Tableau Projects for Beginners to Build Portfolio

Project brief - write before opening Tableau

Title: _____________________
Audience: who will use this dashboard?
Main question: _____________
Supporting questions:
 1.
 2.
 3.
Dataset + source link: ______
Key metrics: ________________
Filters the user needs: _____
Done when: the main question can be answered in 10 seconds

Idea 5 - Public transport usage
Question: which routes and hours are busiest?
Skills: heat map, time parts, parameters

Idea 6 - Personal finance tracker
Question: where does monthly spending go?
Skills: running totals, table calcs, colour rules
Note: use your own anonymised data or a sample.

Tip: pick datasets with a licence that allows reuse,
and mention the source on the dashboard.

// Profit Ratio
SUM([Profit]) / SUM([Sales])

// Attrition Rate (Attrition field holds "Yes"/"No")
SUM(IF [Attrition] = "Yes" THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) / COUNT([Employee Number])

// Order Size Band
IF [Sales] >= 1000 THEN "Large"
ELSEIF [Sales] >= 250 THEN "Medium"
ELSE "Small"
END

// First Order Date per customer (LOD)
{ FIXED [Customer ID] : MIN([Order Date]) }

// Cohort Month
DATETRUNC('month', { FIXED [Customer ID] : MIN([Order Date]) })

// Running Total of Sales (table calculation)
RUNNING_SUM(SUM([Sales]))

// Year-over-year growth (table calculation)
(ZN(SUM([Sales])) - LOOKUP(ZN(SUM([Sales])), -1))
/ ABS(LOOKUP(ZN(SUM([Sales])), -1))

Publishing on Tableau Public

1. Create a free Tableau Public profile
2. In Tableau Public Desktop: File > Save to Tableau Public
3. Give the workbook a clear, searchable title
4. Add a description: question, data source, key insight
5. Set the dashboard size (fixed or automatic) and test it
6. Check every filter and tooltip in the browser
7. Copy the link to your resume, LinkedIn and GitHub README

Remember: workbooks on Tableau Public are visible to
everyone. Never upload private or company data.

Before you publish, check:

[ ] Title states the question or insight
[ ] Numbers formatted (currency, %, thousands)
[ ] Axis labels and units are clear
[ ] Tooltips are cleaned up, not default field names
[ ] Filters labelled and placed together
[ ] Data source credited on the dashboard
[ ] Works at laptop screen size
[ ] Spelling checked

# [Project title]

**Live dashboard:** [Tableau Public link]

## Question
What I wanted to find out and for whom.

## Data
Source, size, time period, licence.

## Process
- Cleaning steps
- Key calculated fields
- Dashboard design choices

## Insights
1.
2.
3.

## What I would do next
-

Write insights in this pattern:

[Observation] + [number from the dashboard] + [so what]

Example format:
"Furniture has the lowest profit ratio of the three
categories, driven mainly by discounts above 20%.
Reviewing the discount policy for this category could
improve overall margin."

Avoid: "The chart shows sales by category."

Interview walkthrough script (about 2 minutes)

1. Context: "I wanted to help a sales manager see..."
2. Data: "I used [source], about [size], cleaned [issue]"
3. Design: "KPIs at the top, then the breakdown..."
4. Skill: "I used an LOD to calculate first order date..."
5. Insight: "The main finding was..."
6. Next step: "With more time I would add..."