Getting a data analyst role in 2026 means clearing three distinct hurdles in the same loop: SQL technical rounds, open-ended business case problems, and behavioral stories. Most candidates over-prepare on one and bomb the other two. This guide covers all three — with real questions, structured answers, and a practice link so you can rehearse before the clock starts. The Three-Round Reality Round What They're Testing Common Mistake SQL Technical Can you write accurate, optimized queries? Forgetting NULLs, using wrong JOIN type Business Case Do you think in metrics, not just data? Jumping to analysis before defining the metric Behavioral Have you driven decisions, not just reports? Saying "I built a dashboard" without the impact The most common failure mode: treating data analyst interviews like SQL exams. They're business problem-solving interviews that happen to use SQL. SQL Interview Questions for Data Analysts SQL rounds are pass/fail in most companies. These are the patterns that come up most often. 1.…