Best Ways to Learn SQL to Become Database Expert

[manchun]

James Cod took the wrong path to learn SQL and even after two years of his graduation; he is still searching for a job in the IT industry. You must be wondering what is the best way to learn SQL to become a database pro. Sometimes, learning technology is not enough, but you should know how to implement knowledge in the workplace. If you know how to implement your skills and theoretical knowledge, it is easy to bag a job in the database world.

So, what it takes to become an SQL expert? Why are online SQL certification courses being so popular and my favorite too? What else can you learn alongside the SQL and get noticed by recruiters among the crowd? This article will address all your queries effectively, and it will help you in becoming a database expert quickly.

The best way to Learn SQL – Learn through Online Courses!

The best way to learn SQL depends on your learning style, area of interests, time, or money you can invest in learning and your end career goals. However, I personally believe that everyone planning to build a career in SQL should start their journey through online courses. Four years back, when I was new to the IT world, I was not pretty sure of the best ways to learn SQL. I did appear for many interviews, but I was not able to clear even a single one because of the lack of practical knowledge and hands-on expertise in database tools.

You don’t have to face this rejection, so I am sharing my success story to help you out. I did research extensively, read books, blogs, online tutorials but nothing was so helpful. These resources gave me theoretical knowledge that I have already gained during my graduation. My doubts were still boggling my mind, and I wanted to figure out some interesting approach where I can learn and grow in a short time.

Eventually, I heard about short-term IT courses where I can learn and grow. I decided to give a chance to an online SQL certification course from JanBask Training, and you would not believe that Oracle hired me six months after the training. During my training, I worked on many real-time projects and attempted one certification as well. Adding certification to my resume was the biggest asset that helped me out to stand out in the crowd, and I am working as a project lead today at a package of $102K per year.

Keeping this discussion in mind, I will tell you why online courses are my favorite!

Join Online Training Courses to Stand Out

When you break down the positives and negatives of various training programs, online training courses come at the top with a noticeable margin. Here are a few best reasons why should you choose online courses to learn SQL.

a). Personalized Content: Online courses focus on what you should learn to execute in the workplace, not other things. You will be directed to the goal and learn concepts that are frequently asked by organizations. In this way, online courses can help in saving your time and to learn SQL more effectively.

b). Flexible Learning: Online courses are a blessing for people who cannot opt for full-time courses and working professionals. They can ask mentors to focus on specific topics as needed, not others. You can ask to prepare a schedule as per your availability.

c). Learn at your Pace: This option is great for those people who have not learned anything new for a long time. They are usually learning at a slow speed. They want to learn basics first before moving to the advanced level. So, the choice is completely in your hands on how to learn and what to learn. Isn’t it great? For me, it was the magical choice that took me so higher in my career.

d). Learn in your Budget: It is again one of the important concerns when you learn technology online. Something good yet in the budget is always the preferable option for everyone. Online certification courses are usually available in the budget when compared to full-time similar lengthy courses.

Top Tips to Learn the SQL


When you are planning to learn SQL, keep these facts in your mind to grow in the database field, and get hired by leading companies worldwide.

Keep Practicing:

There are so many things to practice when it comes to learning SQL and becoming a database expert. During your training of 3 months or six months, keep practicing every single day. Ask doubts with your mentors to settle down them immediately. It will help you in reinforcing important concepts and become more fluent in writing queries, either simple or complex.

Earn Some Experience:

Before you start appearing for interviews, try adding 2-3 project work to your resume. It can be earned through an internship or take the project-based training online. It will help you in gaining the relevant confidence and builds up the confidence level too.

Ask for Help:

Are you one of them who feels reluctant to ask for help? Even if you are an experienced programmer, feel free to share your queries on communities and ask other programmers to contribute to the discussion. Mostly developers respond quickly, and it gives you a platform to improve your knowledge base.

Wrapping Up:

If you have the skills to analyze and process the huge data, then a career in the SQL domain is the right fit for you. A skilled professional can grab work opportunities worldwide. You just have to follow the right career roadmap to excel in your career. Discover resources that can help you to become an SQL developer.

The career roadmap may slightly vary for technical and non-IT guys, but the ultimate goal is the same. One expert advice is that keep practicing coding skills regularly because learning is a continuous process and constant learners can always win the race as compared to others who are lazy to practice routinely.

Note down the points that helped you out to begin your career as a SQL Developer and share it with us. Above all, the most important thing is starting your journey and achieve the targets as soon as you can. All the Best!

[strativab]

Well, having mastered SQL and thence having bagged a high-paying Data Analyst job fresh out of college at Oracle (US $97,100), after facing lots of challenges along the learning journey, I would state that the most productive way to master SQL is to opt for an effective resource - the ones that make the learning curve linear and progress on difficult topics only after providing enough insights and examples on the concepts, the one that discusses different approaches the students can use to solve a question and does not restrain their mind to just one method, the one that considers that students are new to the domain and are not adept with the SQL environment, the one that explains why the program is executing the way it is executing.

See, SQL in itself is a pretty simple language and can be successfully mastered in a short span of time, however there is a caveat. As a beginner, much of the learner’s interest lies in the hands of the tutor and the manner in which the course is delivered to the learner. Inefficient coaching can pretty quickly lead to the learner losing interest in the subject, in worst cases - programming as a whole. I too learnt these lessons the hard way.

See, as a beginner, much of the learner’s interest in the subject lies in the hands of the tutor and the manner in which the content is delivered. A course designed with a steep learning curve without providing insights on the thought-process required to arrive at the logic for writing that piece of code could severely hamper one’s ability to keep up with the course, which in worst cases might alter the direction of one’s career.

Well, to master SQL, I had left no stone unturned. I had purchased plethora of tutorials, PDF material, books, but I always used to hit a wall a few days into the learning. In most cases, I felt that the author/tutor was in a hurry to get to the end of the course and was not educating the thought-process required to arrive at the logic behind writing those pieces of code and assuming that one is well versed with the SQL environment. But, that is not the case with someone who is a beginner.

I dropped learning from those resources and instead resorted to free video tutorials available on the web. But, over the time I realized that a major issue with learning from them is that they being ‘free and open for all’ community, attract lots of creators who are considering to make a quick buck. Content quality of such tutorials is questionable. Also, one cannot prove one’s grasp on the subject to potential employers due to no provision of obtaining certification for the courses completed on those platforms. This may hinder one’s career, especially in cases where employer has set a criteria of choosing candidates with relevant degree/certificate.