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.

💌 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 – 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

🔗 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!

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

🎥 YouTube Channel

🤝 LinkedIn

📸 Instagram

🎵 TikTok

💻 Website

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

🔗 CONNECT WITH AVERY

🎥 YouTube Channel

🤝 LinkedIn

📸 Instagram

🎵 TikTok

💻 Website

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