Like others said: sql, sql, sql. The syntax is probably easier than excel, but a lot of people stink at it because they don't want to invest in the spatial reasoning required to make it work magic, and that opens doors to easy opportunity.
If you can get into a position like reporting or data quality, and be "that person" that fixes a dreaded slow query to make it run in milliseconds instead of minutes, then you'll get your proverbial blank check to go where you want. Those queries exist in just about every business.
Take a look around for "sql portfolio projects" for more complete stuff that goes beyond tutorials.
Don't take issue with the platform. Take issue with companies that are so fanatical with "we're a microsoft/java/javascript/esperanto shop!" that they'd cram it into medical devices and nuclear reactor controls before doing some sort of sober domain analysis.
Everything has its own set of problems.