What are some good software skills to learn, and online resources to teach those skills, for a former consulting analyst with an Excel and SQL background?

Hi everyone,

Several months ago, I lost my job as a consulting analyst. My job involved a heavy amount of creating forecast models in Excel, and using SQL to query and analyze data from insurance and government databases. I've been trying to learn new skill sets that are commercially valuable and build upon that background, but I'm a bit overwhelmed at the sheer number of options, in terms of a) the software packages themselves, b) what to focus on within those software packages, and c) what online resources to use to learn this information.

Most of my efforts so far have revolved around Python, and expanding my knowledge of Excel and SQL. So far, I've completed:

• Python for Everyone specialization, through Coursera

• Excel to MySQL: Analytic Techniques for Business Specialization, through Coursera (includes Excel, SQL, Tableau, and a capstone project)

• Excel from Beginner to Advanced, through Udemy

• Independent practice with Python. I wrote a program that plays tic-tac-toe, and another program that solves the triangular peg-jumping game they have at Cracker Barrel restaurants.

While I have learned things through the Coursera and Udemy courses, I don't think these courses provide enough practice problems to really learn the concepts well, and that they sometimes aren't in-depth or specific enough to teach the skills employers really want. Overall, I feel like I haven't really gotten enough practical benefit for the time I've spent on these, and that what I'm doing hasn't been very effective from a standpoint of increasing my marketability and my salary. I'm kind of overwhelmed by the number of options out there in terms of skills and online courses, and I'm looking for a clearer path forward.

So, for anyone whose job is related to consulting, business analysis, market forecasting, or big data, what are some specific hard skills I should learn that would most improve my marketability and salary, and what are the best resources online to teach myself these skills?

usa jobs
usa jobs resume
usa hotel jobs
usajobs
usa jobs federal government
usa job in ksa
usa jobs
usa jobs login
usa jobs gov
usajobs.gov
www.usajobs.gov
usajobs.com
usajobs
usajobs.gov official