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Steven Tran went from tech support to analytics pro in just three months, and he's spilling the tea on how he made it happen.
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⌚ TIMESTAMPS
00:37 Meet Steven Tran: From Tech Support to Data Analytics
02:30 Steven's Career Transformation Timeline
06:29 Financial and Career Growth
07:52 The Importance of Projects and Passion
16:57 The Importance of a Portfolio
18:34 Growing Your LinkedIn Presence
24:42 Interview Experiences and Job Success
🔗 CONNECT WITH STEVEN TRAN
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephentran96
🔗 CONNECT WITH AVERY
🎵 TikTok
💻 Website
Mentioned in this episode:
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All right.
2
:Very excited for today's episode.
3
:It's actually an interview I did with one
of my students, Stephen Tran, who is a
4
:member of the data analytics accelerator.
5
:Um, I, or.
6
:I've already published this.
7
:You guys have maybe heard this before,
but I really just wanted to highlight.
8
:How incredible Steven's journey was.
9
:And for those of you that are
new to the podcast, you might
10
:not have listened to this one.
11
:Um, because it was
quite a bit a while ago.
12
:So, um, And we just kinda went
through Steven's whole story of
13
:how he actually landed a data
job kind of step-by-step and.
14
:I thought this was a great episode.
15
:I just wanted to reshare it with
y'all if you haven't heard it.
16
:So, uh, let's get into today's episode.
17
:Welcome back to the Data Career podcast.
18
:I'm super excited for two.
19
:Today's episode, I'm doing an interview.
20
:With one of our DCJ Data Career
Jumpstart members, Steven Tran.
21
:And I'm super excited to have him
here and tell us about his story.
22
:Welcome to the Data Career Podcast,
the podcast that helps aspiring data
23
:professionals land their next data job.
24
:Here's your host, Avery Smith.
25
:So Steven, welcome to the podcast.
26
:Thank you, Avery.
27
:I love that you invited me on the podcast.
28
:Cause I don't know if you know
this, I've listened to every
29
:single episode of your podcast.
30
:Have you really?
31
:Yeah, it's actually helped me
a lot making my LinkedIn posts.
32
:So we'll talk about that.
33
:Awesome.
34
:Well, now you, I guess this is one
of the episodes you won't listen to.
35
:You don't have to listen to this one.
36
:I guess you can just, you can just be
in it and you can just talk about it.
37
:So super excited to have you.
38
:So let's start with, we're gonna
start with the big picture.
39
:Okay.
40
:So for those of you who don't know, which
is probably a lot of you guys, Steven.
41
:What was your title
before your current title?
42
:It was technical support analyst.
43
:Okay.
44
:And what type of company was that for?
45
:It was for a mortgage company
called Ellie May and they were
46
:acquired by ice mortgage technology.
47
:So that's what they're known as now.
48
:Okay.
49
:So you were kind of working in this like
mortgage company doing a little bit of.
50
:Of it work.
51
:Is that right?
52
:Or yeah, I, I just call it a
glorified tech support job.
53
:Okay, sweet.
54
:So like, was that like making sure people
like had PowerPoint working correctly
55
:or like, what was like a daily task?
56
:Yeah.
57
:So it was a little bit more than that
because what I was doing, I was giving
58
:like API support, so we have our program
called encompass where people can, our
59
:mortgage loan officers can go through and
manage their loans and stuff, but we also
60
:we allow them to create their own code.
61
:So I would help debug that
code for them basically.
62
:So I would have tickets and whatnot that
I'd have to go through and follow up and
63
:you know, and all that stuff like that,
but yeah, basically a tech support role.
64
:Okay.
65
:So from a tech support role
to now, I think you're.
66
:Title is, I'm going to read this,
Senior Associate in Analytics, right?
67
:Yep.
68
:That's correct.
69
:Okay.
70
:At Dentsu, which is like a, like a
big media marketing company, right?
71
:Mm hmm.
72
:That's right.
73
:Okay.
74
:So basically you transformed your career
from this tech support role into this, you
75
:know, senior associate in analytics role
in like less than six months, correct?
76
:Absolutely.
77
:Yep.
78
:That's right.
79
:Okay.
80
:So to give the people a timeline,
you are at this non data job
81
:and then got this awesome data
job in just a couple of months.
82
:What were the timelines on that?
83
:Like, when did you start your data?
84
:So in data journey overall, I
finished my degree in business
85
:administration back in December.
86
:So I was looking into jobs of data or like
how I can gain the skill set in November.
87
:It's been a very recent pivot.
88
:Cause I was kind of like, Oh
no, I'm going to graduate soon.
89
:What am I going to do?
90
:You know, I'm working this,
this dead end tech support job.
91
:I don't want to do this forever.
92
:I want to be a data analyst.
93
:What is it going to take to become one?
94
:Okay.
95
:So I didn't realize that.
96
:So this is November of 2021.
97
:You're going to graduate from
your degree, which was in business
98
:administration in December.
99
:And, and that's when I guess
you spoke or to a mutual friend
100
:of ours, I guess your cousin.
101
:Is that right?
102
:That's right.
103
:Okay.
104
:Dom, shout out Dom.
105
:And Dom introduced you
to me and in my program.
106
:So I think you joined Data Career
Jumpstart, the big course, the
107
:project camp in November, correct?
108
:That's correct.
109
:And then when did you land
your job with Densive?
110
:So my official start date was February
28th, but they extended the offer
111
:to me about a month beforehand.
112
:So January, like the end of January.
113
:Okay.
114
:So, so end of January, early February.
115
:So basically we're looking at November,
December, January, January, three months.
116
:Yep.
