How Will Learning SQL Improve My Daily Work?

Updated on: May 4, 2024

Whether you're focused on advancing your career, mastering in-demand skills, or exploring something new and captivating, learning SQL is key to your progress. This vital skill makes professional life more manageable and also sets you up for success in a data-centric world.

Are you thinking of learning SQL but aren’t sure if it's a good idea? If you’re not in a data- or IT-related job, learning SQL may seem completely useless. But it’s not! Almost any role can gain a lot from SQL. If you start learning it, you'll quickly notice that SQL is very present in your life.

The modern world revolves around information, and information is commonly stored as data in databases. Therefore, being able to handle data or (at least know how it works) is useful to everyone, regardless of their job description. Moreover, understanding data and knowing how to handle it  can be the difference between success and failure. Developing your SQL skills is not just about learning a programming language; it's about unlocking the full potential of data to make informed decisions.

There are many technical professions related to SQL, including database developers, testers, and system administrators. However, there are also many non-technical positions where SQL knowledge is needed, including economists, business analysts, and others.

Jobs That Require SQL – and Jobs Where It’s Helpful

Of course, we know that data analysts, data scientists, data engineers, and anyone who works with databases needs SQL. But many other less-obvious job roles use SQL regularly. Below are several roles where SQL is essential, such as the technical positions mentioned above. We’ve also included several roles where SQL knowledge allows you to streamline processes and increase work efficiency.

Web Developers

Most full-stack and backend web developers – who manage the databases and structures underlying a website – are expected to know SQL. After all, database applications are at the heart of most websites. But front-end developers – who are responsible for creating the visual aspects of the website – can also benefit from learning SQL.

If you’re a front-end developer, you probably already know HTML and CSS for layout and JavaScript for browser scripting. You may also know some Python or Java for general programming, etc. Good! But none of these languages directly interacts with databases. For that, you need SQL.

Almost every website – from a small WordPress blog to giants like Google or Amazon – uses relational databases. Even landing pages created specifically to collect applications need to store that data somewhere. The easiest way to do this is to use a database.

But didn’t we say that backend and full-stack web developers handle database interactions? Yes, it’s true. But a front-end developer who understands SQL can make more effective decisions in how they build the elements on a website. Plus, many companies are moving towards full-stack developers instead of specialized front- or back-end developers. Even if this isn’t the case in your company, it’s still advantageous to be able to write your own queries and develop your own reports using SQL.

Want to know more? Check out How Developers Can Build SQL Skills.

E-commerce managers and owners

Maybe you own or manage an online store. You might be content to leave the technical stuff to developers, but you still need to run your business. And for that, you need to work efficiently with data.

Using the most popular databases – including SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Oracle – requires at least some SQL knowledge. When you have it, you'll be able to use a database to administer and store gigantic amounts of information. Imagine handling a million user accounts or several million email addresses manually! In Excel or Google Sheets or any other spreadsheet program, this would be difficult and tedious (at the very least).

Imagine that you own an online company selling mobile phones. You have a database that includes the customer, order, and delivery tables. Knowing SQL will help you group data and plan new purchases and the subsequent deliveries. You could create SQL reports and easily analyze market trends and customer behavior – thus helping you develop more effective campaigns and promotions.

Librarians

Librarians deal with information about books and their current status. They need databases to track which books have been borrowed, returned, or even lost. Take a look at the sample table below,

Now suppose there are two more tables:

Using SQL, we can combine data from the

SQL knowledge makes it easier to process queries, update and organize data, and help library patrons find books or information. It frees librarians from the limitations of the standard database interface or from relying on the IT department to create reports. They can write queries directly, which increases their work efficiency.

Marketing Pros

Learning SQL is invaluable for marketing professionals as well. From digital marketers to market research analysts, understanding the basics of SQL can significantly enhance data-driven marketing strategies. Explore How to Learn SQL for Marketing Analytics for more information.

