:41 – Who is actually hiring data analysts right now

07:56 – Why big tech layoffs don’t tell the full story

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Mentioned in this episode:

Join the February Cohort

Join the bootcamp that lands people data jobs! February Cohort starts on February 9th with a live kickoff call. Join today and save big and get my mock interview software as a bonus!

https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/daa

Help us become the #1 Data Podcast by leaving a rating & review! We are 67 reviews away!

Unsure if data analytics is still worth it in 2026? These 3 predictions explain what’s actually happening.

💌 Join 30k+ aspiring data analysts & get my tips in your inbox weekly 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/newsletter

🆘 Feeling stuck in your data journey? Come to my next free "How to Land Your First Data Job" training 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/training

👩‍💻 Want to land a data job in less than 90 days? 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/daa

👔 Ace The Interview with Confidence 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com//interviewsimulator

⌚ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – 3 predictions for data analysts

00:25 – Prediction #1

02:48 – Prediction #2

07:00 – The truth about AI replacing analysts

09:24 – Prediction #3

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Mentioned in this episode:

Join the February Cohort

Join the bootcamp that lands people data jobs! February Cohort starts on February 9th with a live kickoff call. Join today and save big and get my mock interview software as a bonus!

https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/daa

Help us become the #1 Data Podcast by leaving a rating & review! We are 67 reviews away!

Most aspiring data analysts struggle with knowing what projects to build. This list of 5 projects spans beginner to advanced levels and is designed to impress recruiters and hiring managers.

💌 Join 30k+ aspiring data analysts & get my tips in your inbox weekly 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/newsletter

🆘 Feeling stuck in your data journey? Come to my next free "How to Land Your First Data Job" training 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/training

👩‍💻 Want to land a data job in less than 90 days? 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/daa

👔 Ace The Interview with Confidence 👉 https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com//interviewsimulator

⌚ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – From construction to Senior Financial Analyst (no applications)

03:06 – Why his non-data background actually helped

08:24 – The projects + portfolio that made recruiters reach out

10:27– How LinkedIn led to a job offer

23:03 – Biggest lessons for breaking into data

🔗 CONNECT WITH JORDAN

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtemplemba/

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Mentioned in this episode:

Join the February Cohort

Join the bootcamp that lands people data jobs! February Cohort starts on February 9th with a live kickoff call. Join today and save big and get my mock interview software as a bonus!

https://www.datacareerjumpstart.com/daa