117
:Three months from, from like,
did you, like how much data
118
:experience did you have?
119
:So.
120
:I had Python classes because I also did
computer science before I transitioned.
121
:And I also had a single SQL course
that I took, which I did not take
122
:seriously, so I didn't carry a lot.
123
:So, not a whole bunch, I would say.
124
:Okay, but some.
125
:So that's, that's what
you're referring to.
126
:Back in college, you originally
were studying computer science and
127
:then switched to business, right?
128
:Yep.
129
:So not like a ton, definitely no
real world experience, you know,
130
:maybe some college classes and you
were in a tech support role and it
131
:sounded like there were some, at least
looking at code involved in that.
132
:So not like the furthest away,
but also not the closest, right?
133
:Yes, exactly.
134
:Okay.
135
:So basically just, just to give people
an overview in three months, you went
136
:from tech support role to this new job
in analytics, and I guess, tell people
137
:a little bit about your current job.
138
:Like, are you in the office or no?
139
:Nope, it's completely remote.
140
:Completely remote and like, do you like
what you do more than you did previously?
141
:Oh, absolutely.
142
:100%.
143
:It's, it's so much fun.
144
:I'm learning so much every day.
145
:I mean, it's stressful with
all the projects that are going
146
:on, but it's, it's good stress.
147
:You know, it's something that I
can work on and learn more of.
148
:Okay.
149
:And like, so, okay, now
you're working remotely.
150
:I guess you're still in California, right?
151
:Yes, that's right.
152
:Okay.
153
:So you got to stay where,
live where you want to live.
154
:The people, the, the company
density is pretty international.
155
:Where do they have offices?
156
:I don't even know.
157
:They have a lot of
offices on the East coast.
158
:I, one of their main
offices is in New York.
159
:So a lot of my team is in New York.
160
:Do you have to like wake
up early for calls then?
161
:No, actually they've been pretty nice.
162
:Even though I'm the only West
Coast person, they've been trying
163
:to schedule all our meetings like
later on in the day just for me.
164
:So it'll be in the afternoon for
them, but like in the morning for
165
:me, which I don't mind at all.
166
:So they've been really nice about that.
167
:That's awesome.
168
:Okay, so you get to be where you're at.
169
:You're a West Coast guy.
170
:You're working from home.
171
:What, what about financials?
172
:Like, like, are you, if I've been
going to as much detail as you want,
173
:but like, do you feel like you're
better financially at this place
174
:than you were at the other place?
175
:Yes.
176
:100 percent in a better place.
177
:I wasn't struggling before, but
I definitely not struggling now.
178
:It was about a 15 K increase,
which is I'm super psyched about
179
:because this is something that,
you know, I like living on my own.
180
:I want to keep living on my own.
181
:So I've am able to do that still.
182
:Okay.
183
:So, wow.
184
:So basically.
185
:You like essentially in three months, you
gave yourself a 15, 000 raise basically.
186
:Yeah.
187
:I would say that.
188
:And, and the cool part, I think about
analytics and data in general is it's
189
:like, you're not, it's not dead end.
190
:Like you can keep progressing
on and on for a long time.
191
:So it's like, you know, it's
15, 000, you know, at the jump.
192
:And then, and then, you know, maybe
five years down the line, it's another,
193
:you know, 20 or something like that.
194
:Who knows, but it's like,
you can keep progressing.
195
:Right.
196
:Isn't, I think that's
one of the coolest parts.
197
:Yes, that was one of the biggest
things for me because one of the
198
:things that I asked for when I was
interviewing was that, do you have a
199
:way for me to become a data scientist?
200
:Because that was a really big thing
for me because progression is huge
201
:for me because I need that motivation.
202
:I need to be able to progress
upwards and you know, it's not
203
:just from a money standpoint, it's
from, I just want to build myself.
204
:You know, I just finished college
and it's still fresh for me.
205
:I want to get into the workforce
and I want to build my reputation.
206
:So let's now, now, now that people
understand, you know, your journey.
207
:So from tech support, graduating
college in business, maybe taking
208
:one, one or two programming
classes to within three months.
209
:Landing this job at a pretty big
international, you know, marketing
210
:company, getting that 15, 000 raise,
being able to work, you know, where
211
:you want, let's talk about kind of
the, the, how, how you got there and
212
:what you thought was, was important.
213
:So you started by joining
Data Crew Jumpstart and.
214
:You know, took some of the lessons there.
215
:Do you feel like you
were learning quickly?
216
:Like what, what was the first thing that
you're like, Oh my gosh, I'm getting this.
217
:I like this.
218
:Like, what was the first time where you're
like, this totally is something I want to.
219
:Yeah.
220
:So definitely the biggest thing that I
love about DCJ, and this is one thing
221
:that I talk to a lot of people about
is I like the project approach rather
222
:than the, here's a homework assignment.
223
:It's due next week kind of approach.
224
:And also the, the shorter videos, the
bite by bite, 10 to 20 minute videos.
225
:I don't know about you, but I feel like.
226
:I just snore an hour,
two hour long lecture.
227
:Like I don't retain anything,
you know, and a lot of these
228
:things, they are hands on.
229
:You can follow along,
but I just get so bored.
230
:I'm gonna have to pause it here.
231
:When I come back, I'm
gonna forget where I was.
232
:So I love the little bite
sized videos that you have.
233
:And that's just one thing that was able
to keep me to do like, Oh, maybe I'll do
234
:two videos today or three videos next day.
235
:So I can just do something every
day, you know, it keeps it fresh.
236
:Yeah.
237
:I think that's something I've
really tried to do with most of
238
:my courses and trainings is like
projects, projects, projects.
