you’ve been diving into data science for the past year and are now ready to get noticed, here’s what’s worked for me and others I’ve seen break into the field:
Your resume gets you the interview. Your portfolio gets you the job.
A polished resume is important, but showing real work makes the difference. Publish projects on GitHub, build data stories, and share them on LinkedIn. Whether it’s Kaggle competitions, product analytics, or SQL-heavy projects, let your skills speak.
SQL is underrated but crucial.
Everyone’s focused on machine learning, but SQL is often the gatekeeper in real-world tech screens. Nail the fundamentals: joins, CTEs, window functions. It shows up everywhere.
Tailor your resume like a marketer.
Study the job description. Mirror the language. If the JD mentions A/B testing, SQL, or dashboards, make sure that’s reflected in your experience and keywords. That’s how you beat ATS filters and signal relevance.
LinkedIn = your digital business card.
Don’t just comment “Interested.” When applying or networking:
→ Share your resume
→ Mention the role
→ Drop a quick line on why you’re a fit
→ Link to a relevant project if possible
Those personalized messages often lead to real conversations.