u/matrixunplugged1

Hello,

I’ve got around 5 years of analytics experience across startups and larger companies.

Role 1 – Startup (2 years): SQL, ad hoc requests (mainly SQL monkey work) and basic Tableau dashboards (essentially data dumps with little visualisation). £31k ($42k) → £55k ($75k).

Role 2 – Larger company (1.5 years, but actually 6 months): Hired as a Commercial Analyst but spent most of the first year in data architecture doing SQL refactoring (very repetitive work, my SQL skills actually deteriorated during this time) with little meaningful analytical work. Eventually moved to an analytical team and did SQL/Tableau for ~6 months. £45k ($60k).

Role 3 – Tech startup (3 months): £60k ($81k) + stock. Strong at SQL/execution, but they wanted someone much more experienced at independently generating insights and thinking on their feet and managing tough stakeholders. I was let go after 3 months. In hindsight, they were looking for a senior-level business analyst while my experience was more SQL/dashboard focused.

Role 4 – Current (1.5 years): Marketing analytics - SQL, building campaigns and lots of A/B testing. No dashboards, but it’s helped me improve somewhat at insight generation since I need to do that before launching any new campaigns and post-campaign analysis too. £45k ($60k), with limited progression. I took this role even though it wasn't well paid for my level of experience because I had a big gap on my CV, couldn't mention my previous role since I got canned.

I’m now looking to move back into pure data analytics. SQL isn’t a concern - I generally pass SQL rounds. My weaker areas are stakeholder management, visualisation, insight generation, and these days data architecture as well (never done DBT) as they want a full stack analyst at many places.

What should I focus on next? DBT, Python, data architecture, dashboard practice, stakeholder management, or something else? Can I realistically target Senior Data Analyst roles, or should I stick to mid-level? And what salary would be realistic in a major UK city?

TL;DR: ~5 years in analytics, strong SQL, but a somewhat unusual career path. My main gaps are stakeholder management, visualisation and independent insight generation. I want to return to pure data analytics and figure out what to focus on and what level/salary I should target.

Thanks!

Hello,

So I recently ordered a refurbished Remarkable 2 from their site, for £350 I'm getting a refurbished device, a marker plus (refurbished) and a type folio (also refurbished). I looked into Move and Paper pro before ordering it but did not pay much attention to Pure, but now I'm finding out that maybe Pure may be better just because of the performance enhancements.

I mainly want to use it to journal, take notes at work meetings, manage to do lists, and also have it handy whenever I have any ideas etc I can put them down. My RM2 hasn't arrived yet,and since I'll be withtin the 59 day return window should I return it and get the Pure which is the same price for the device and the marker? I do know the downsides though, no type or book folio, and apparently the writing feel's not as good as RM2.

Hi all,

So I've been working in analytics for the past 5 years, I have worked at startups and a couple of larger companies, main skills are SQL, Excel and Tableau (I've been out of touch with Tableau though for the past 2 years). I'm currently based in the UK working as a marketing analyst (building email campaigns + the analytics - mainly SQL, A/B testing and a bit of Google Sheets dashboarding) at a large company earning 45K, but am a bit lost as to how to progress as I feel I'm earning really low for someone whose 30 y/o. It'll be tough to get promoted at my current job due to the financials of the company, even if I do it will take a year and at most my salary will go till around mid 50s as a senior analyst.

Should I look into senior analyst roles at other companies, I'm hesitant to do that due to how quickly AI is advancing, atleast I'm safe where I am for now I've failed probation once at a previous startup so have become a quite risk averse especially when it comes to startup roles, or learn something like DBT and python and try to transition towards analytics engineering?

TLDR: 30 y/o, earning 45k as a data analyst, what should I do to increase my earning potential especially given the rise of AI.

Thanks!

Met this girl at a meetup, got her insta, since we both like movies, I messaged her to ask if she would be interested in watching one together and she agreed. I know movies are a terrible first date idea, but we had this in common and we already spoke during the meetup so didn't suggest coffee. Should I just do the movie thing, and depending on how it goes, later on message her if she would be interested in a coffee/lunch/some-activity date?