239
:Projects, projects, projects.
240
:And I remember, I think you
latched onto that pretty quickly.
241
:I remember, you know, one of the hobbies
that you have outside of data, right?
242
:But outside of work is,
is weightlifting, right?
243
:Do you want to tell the people
a little bit about what you do?
244
:Yeah.
245
:So I'm a competitive power lifter,
which means I try to lift as
246
:heavy as I possibly can in the
squat bench and deadlift category.
247
:So that's a little, fun thing that
I do outside of work, outside of my
248
:nine to five, outside of my studying.
249
:So I, you can typically find me at the
gym, maybe two to three hours a day.
250
:Okay.
251
:But don't, don't be humble.
252
:Tell the people how you did
in the last competition.
253
:Yeah.
254
:So I ended up getting a gold medal
first place in my last competition.
255
:So that was really fun.
256
:And how was it?
257
:Come on, give us the details.
258
:So squat, my heaviest lift was 457 pounds.
259
:Let's see.
260
:Bench was 270 pounds and
the deadlift was 500.
261
:2 pounds.
262
:Sheesh.
263
:That is crazy.
264
:Yeah.
265
:I don't know if I've done that, that
much weight, like in all of my years
266
:combined of, of going to the gym.
267
:So anyways, you, you love weightlifting.
268
:You went through a pretty big fitness
journey in your life too, right?
269
:Yes.
270
:Yes.
271
:Yeah.
272
:And I remember you made a project
about it, if I'm not mistaken about.
273
:You know, kind of your weight loss
journey, your, your weight increase
274
:and like being able to lift.
275
:And for me, that was when I
was like, all right, I see
276
:big things coming from Steven.
277
:I was like this, when you're able to take
something in your life that you enjoy and
278
:apply it and tie it into data, I'm like,
okay, that person's going to succeed.
279
:Absolutely.
280
:That's one thing that I talk to a lot
of people, a lot of people that have
281
:been reaching out to me through LinkedIn
is just don't just do these projects
282
:that people are telling you to do.
283
:Learn those skills and apply them to
things that you're passionate about.
284
:Because I had so much fun
making that dashboard.
285
:Like, I don't know about you, but
like, if someone told me I had
286
:fun doing dashboards, I would be
like, You're just a nerd, dude.
287
:I don't want to hear this, but I
had so much fun doing that project
288
:because it's personal to me.
289
:It's something that I care about.
290
:And I just wanted, it was my baby.
291
:You know, I wanted to make
it as best as I could.
292
:And people loved that dashboard,
especially during interviews.
293
:Yeah.
294
:So, okay.
295
:So you're in DCJ.
296
:We're doing projects.
297
:So we start off with the
screen time project, doing
298
:a lot of data visualization.
299
:Then, then we have a project
about fitness as well.
300
:So we dive, dive into Python and those
are kind of the, the two, the two
301
:things that probably you had done before
applying to jobs, is that correct?
302
:That's correct.
303
:Yes.
304
:So it took you about.
305
:Two months to do those more or less.
306
:Is that right?
307
:More or less.
308
:Yeah.
309
:About two months.
310
:Okay.
311
:And I guess another aspect of
DataCrew Jumpstart is it's not
312
:only technical skills, but it's
also, you know, personal skills and
313
:soft skills and networking skills.
314
:So whole section on LinkedIn, whole
section on finding jobs when you were
315
:applying to jobs, what was your strategy?
316
:And then what ended up working?
317
:So when I was applying to
jobs, a lot of it was just.
318
:Going on LinkedIn, looking for
data analysts, whether I was, I
319
:was filtering by remote because
my last job was remote also.
320
:And I was like, I don't want
to go back to office anymore.
321
:I can just leave and go for
a walk whenever I want to.
322
:So I made sure remote was one of those.
323
:And then I also did easy apply.
324
:I know it's not like the best way to
go through jobs, but for me, I needed
325
:to do job applications as easy as
possible because it's really draining
326
:to do job applications, especially
if you have to email like three
327
:different cover letters or whatnot.
328
:So Easy Apply was really good
for me because I can literally
329
:just lay in bed, watch Netflix
and just apply, apply, apply.
330
:Okay.
331
:I get through like 50 or
so applications a night.
332
:You know, just chilling,
applying that way.
333
:And yeah.
334
:Did you have any luck
with the easy applies?
335
:I'll be honest.
336
:Not really.
337
:I had one company get back to
me, but that's because I had
338
:experience in the mortgage company.
339
:So that one company got back to me
and I did interview with them as well.
340
:Okay.
341
:So a couple of things, a couple of
things that I think you said, one
342
:is like you're applying to like
data analyst positions, correct?
343
:Yeah.
344
:Two.
345
:Yes, that's correct.
346
:Okay, so one thing I like that Stephen
just mentioned, he doesn't have, he's
347
:never been a data analyst, he doesn't
have analytics experience, he's never
348
:been a data scientist, but he's applying
for these entry level, you know, data
349
:analyst jobs, but where he had success,
I think is really important here, Was
350
:when he applied to a mortgage company.
351
:And some people are like, Oh, I don't
have any experience being a data analyst.
352
:And you know what, that might be true.
353
:That might not be on your resume,
you might not have actually crunched
354
:that much numbers, but you definitely
have some sort of experience, whether
355
:it's in teaching or whether it's
in mortgage or something like that.
356
:I think it's important to really marry
those at the beginning, especially
357
:when you're trying to get interviews,
because like, There's data in every
358
:industry around the world, right?
359
:If you've been, you know, it's, if
you've been an athlete, there's,
360
:there's sports analytics jobs.
361
:If you've been in business,
there's business analyst jobs.
