16-Week Roadmap for Data Analytics (2026)

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Data analytics has become an industry standard across every profession. Whether you work in Data field, marketing, finance, operations, HR, product, or any technology: decisions today are driven by data. And in this AI era, where automation is rapidly replacing repetitive tasks, the real differentiator is the ability to analyze data, extract insights, tell compelling stories, and drive business impact.

If you want fast career growth and top-paying roles, analytics is no longer optional – it’s a fundamental power skill. Companies now expect every professional, regardless of domain, to be data-literate and insight-driven.

Below is a complete 16-week roadmap with resources and weekly goals to take you from beginner to job-ready: including SQL, Python, Power BI, storytelling, portfolio building, and interview preparation. Follow this plan with discipline, and you will be fully prepared to target Data Analytics roles.

Focus on depth over binge-watching. Don’t just watch → Rather replicate + pause + build.

Week 1–3 – SQL Foundations

Goal: Be solid in SELECT, WHERE, ORDER BY, GROUP BY, HAVING, JOINS, subqueries, basic window functions.

Watch & practice:

  1. SQL for Data Analytics – Learn SQL in 4 Hours (Luke

Barousse) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mz73uXD9DA

YouTube

Week 4–5 – Python for Data Analysis

Goal: Data types, loops, functions, then pandas, basic NumPy, reading CSV, cleaning, EDA, simple plots. Watch & practice:

  1. Data Analysis with Python – Full Course (NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, Seaborn) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r–uOLxNrNk8 YouTube
  2. Python for Data Analytics – Full Course for Beginners https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUSDVGivd–8 YouTube
  3. (Optional mini project) Python for Data Analysis – Full Project for

Beginners https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX6kCjwdNPw YouTube

Week 6 – SQL + Python Mini Project

Goal: Take one dataset → clean/analyze with Python + query/filter/join with SQL → produce 3–5 insights.

Watch & replicate:

  1. End to End Data Analytics Project (Python + SQL) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL0–6kfiH3g YouTube
  2. (Alt / add-on) End to End SQL Portfolio Project for Data

Analyst https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxgAb6FGTBE

YouTube 

Week 7–8 – BI Tool (Power BI) Basics + First Dashboard

Goal: Learn Power BI interface, data import, basic transformations, visuals, slicers, simple measures.

By end: 1 clean dashboard (e.g., sales or superstore-style).

Watch & practice:

  1. Power BI Tutorial for Beginners to Advanced https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyWVzAQF9YU YouTube
  2. Learn Power BI in 7 Hours | Beginner to Advanced with Dashboard

Project https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdC5R7oPCAI YouTube

  • (Very focused) Complete Power BI Dashboard for

Beginners https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiPEXYjzTPI

YouTube 

Week 9–10 – Data Storytelling + Advanced Dashboards

Goal: Build 2nd dashboard with better layout, KPIs, drill-downs, and clear narrative: “What is happening? Why? What should business do?”

Watch & practice:

  1. Power BI Sales Dashboard Project (End-to-End) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZn83JRt4Nk YouTube
  2. Power BI Dashboard Tutorial & Project (Playlist) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdOKnrf8EcP2ivbQIcVuknjdlUqkopr

Ko YouTube

YouTube 

Week 11 – Data Modeling (Star Schema, Fact/Dimension Thinking)

Goal: Understand star schema, fact vs dimension tables, why modeling matters for analytics performance & simplicity.

Watch:

  1. Learn Data Modelling & Star Schema for Power BI in 20 Minutes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ePNrdxWtY0

YouTube

Pro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=air7T8wCYkU YouTube

Week 12 – Intro to Data Engineering & Pipelines (ETL / ELT)

Goal: Big-picture understanding of pipelines: ingest → transform → load → BI. Just enough to talk like a modern analyst.

Watch & follow:

  1. Code along – Build an ELT Pipeline in 1 Hour (dbt, Snowflake,

Airflow) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLXkGB7krGo YouTube

Week 13 – Deeper: dbt + Airflow + Snowflake Project Goal: Do one proper modern data stack project so you can say: “I’ve seen dbt models, Airflow DAGs, Snowflake tables, and I understand the flow.” Watch & practice:

  1. DBT Beginner to Pro: End to End Pipeline with Airflow, Snowflake and DBT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXWYPZ3T9ys YouTube
  2. Snowflake Data Engineering Course – Build End-to-End Pipelines with DBT & Airflow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWjSsniB–RU YouTube
  3. (Optional) End-to-End E-Commerce Data Pipeline with Snowflake,

dbt, Airflow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmRvNJaECqo YouTube

Week 14 – AI + Forecasting in Analytics (Python + Power BI + GenAI)

Goal:

Get hands-on exposure to forecasting, basic ML, and AI-assisted analytics. Understand how Python models, BI forecasting, and GenAI (ChatGPT / Copilot) plug into real analytics workflows.

Watch & practise:

  1. Time Series Forecasting in Python – Tutorial for Beginners (freeCodeCamp)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxx_E0ojKrc YouTube

How to practise (important):

  • Use ChatGPT/Copilot to:

o suggest forecasting features o explain time-series plots o generate Python model explanations o draft business insights from Power BI dashboards

  • Treat AI as a junior analyst, not an answer machine.

Week 15 – Portfolio Building (Projects, GitHub, Website)

Goal: Have 2–3 polished projects (SQL, Python, BI, maybe one pipeline) + clean documentation + somewhere public to show them.

Watch & action:

  1. The ONLY Data Analytics Portfolio You Need (Blueprint) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyQYckvmxtI YouTube
  2. How to Build a Professional Data Portfolio Website (No-

Code) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U69s3XXBMbg YouTube

1hjhk8H48Pj32z4GZgGWyylqv85f YouTube

Week 16 – Interviews, Storytelling, Resume & LinkedIn

Goal: Learn to talk about your projects, link them to business value, and package yourself

Watch & practise:

  1. How to Explain Your Project Like a Pro in Interviews https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP3MuGqNI24 YouTube
  2. How to Explain Project in Data Analytics Interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsKItCQCZkA YouTube
  3. Going Deep on Past Projects in Interviews https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRSLJKSum2k YouTube

Extra YouTube Resources (Use Anytime)

These are “anytime” resources to plug gaps or go deeper:

  • SQL for Data Analytics – Full Beginner + Intermediate Playlist

(Luke Barousse)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_CkpxkuPiT9s28QkBMvhaS4rVI9J2 UG 0 YouTube

VQ YouTube

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