Describe a learning loop: goal → docs/tutorials → tiny experiment → apply → teach back.
STAR outline
Situation: Team needed dbt for warehouse transforms; I only knew raw SQL scripts.
Task: Migrate one mart and add tests within two weeks.
Action:
1. Defined success: one model + unique/not-null tests in CI 2. Read official docs + one short course section 3. Built a tiny staging model locally first 4. Asked a teammate one focused review question 5. Documented the pattern for the next model
Result: Mart shipped with tests; I became the go-to for basic dbt questions.
Fresher-honest version
"I learned Airflow for a final project in 10 days: one DAG with extract, validate, load. I broke it on purpose to learn retries and logs."
Interview tip: Emphasize time-boxed learning and a deliverable, not "I watched 40 hours of videos."