How to build a data analyst portfolio with real-world projects?

I build a strong data analyst portfolio by showcasing end-to-end, real-world projects that mirror business problems; at H2K Infosys, I’ve seen this approach consistently work for hiring. I focus on data cleaning, analysis, and visualization using realistic datasets, documenting assumptions and insights clearly. Midway through my learning, a structured Data Analytics course helped me align projects with industry expectations. I include SQL queries, Python or Excel notebooks, and dashboards from tools like Power BI or Tableau, plus a short business summary for each project. I also publish work on GitHub with clean README files. A portfolio that explains decisions matters more than flashy visuals alone.