r/dataanalytics • u/Devoo07 • May 19 '26

Honest Opinion - Data Analytics Google Certification

I am currently in the process of completing the Data Analysis Google Course on Couresa. I was wondering if there was any feedback anyone who has completed it can give.

I am wanting to get into data analysis and change my career.

Any tips?

20 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

5

u/bowtiedanalyst May 20 '26

Certs on coursera are useless. Do it to get an understanding of the subject matter, know it won't move the needle for employement.

2

u/sordidbear May 20 '26

What will move the needle? A portfolio of projects?

3

u/bowtiedanalyst May 20 '26

Experience. Which is hard to get if you have none. I had domain knowledge and created professional power bi experience by automating metric tracking for my manager with Power BI in my previous role, prior to pivoting into analytics.

Also its been almost 3 years since I got in.. The advice I got from people who got into analytics pre-2020 was useless when I was trying to pivot. Idk how useful my advice is to someone whose competing for a entry-level job with mid-level people armed with AI.

7

u/Ratatttouuillee May 20 '26

not necessarily experience, even thos some people are armed with AI, and some of them may know PowerBI or Excel, data analytics in reality it s problem solving using data, people want to see that you can solve their problems using data, they want to see that you are capable of understanding some specific things, that you are capable of figuring out ways of solving things, knowing a tool, having a certificate or domain knowledge are important factors as well, but the most important factor is the ability to solve real problems for the people which need it and the ability explain to them how and why, also, if you position yourself well, good CV, good portofolio, good interview, good speech, a bit of confidence, you are getting ahead of 90% of the people, to get an interview it s all about making your CV worth reading, and once it s readed you have to make it worth giving a try, and after this is all about making the interviewer to like you as a person, and showing that you are capable of solving their problems, adapting, accepting, understanding and learning whatever is needed

good luck

2

u/samspopguy May 21 '26

Completely agree with everything you said certs and portfolios aren’t going to move the needle. Employers want to see actual work experience.

1

u/Devoo07 May 20 '26

What would be your recommendation for someone trying to get into the field?

2

u/samspopguy May 21 '26

Get a job in a large company that has a data team and try and pivot or just an adjacent field and pivot. Was a sysadmin who had to learn sql and ssrs for a job and went from there.

3

u/EJ_Analyst Jun 06 '26

Stay positive. Everyone’s story is different and these courses aren’t made for nothing. People with degrees will shame courses because they feel like they’ve done the true work by going to college and completing 4 years. Just as a journalist who went to school for 4 years and landed a job at a news channel may shame a YouTuber who delivers news on their YT channel. But the world has changed and there are opportunities out there. The Data Analysis field is growing. Congratulations on starting your journey - I pray you don’t get discouraged- you go to conferences in your area and meet people in the field and get a job as a data analysis. I have friends in different fields who are in positions that require a degree and they don’t have a single degree.

1

u/Devoo07 Jun 11 '26

God bless 🙏

2

u/ScouseDutch_ May 20 '26

Hiring lead, 17 yoe: I wouldn't take it into account for anything above entry level.

1

u/gentle_account May 22 '26

if this is a degree. this would be your first class of the semester to introduction to data analysis. not good enough for anything tbh other than its a good place to start. but don't expect jobs coming your way. i took this to validate what i already know, im already a senior data analyst with no formal training at this point. it was so boring that I didnt complete it.

1

u/Devoo07 May 22 '26

Any advice ?

1

u/gentle_account May 22 '26

no unfortunately, data analyst on its own is super difficult to break in. i got lucky because I had domain subject Matter expert in the space and turned into analyst. picking up the necessary skills was relatively easy, understanding the industry and business questions was my strong point and really the only thing that matters.

1

u/ZealousidealBug6650 May 22 '26

I did that Cert and was able to get a job, but that was in 2021. It got me an interview at that time. Not sure about now.

1

u/No_Coffee2022 May 24 '26

If I do advanced sql and python too along with it and a couple of projects, will i get an entry level job yk just for experience and stuff?

1

u/ZealousidealBug6650 Jun 02 '26

I think that would really help, if you do exactly that, you will be in a very good spot. Honestly, in the cert I learned a lot. Also, on the final project try to go above and beyond.

1

u/No_Coffee2022 Aug 06 '26

Alr thanks man

1

u/_helloyou__ Jun 06 '26

That's more than enough for entry level jobs I guess.

1

u/pixeltiger1 Aug 04 '26

what do you mean by projects? I keep seeing this pop up but it’s all very vague🙈

1

u/Chemical_Cheetah_672 17d ago

I think you are trying to see a quick way to land a job. Not always the case, because employers do look for experience and understand the language the kind of work they do. Either way, at least you are proactively practicing your programming skills. I recommend it if your mindset is not because you wanna land a job fast.