362
:Like I think Steven did a really
good point there of like leaning
363
:in on his, you know, background.
364
:I think that made him more
attractive to, to employers and
365
:recruiters and stuff like that.
366
:And also a lot of perseverance right
there, you know, cause, cause I'm sure you
367
:got a lot of projections and, and didn't
hear back from a lot of those, right?
368
:I'm still getting those rejection
emails and I'm like, I'm good, man.
369
:I'm almost three months into this job.
370
:I don't, I'm good.
371
:Yeah.
372
:Yeah.
373
:You're like sucks to suck.
374
:I already have a job.
375
:Thank you very much.
376
:So let's talk about that.
377
:So how did you find this job
or how did they find you?
378
:And what was that process like?
379
:Sure.
380
:Yeah.
381
:So I actually saw through the DCJ discord,
you know, Ellie, I absolutely love Ellie.
382
:She's one of.
383
:My mentors and Avery, you're
also one of my mentors.
384
:I want to make sure that that's clear
like You have an amazing community that
385
:you've built here and the people that are
giving back even though they're not We
386
:talked about this which is really funny.
387
:Yeah, and I wanted to message her on
linkedin, but she did not allow People so
388
:I had to get in mail and to get in mail I
had to get the was it called the LinkedIn
389
:premium Yeah, I literally paid 40 just
to get LinkedIn premium so I could send
390
:her a message and say hey, I'm interested
about this job Can you look at my resume?
391
:Can you talk to me?
392
:Let me know like would I be a good fit?
393
:What do I need to look for?
394
:To learn to be a good fit.
395
:And we scheduled a phone call
and we talked about all of that.
396
:And she actually helped
me rebuild my resume.
397
:She helped me highlight some
words and stuff like that.
398
:I would, I would go as far to say that
she did, redid my whole resume for me.
399
:She was giving me tips at first
and she was like, you know what?
400
:Just send me the, send me the word file.
401
:And she, she redid my whole resume for me.
402
:So she's absolutely amazing.
403
:She's a star.
404
:Senior manager of analytics
in Dentsu as well.
405
:We don't work on the same
team, unfortunately, but we
406
:still talk from time to time.
407
:And she's an amazing asset
to have in this industry.
408
:So I think, I think there's a lot
of really interesting things there
409
:because part, part of the reason I
made DataCrew Jumpstart, and I haven't
410
:really, I haven't really talked about
this since I launched the course.
411
:I've kind of, I've kind of forgotten
about this, but one of the reasons
412
:I launched it was because, you know,
I, I broke into data science, like.
413
:Like seven years ago.
414
:Right.
415
:And when I was doing it, I mean, it was,
it was still pretty popular, I think, but
416
:definitely not as popular as it is now.
417
:And there definitely was not
nearly as many resources.
418
:And I was super lonely.
419
:I was like, I don't know if anyone knows
what I'm doing or like, I don't know if
420
:anyone else is on the same journey as me.
421
:A shout out to Ellie.
422
:Ellie is totally awesome.
423
:Very helpful to the community
and aspiring data professionals.
424
:And you connected with
her, but, but hold on.
425
:I, what I love here is that like.
426
:There was a, there was a
something to yet overcome.
427
:You like couldn't figure
out how to message her.
428
:That's okay.
429
:Cause cause you paid the 40 bucks.
430
:You got the LinkedIn
premium, sent her an email.
431
:What was that cold message?
432
:Like, like, just like, Hey, I
saw you posted in DCJ discord.
433
:About a job opening, you know, I've
been, I've been an Avery's program
434
:and learning something like that.
435
:It was 100 percent just like that.
436
:It was just, yeah, I've
been working in DCJ.
437
:I've been, I've done with most of it.
438
:Can you look at my resume?
439
:What can I change or what should I learn?
440
:What should I focus on basically?
441
:Yeah.
442
:And I love, I love that also
because you had a portfolio.
443
:That's, that's something.
444
:That that.
445
:Okay.
446
:So I have a lot of DMS.
447
:I get a lot of DMS every day.
448
:People, people asking me for
advice, people asking me for jobs.
449
:I get a lot of jobs.
450
:It's, I think one out of a hundred
DMS that I've ever gotten have
451
:had a portfolio attached to it.
452
:And guess what?
453
:Guess who I hired as the one
person I've ever really hired is
454
:the person who had a portfolio.
455
:Having a portfolio just proves that
you like are for real and like you can
456
:do the things that you say you can.
457
:Here's the evidence, right?
458
:And I know Ellie really liked that
about you that you had the portfolio.
459
:That like you had evidence, she's
a big fan of data visualization.
460
:You had awesome data visualizations,
for instance, from, from data career
461
:jumpstart and also just like your fitness
journey and stuff like that as well.
462
:Had some, had some pretty
cool data visualizations.
463
:So I think that played a big role in
you, like catching her attention and
464
:her being willing to help you out
was just like, you were for real, you
465
:know, that portfolio made you for real.
466
:Yeah, I was gonna say portfolios are very
undervalued right now because I, I also
467
:get a lot of DMs, especially now with all
my posts going viral or whatnot, but a
468
:lot of them, they don't have portfolios.
469
:Like they don't send me, I ask them,
I always say, Hey, I can help you.
470
:I know you're looking, send me your
resume, send me your portfolio.
471
:A lot of them don't have any portfolios.
472
:And I just keep telling people
like, how do these companies
473
:know what you've been working on?
474
:Sure.
475
:You got the SQL skills.
476
:You got the Python skills.
477
:Data visualization, but they need to
see something needs to be tangible.
478
:They need to be able to picture you
in their role before they hire you.
