If you’re preparing for a data analyst interview, SQL will almost always show up.

Not advanced SQL.
Not complex window functions.

Interviewers want to know if you can think with data.

These are the exact types of SQL queries entry-level data analyst candidates are tested on.

What Interviewers Test With SQL

They want to see if you can:

• Retrieve data correctly
• Filter and group logically
• Join tables without confusion
• Explain your thinking

Syntax matters less than logic.

Basic SELECT & Filtering Queries

1. Select all columns from a table

SELECT * FROM employees;

2. Select specific columns

SELECT name, salary FROM employees;

3. Filter rows using WHERE

SELECT * FROM sales WHERE amount > 1000;

4. Use multiple conditions

SELECT * FROM orders WHERE status = 'Completed' AND amount > 500;

5. Use BETWEEN

SELECT * FROM payments WHERE amount BETWEEN 100 AND 500;

Sorting & Limiting Results

6. Sort results

SELECT * FROM products ORDER BY price DESC;

7. Get top N records

SELECT * FROM employees ORDER BY salary DESC LIMIT 5;

Aggregate Functions

8. Count rows

SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users;

9. Calculate total

SELECT SUM(amount) FROM sales;

10. Find average

SELECT AVG(salary) FROM employees;

11. Find minimum and maximum

SELECT MIN(score), MAX(score) FROM exams;

GROUP BY Queries

12. Group data

SELECT department, COUNT(*) FROM employees GROUP BY department;

13. Group with aggregation

SELECT category, SUM(sales) FROM orders GROUP BY category;

14. Filter grouped data using HAVING

SELECT department, COUNT(*) 
FROM employees 
GROUP BY department 
HAVING COUNT(*) > 10;

JOIN Queries (Very Important)

15. INNER JOIN

SELECT * 
FROM orders o
JOIN customers c ON o.customer_id = c.id;

16. LEFT JOIN

SELECT * 
FROM customers c
LEFT JOIN orders o ON c.id = o.customer_id;

17. Find unmatched records

SELECT * 
FROM customers c
LEFT JOIN orders o ON c.id = o.customer_id
WHERE o.id IS NULL;

Subqueries

18. Subquery in WHERE

SELECT * 
FROM employees 
WHERE salary > (SELECT AVG(salary) FROM employees);

DISTINCT & CASE Statements

19. Select unique values

SELECT DISTINCT country FROM users;

20. Use CASE

SELECT name,
CASE 
  WHEN score >= 50 THEN 'Pass'
  ELSE 'Fail'
END AS result
FROM exams;

Date & String Functions

21. Extract year

SELECT YEAR(order_date) FROM orders;

22. Filter by date

SELECT * 
FROM orders 
WHERE order_date >= '2024-01-01';

23. String length

SELECT LENGTH(name) FROM users;

NULL Handling

24. Handle NULL values

SELECT COALESCE(phone, 'Not Provided') FROM users;

Real Interview Logic Question

25. Find duplicate records

SELECT email, COUNT(*) 
FROM users 
GROUP BY email 
HAVING COUNT(*) > 1;

Common SQL Interview Mistakes

Memorizing without understanding
Forgetting GROUP BY rules
Confusing JOIN logic
Not explaining your query

Interviewers care about why, not just what.

How to Practice These Queries

• Rewrite each query in your own words
• Practice explaining results
• Use sample datasets
• Focus on logic, not speed

If you understand these 25 SQL queries, you’re already ahead of most entry-level candidates.

SQL interviews reward clarity not complexity.

FAQs