Databases play a central role in storing, organizing, and analyzing customer data, market trends, and campaign performance metrics. This depth of data handling enables more targeted and effective marketing efforts. Marketing databases in particular often hold vast amounts of diverse data, from customer demographics to engagement histories. This makes SQL knowledge a powerful tool in the marketer's toolkit.

Moreover, for marketing professionals, the ability to directly query databases for insights allows for more agile and informed decision-making. Instead of waiting for IT departments to generate reports, marketers with SQL skills can independently access the data they need when they need it, enabling rapid adjustments to marketing strategies. You can learn more about SQL for Marketing here.

Healthcare Teams

Learning SQL is also useful for healthcare professionals. Hospital and clinic employees, administrators, and even the doctors and assistants themselves can benefit from understanding a bit of SQL. Read How SQL Helps the Healthcare Sector for more details.

The automation of information work did not bypass the healthcare sector, which uses databases to store, organize, and process data. This facilitates interacting with patients. Plus, each branch and organizational unit has its own databases for everyday work. What's more, these databases contain extremely sensitive data.

Consider the example of a hospital that wants to create a database to automate the recording of information received during patient admissions. This database will solve several problems, including:

• Storing information about clinic doctors, offices, and patients.
• Managing detailed health records, including diagnoses, treatment, and treatment costs.
• Updating and adding information.
• Analyzing information on patients, treatments, doctors, etc.
• Summarizing information.
• Facilitating the quick creation of useful reports.

Just as with library staff, healthcare staff who know SQL will have an easier time searching for, updating, and grouping data; they will be able to go far beyond the capabilities of the standard interface (e.g. a simple CMS) usually used in such situations.

Teachers and Administrators

Learning SQL is great for anyone who works with school or university databases, such as office employees or the accounting department. Databases usually contain information about students and their studies, the courses they attend (or have attended), scholarships, exam results, and admissions information for future, current, and past students. There’s also employee databases that store workers’ personal, job, and salary data. As in other cases, knowledge of SQL will greatly facilitate working with all this information.

Do you work in an educational institution? Check out our special promo!  This is an exclusive opportunity for students and teachers worldwide to learn, teach, and practice SQL.

Should Business Analysts Learn SQL?

Studying SQL allows a specialist to develop not only vertically, but also horizontally – expanding to new skills and improving their existing skills in areas like data analysis.

Today’s business world requires a very thorough analysis of market situations; companies need to be able to quickly respond to changes and follow trends. Strategy is paramount, but good strategic decisions require a sound understanding of data. An accurate SQL report and analysis can save a lot of money!

Business analysts (BAs) with broad knowledge and some technical skill are indispensable in these circumstances. SQL would certainly be a useful addition to their skill set; it would also be useful for managers who want to extract more (or specific) insights from company data. If a BA knows SQL, they can perform:

• Segmented market analyses.
• Data analyses for a given period.
• Status checks on your company’s customer base.
• Customer behavior analyses.
• Sales information management.
• Transaction analyses.
• Loyalty program effectiveness analyses.

To create such reports, we need special SQL functions, which you can learn in our SQL Reporting track. Completing this track will give you the SQL chops to group data, create multi-level aggregations, prepare statistics, and deliver customized reports. (This course is also great for anyone who creates reports, not just analysts.)

In short, the more you know SQL, the more efficiently you can analyze and report on data..

Should You Learn SQL?

Mastering SQL can significantly boost your analytical abilities and enhance your resume or CV, making you a sought-after candidate in the job market. As organizations across sectors increasingly rely on data-driven decision-making, the demand for professionals with strong SQL skills will continue to rise.

Whether you're eyeing a career shift or aiming for a promotion, showcasing your expertise in SQL and its applications in real-world scenarios can set you apart. By demonstrating how your SQL knowledge can lead to smarter business insights, you're not just asking for a raise—you're proving you deserve it.

Don't let the opportunity slip by – others in your field may already be enhancing their skill sets with SQL. Begin your learning path today! You’ll position yourself as a valuable asset to any team, ready to tackle the challenges of a data-driven world.