479
:Yeah.
480
:That's one thing that I try to promote.
481
:Yeah, for sure.
482
:And let's, let's go ahead
and talk about your LinkedIn.
483
:So I'm actually, I'm actually
going to go ahead and I'm going
484
:to go to your LinkedIn right now.
485
:Cause I want to, I want to get
some live, some live things.
486
:All right.
487
:So I'm going to linkedin.
488
:com.
489
:We'll have Steven's LinkedIn
in the show notes down below.
490
:I'm going to go to your page.
491
:Let's see.
492
:I just lost it.
493
:There we go.
494
:And I want to check something.
495
:So currently right now, you have
3, 831 followers on LinkedIn.
496
:Okay.
497
:Yeah, I want you to go back to
November, six months ago, okay,
498
:not even half a year really.
499
:How many, how many connections or
followers did you have on LinkedIn?
500
:So I had zero followers cause I didn't
allow followers and connections.
501
:It was probably like 20, like 20 people.
502
:So basically you've grown your LinkedIn,
like who knows how many times since,
503
:since you joined DCJ basically.
504
:And, and, and more specifically.
505
:So you went from, let's say, let's
say from:
506
:has like connections and followers.
507
:It's kind of confusing.
508
:I'm just going to call them followers.
509
:So you had like 20 connections.
510
:And now you have 3, 831.
511
:Now let's, let's talk about
specifically how you gained those.
512
:So you've been posting, I know
a big part about DCJ is posting,
513
:posting, posting, posting, posting.
514
:And recently, let's see a couple of
days ago, you had a post go super viral.
515
:Five days ago, it has 3, 194
516
:reactions.
517
:95 comments, 57 shares,
and it's three sentences.
518
:That's right.
519
:So did most of the followers
come from that or before that?
520
:I would say most of them came from
that, but I wanted to make sure
521
:that I was still posting after that.
522
:Because I feel like when you get
that exposure, it only lasts so long.
523
:So the biggest thing I wouldn't
say stressor for me was like, Oh,
524
:what's the next post going to be?
525
:It's definitely not going to be as
good, but I need to show these new
526
:followers, you know, the type of
content that I want to put out, the
527
:kind of things that I want to set.
528
:So it was a little bit
of a time crunch for me.
529
:Yeah.
530
:Okay.
531
:So then the next one was three days later.
532
:And, uh, it ended up getting 872
likes, 82 comments and 25 shares.
533
:Yeah.
534
:Yep.
535
:That was the things you can do
to break into data analytics.
536
:Okay.
537
:And then the next one
had 1, 437 reactions.
538
:85 comments and 163.
539
:That's right.
540
:Okay.
541
:So gone pretty viral
recently on, on LinkedIn.
542
:People are asking you for advice.
543
:What, what advice do you give people who,
who said they want to go into analytics?
544
:A lot of the time I will ask what their
background is because a lot of people,
545
:I, you don't necessarily think that you
need a background in data analytics.
546
:You can literally get started today.
547
:Like look up SQL, look up some
Python, learn some data viz.
548
:But a lot of the times.
549
:They're, they're asking like, what
can I do or what can I learn, but some
550
:people are just straight up asking
me for a job and I'm like, I mean,
551
:I'm just a, I'm just an associate.
552
:Like, I can't, I can't give you
a job, but some, actually some
553
:people ask me like, Oh, do you
have any projects I can help on?
554
:Those people, I value their
comments a little bit more because
555
:it's not asking for a handout.
556
:I don't want to sound vain, but it just
seems like it's not mutually beneficial.
557
:beneficial to either of
us, you know what I mean?
558
:So I like those messages that
people are asking like, well,
559
:what are you working on?
560
:Or what, what can I help you with?
561
:Things like that.
562
:It's, it's, yeah, I totally agree that
whenever, whenever you're, you know,
563
:cold messaging someone or, or even like
talking to someone, it's a, The first
564
:message should always be, how can I
provide this person value in their life?
565
:How can I help this person?
566
:Because, you know, obviously, you know,
I have a substantial LinkedIn following
567
:and when I have posts that, that go
viral, it's like a mad zoo in there.
568
:It's like very, it's very crazy.
569
:And to be honest, I don't read like
half of them probably at the end of
570
:the day, it's just, it's just too
much, but I try to find the ones
571
:that like, Oh, this is interesting.
572
:Or this person's different.
573
:Or this person is saying, thank you.
574
:Like this person doesn't
want anything from me.
575
:They're just saying thank you.
576
:And yeah, maybe it does seem vain,
but that's like human nature.
577
:Like we, we don't trust people until
they prove their worthiness, you know?
578
:And most of the time people are just
asking for stuff and it's, it's kind
579
:of annoying because unfortunately.
580
:I can't spend, you know, we
can't spend our whole lives and
581
:our whole time helping people.
582
:We can help a few people, but when
it gets to such a big, big number, it
583
:gets a little bit difficult because
we got to put food on the table.
584
:Got to pay the bills.
585
:Yeah.
586
:So let, let me actually, let me, let me
read this, this viral post that you had.
587
:So let me pull this up here.
588
:The one I really liked was things you
can do to break in a data analyst.
589
:Learn your hard skills
in order of importance.
590
:I am a SQL Excel.
591
:Python, statistics, data
visualization, Tableau, and Power BI.
592
:Learn your soft skills.
593
:Tailored resume, online portfolio,
answers to basic data analytic questions.
594
:And then don't forget to apply.
595
:Okay, so talk about one of those
points that you find that's like really
596
:valuable that other people maybe, maybe
don't see the same way that you do.
597
:So, um, Yeah, this, this post was
definitely built on my experience trying
598
:to get a job in data analytics, which
I feel like my individual experience
599
:would also apply to a lot of other
people, which a lot of people have been
600
:sending me messages like, hey, I've
been in the exact place where you are,
601
:except I haven't gotten that job yet.
602
:But the biggest thing that, the main
reason I wanted to make this post This
603
:post was the just because you don't
satisfy the job requirements part.
604
:There was actually a podcast that I
listened to you and someone said this.
605
:I'm sorry.
606
:I'm forgetting the name of
the person that you talked to.
607
:I think they were a data
freelancer, a data freelancer.
608
:They were talking about that.
609
:Just make sure that you apply.
610
:Like a lot of these job requirements are
just like, they're not even minimums.
611
:I don't think they're
like the ideal candidate.
612
:And that really resonated with me
because when I was applying to jobs,
613
:um, A lot of the time, I wasn't even
looking at the job requirements.
614
:I was just applying, because
like, because in my head, I'm
615
:just like, if they considered me,
then they fit me as that profile.
616
:So if, if I might as well
shoot my shot, right?
617
:For sure.
618
:So that was, that was the main
thing I wanted to nail home.
619
:It's just like, these are like, if you fit
50%, 60 percent of that profile, do it.
620
:Why not?
621
:What do you have to lose?
622
:Yeah, especially if it's if it's only
time I mean, and time obviously is
623
:valuable but at least it's not money you
know what I'm saying like you can apply
624
:and definitely like I think, I think
the requirements have to be honest so
625
:I obviously I try to help people find
jobs and so one of my one of my main
626
:jobs is to try to help my students,
especially inside data career jumpstart.
627
:Find jobs that fit them well.
628
:And so I spent a lot of time
talking to CEOs, a lot of times
629
:speaking to recruiters and try to
match make the process basically.
630
:And so now people kind of send me jobs
and say, Hey, I'm looking for this.
631
:Do you have anyone like that?
632
:And recently I had a guy reach
out to me, a CEO of a company.
633
:I will not say which, but it's
anyways, it's, it's a big business
634
:and they, but they've never actually
had a data analyst or data scientist.
635
:So I guess not that big.
636
:I guess it's a midsize company,
actually probably small compared
637
:to everything in the world.
638
:It probably has like.
639
:100 employees.
640
:And he wanted to hire a data,
data analyst or a data scientist.
641
:And he's like, I'm going to
write the job description and
642
:let me know what you think.
643
:And he came back to me and it was
this, it was a data analyst role,
644
:but like all the requirements were
data scientists, like requirements.
645
:And I was like, bro, this
is a data scientist job.
646
:And he's like, well,
what's the difference?
647
:And so sometimes the people, you
know, writing the job, hopefully
648
:this isn't always the case.
649
:Like, I don't know.
650
:I hope, I hope this is an exception,
but like, he didn't even really
651
:know what he was talking about.
652
:And that's, that's why
he was talking to me.
653
:But sometimes, sometimes, especially
smaller companies, they don't
654
:know what they want, or they're
listing like 100 things and they
655
:don't really need those things.
656
:They need, they need two
out of the hundred things.
657
:So you never know, it can never hurt.
658
:But, but one of the things I think is,
is most valuable that you did was you're,
659
:you're leaning on your networking,
you're leaning on the people, you know,
660
:you know, you're, you're in the data
career jumpstart discord, you're talking
661
:to DMing people, you know, who, who
know me, like you're, you're leaning
662
:on the community around you and using
the network that ended up landing you
663
:the, you know, the, the awesome job.
664
:And a lot of the times I think, you
know, applying online does work,
665
:but if you can figure out how to
like, Talk to a human instead of
666
:having to go through the system.
667
:I would always choose
talking to human 10 times.
668
:Absolutely.
669
:Absolutely.
670
:I 100 percent agree every job I've
ever had, and I've had six or seven
671
:jobs or because I knew someone that was
working there already every single job.
672
:So networking is another
undervalued skill.
673
:I mean, I don't, I don't want to say
it's undervalued, but people don't
674
:practice it the way that you should.
675
:It was making those connections and
building your skills based on those
676
:connections is just, I don't know.
677
:I would, yeah, undervalued . I think
especially on LinkedIn because like, I
678
:don't know about you, but like I do not
necessarily enjoy networking events.
679
:Like where, well, okay I take it back,
but like for instance, like socials,
680
:like where you like just have to like
go up to someone and introduce yourself.
681
:I'm not very good at that as an introvert,
and I know maybe you guys don't believe
682
:me, but I'm super introverted and like
I'd much rather have like a topic, so like
683
:for instance, if they posted on LinkedIn.
684
:I would love to comment on their post,
or, or maybe they'll come on my post
685
:if I post like I like having like a
vehicle, where our conversation flows
686
:versus just like meeting in person
and, and also like on the internet.
687
:I can tell, I know exactly who you
are, off of your LinkedIn profile.
688
:If we go to a real life like mixer.
689
:I'm just like judging your appearance
to like, hopefully know what you do.
690
:And like, I know that I went to the
Silicon slopes conference, which is like
691
:a pretty big tech tech conference in Utah.
692
:And like, I was like, how
do I maximize my time?
693
:I'm going to like meet some random
people and like, you just walk into
694
:people and be like, Hey, what do you do?
695
:And it's like, Oh, like I make potato.
696
:Like machines, and it's
like, okay, I'm sorry.
697
:I'm not really interested in that.
698
:And I can't relate versus on LinkedIn.
699
:I can be like, oh, this person, you know,
works for a marketing analytics company.
700
:That's super interesting.
701
:Let's start a conversation there.
702
:So I just feel like I feel like
LinkedIn is still underrated
703
:for the networking aspect of it.
704
:I don't know.
705
:Yeah, I think events like that, they kind
of force this genuine connection when you
706
:can't really force something like that.
707
:Especially at those events, you're, you're
expected to ask people what they do.
708
:You're expected to be asked what you do.
709
:Whereas in LinkedIn, you can choose that.
710
:You can choose to let anyone know as much
as you want to, but also, you know, you
711
:have your profile and all that stuff.
712
:But yeah, it's just, it
just lacks that genuineness.
713
:Yeah.
714
:And who knows, maybe, maybe,
maybe I do like in person events.
715
:So maybe Maybe I was just that too
broad of an event and maybe like,
716
:like, for instance, I have enjoyed the
data conferences that I've gone to.
717
:So maybe it was just too broad but anyways
I like LinkedIn because it can be really
718
:like I'm much better on one on one versus
in group so big big fan of LinkedIn.
719
:Okay, so, With that, I'm just
going to rehash your story.
720
:You're working for this mortgage company
as a tech support, graduating college,
721
:join, join DCJ, start posting on LinkedIn.
722
:You know, you're by the way, your
LinkedIn profile looks really good.
723
:I love, love your cover photo.
724
:That's one of the things that we go over
in DCJ and no one uses the cover photo.
725
:In a good way.
726
:A lot of people don't anyways.
727
:So love it.
728
:Love your profile picture.
729
:Great, great headline on your LinkedIn.
730
:Posting good things.
731
:You're using the featured
section, which is another thing.
732
:Your first thing is your portfolio.
733
:Next few things are cool
graphs and viral posts.
734
:So you're nailing, you're
nailing the LinkedIn thing.
735
:Land a job through networking,
you know, 15k increase.
736
:In, in salary, you know, you're
working remotely, which is awesome,
737
:enjoying life, have room to grow.
738
:So that's, that's kind of the Steven
story that we want to shout from the
739
:rooftop rooftops and let everyone know
that you can, you know, you can go
740
:from, from, I don't want to say nothing
because you are definitely something,
741
:but, but non non data jobs, non data
jobs to a data analyst role or associate
742
:data analytics role in three months.
743
:Yeah, absolutely.
744
:Crazy journey I've been
on and still going on.
745
:So I just want to give you all the
biggest props because there's people
746
:inside of data career jumpstart.
747
:Who have been in there, you know,
like how long has it, I guess we
748
:started in September, September,
October, November, I guess like eight
749
:months who are still struggling.
750
:And one thing I think you did
really well is one, you took
751
:the content really quickly.
752
:You built and like fell in love with
your portfolio like you're like my
753
:portfolios is where I post stuff
you documented stuff really well.
754
:And then you networked.
755
:I mean, those are really like, honestly,
that's what data career jumpstart is.
756
:is all about.
757
:It's like those three things.
758
:It's like, can you work fast?
759
:Can you make projects?
760
:And can you network?
761
:And you did those three things well.
762
:I think that's why it led to, you
know, your success so quickly.
763
:You know, I think, I think at the end of
the day, that's, that's pretty much, you
764
:know, how you got to where you're at.
765
:And now, now you're helping other people.
766
:Now you're learning more.
767
:I know you've, you've been mentioning,
you've been SQL on the job and,
768
:and that's the whole point, right?
769
:Yeah.
770
:Like, I think I told you this straight
up, because we had a call before
771
:you joined Data Career Jumpstart.
772
:I said, I don't really want to take
you from being nothing to the best
773
:data scientists on planet earth.
774
:I want to help you get your first
job, get your foot in the door,
775
:so you can get paid to learn.
776
:Absolutely.
777
:And that's what you're
going to do now, right?
778
:And hopefully, I mean, tell, tell the
people what you're, what you're learning
779
:and then what your, what your goals are.
780
:So yeah, definitely.
781
:I, During the interview process itself,
it was actually very conversational.
782
:We never talked about anything that I
wasn't, I never had to say too many times.
783
:It was very good.
784
:I loved talking to, I had basically,
so I had three interviews back
785
:to back to back from I think
nine o'clock to twelve o'clock.
786
:In the morning, but it
was I wasn't sweating.
787
:It was like the most genuine So I got to
interview with my director who I currently
788
:direct our report to right now a senior
manager and then another a senior Director
789
:too, which who all work on my current team
and they were they're absolutely amazing
790
:people and I love them And one thing I
want to shout out about my director and
791
:why I love So I've only been working
there for a little over two months.
792
:And we have flexible time off, so FTO.
793
:And she's like, Stephen, you've
been working here for two months,
794
:you haven't taken time off.
795
:You should take some time off.
796
:I've never worked for a company
that told me, Hey, you need to
797
:just, you know, you might burn out.
798
:Just Take a break, take it off.
799
:And I was like, okay, that's cool.
800
:But yeah, anyway, that's awesome.
801
:Yeah, it's, it's been an absolute journey.
802
:So they, they have been
teaching me a lot of things.
803
:So that was one thing that they made
sure of in the interview process.
804
:Have you been exposed to SQL?
805
:Have you been exposed to Tableau?
806
:Have you been exposed to Python?
807
:So I only had one technical question
during that whole interview, which was,
808
:so here's a table and then she described
the columns and here's another table.
809
:She asked her, how would you join
these or what join would you use?
810
:And I was.
811
:Able to, I actually had a, a definition
of all the joins, cause I, I kinda
812
:knew that they might ask some join
questions on one of my screens.
813
:I have three screens, basically.
814
:So I had, on one of my screens, I
had, I had, oh, what a full join was.
815
:I was like, oh, full join sounds
like something I would want to use.
816
:She was like, yeah, that's,
that's what you would use.
817
:And I was like, cool,
that's about all I know.
818
:About SQL besides, you know, the main
definitions select from where group by
819
:all that kind of stuff, but yeah, they're
basically giving me SQL lessons right now.
820
:And I've just been
learning, I know Python.
821
:It's just learning pandas,
sqlearn, sklearn a little
822
:bit more and stuff like that.
823
:So it's definitely the ideal situation
of getting paid to learn and knowing
824
:from the get go, what the expectation
was really made it easy for me to
825
:transition into it, and I'm really
excited to learn more because one
826
:thing I want to talk about is like, So
many people are asking me for advice.
827
:They're saying like, oh, you know,
so much about data analytics.
828
:I'm, I'm literally the first rung on the
ladder of data, but like the way I think
829
:about it is there's a, there's a big
gap from the floor to the first rung to
830
:like, you know, the, the ladder of data.
831
:So people are asking me so many things
and I, I'm trying my absolute best and
832
:I'm, I'm a people pleaser by, by nature.
833
:So I try to answer every DM, try to
answer every comment and it's, it's
834
:starting to burn me out a little bit.
835
:So I'm not forcing myself too much,
but it's just crazy to me that
836
:people are, Relying on me or like
trusting me with helping them in
837
:their career when I'm literally
just the first rung on that ladder.
838
:So it's been super humbling and
it's been super great to help out
839
:the community any way that I can.
840
:Yeah, totally.
841
:Well, I think, I think in order
to be like a teacher or like a
842
:mentor, you really only have to
be one step ahead of the people.
843
:You know, that you're teaching.
844
:So I think, I think that's,
that's totally fine.
845
:And, and at the end of the day,
we're, we're all still learning.
846
:You never will know everything in data.
847
:So it all, it all works out in the end.
848
:And I think, I think people talking
to you is a good thing for them, but I
849
:totally understand the burnout aspect.
850
:That's one of the reasons why,
you know, before, before I did
851
:data career jumpstart, when I was
still working my nine to five at
852
:Exxon, I did a lot of mentorship.
853
:I did a lot of live calls.
854
:I did a lot of DMing and it got
to a point where I was like, okay,
855
:I'm at my absolute cap for what I
can do, you know, at this point.
856
:And that's why, one of the reasons
why I started Data Career Jumpstart.
857
:But awesome stuff.
858
:I'm stupid.
859
:I'm, I'm not stupid.
860
:I'm super stoked for you and your, your
journey, the way I see you, like your
861
:next, your next, you know, couple of
years, like, you know, you're going
862
:to nail a bunch of SQL right now.
863
:You're going to learn a
bunch of SQL on the job.
864
:Get really good at SQL.
865
:Um, you know, do really
learn the business.
866
:Cause I think marketing something that's
new to you, it'd be new to me as well.
867
:Like really learn your domain.
868
:And then, you know, maybe, you know.
869
:I guess you started in February
or, or March, you know, maybe six
870
:years down the road, or not six
years, a year or two down the road.
871
:You know, maybe you, you switch to a
different team, or, or maybe you go
872
:into like a, a data scientist role
and you do that for two to three
873
:years and then, you know, all of a
sudden you're, you're like an expert,
874
:you know, data guy in marketing.
875
:You combine those two things.
876
:That's a huge niche.
877
:I, I, I see such a bright
future for you, man.
878
:I'm, I'm super excited for you
and couldn't, couldn't be more.
879
:More happy for you also couldn't
happen to a better person.
880
:So congratulations on all your success.
881
:You know, just, just to recap 15 K new
job has way more, you know, place to
882
:expand 3000 followers on LinkedIn in
like, in like four months, basically.
883
:That's crazy.
884
:And I think it goes a huge testament
to who you are as a person.
885
:Right.
886
:Thank you so much, Avery.
887
:Yeah.
888
:I just, like I said, you're, you're one of
my mentors in this data journey and you've
889
:been an absolute huge help in everything.
890
:So I love everything that DCJ has
been able to let me do and grow.
891
:It's still, it's still helping
me even after I finished, you
892
:know, most of those projects.
893
:So looking forward to that
sequel part when that comes out.
894
:Oh, it's, it's coming out.
895
:It's coming out soon.
896
:So yeah, looking, looking
forward to that as well.
897
:And yeah, great stuff.
898
:Any, any parting words you'd
like to leave the people with?
899
:Yeah.
900
:So it's, it's going to be
a tough road, but like, I.
901
:I don't want to say that because
of my skills I got to where I am,
902
:but I, one thing that my brother,
I've heard my brother say is that
903
:luck favors those who are prepared.
904
:So I, I want to say I'm very blessed and
I'm very lucky to have meet the people
905
:that I have met and also to get to be
in the position that I have, I am in,
906
:but the thing is you got to be prepared.
907
:You know, you got to put the work
in, you got to study, you got to
908
:learn and like when luck, when luck
happens to you, you're prepared.
909
:So that's just one thing I would say.
910
:For sure, for sure.
911
:I like that.
912
:Well, Steven, it's been
an absolute pleasure.
913
:We'll have your link to
your LinkedIn down below.
914
:And yeah, we'll see you more on LinkedIn.
915
:We look forward to more posts.
916
:I hope you enjoyed that episode.
917
:And if you did, I'm going to
have an awesome free masterclass
918
:that I know you're going to love.
919
:We're going to talk about a lot of
things this episode talked about.
920
:You can get it absolutely for
free at data career jumpstart.
921
:com slash training, or using the
link in the show notes down below.
922
:Hope to see you there.