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Mason went from teaching middle school choir to a financial analyst job at Humana in 40 days. I asked him how.

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⌚ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Choir teacher to Humana

09:03 – Teaching stopped working

12:33 – Go meet people

16:12 – Apply before you feel ready

20:06 – Fake it a little

24:30 – Get a referral

🔗 CONNECT WITH MASON

🤝 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-rice-a98559330/

🎵 Follow his new choir, Voices of Kentuckiana 👉 https://www.instagram.com/voicesky/

🔗 CONNECT WITH AVERY

🎥 YouTube Channel

🤝 LinkedIn

📸 Instagram

🎵 TikTok

💻 Website

Mentioned in this episode:

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https://datacareerjumpstart.com/daa

I was a middle school choir

teacher, and now I'm working at

2

Humana as a financial analyst.

3

I knew I was done teaching when I

prevented a murder in my classroom

4

Because I wasn't considering it at all.

5

I didn't even know it existed.

6

And so I found this journal entry

that I wrote after I got my job, okay?

7

And it says, "On October 25th," this

8

the Data Analytics Accelerator.

9

I learned Excel, Tableau, and SQL.

10

On December 4th, I accepted a job

as a financial analyst at Humana."

11

So it really was, like, 35, 40 days.

12

The job offer was $75,000, work

from home four days a week.

13

There were probably 300

applicants on the first day.

14

But I think important point was

the job that I ended up landing was

15

the 24th job that I applied for.

16

It's not all about the techniques.

17

Sometimes it's about who you know.

18

I have a healthy amount of delusion.

19

This is Mason Rice.

20

He's a choir director and conductor that

pivoted out of the classroom and into

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data analytics in less than six weeks.

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He didn't have a fancy tech degree.

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He didn't have a data background, and six

weeks before he got hired at a Fortune 50

24

company as a financial analyst, he didn't

even really know what a data analyst was.

25

So here's exactly how Mason did

it through the full story Mason,

26

welcome to the Data Career Podcast.

27

So I'm excited to hear about your

journey from going from a choir

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teacher to financial analytics.

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So tell us where you work right now

and, uh, how long you've been there.

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Sure.

31

Uh, I'm so excited to be here.

32

Um, you know, when I was going through,

like, the Data Analytics Accelerator,

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I listened to probably every o-

episode of this podcast that you had.

34

So this is really so full circle for me.

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Uh, I'm really excited to be here.

36

Um, so what I did before, uh, I worked

at Humana, um, I was teaching choir.

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I taught high school

choir for several years.

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I taught middle school choir for a

short time here in Louisville, Kentucky.

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Um, but today I am working at Humana.

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Um, I'm a financial analyst in

the risk adjustment department, so

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you can catch me reporting on, uh,

Medicare star ratings and how they

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impact our company financially.

43

Okay, that's crazy.

44

So you were, like, teaching, like,

eighth graders, like, how to sing

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and doing, like, performances and

being, like, the, like, the conductor,

46

and then suddenly, like- Yeah,

allegedly Okay, that's awesome.

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And then suddenly you're, like, on

spreadsheets and, like, crunching numbers.

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That doesn't seem like a very

natural, uh, career transition.

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So, uh, like- No, it wasn't, and it didn't

really feel like it sometimes either.

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Yeah, I- It wasn't,

yeah … I can imagine.

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That's, that's such a, a,

a crazy, a crazy story.

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Um, so, like, do you use

Excel at your job right now?

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What type of tools do you use at your job?

54

Oh, yeah.

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Um, I would say Excel is probably

the majority of what I use.

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Um, SQL is really high

up on that list, too.

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Um, I am also using Power

BI, um, to a degree.

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I had to learn SAS on the

job, um, so I didn't have that

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skill before I took the job.

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Um, but I've had to learn

how to write some SAS code.

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And then, um, a- now we are moving

into Databricks, so learning

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Databricks and a little bit of Python

has also been, um, on my plate.

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Wow.

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So you've learned quite a bit

since you've been there and you,

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you know, you learned some of this

stuff before you landed the job.

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I love that you're learning on the job.

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I think that's important

that people recognize that.

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Um, but, but if- Mm-hmm … I guess

you had to choose the top three in

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order, it'd be Excel, SQL, Power BI?

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You got it.

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Okay, got it.

72

Um, and what type of data

are, are you looking at?

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You're looking at, like, Medicare data?

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Is that what you kinda said?

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Yeah, for sure.

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So, um, generally looking

at member-level data.

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Um, just trying to figure out, like,

I'm looking at county rates, I'm looking

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at star ratings, I'm looking at, um,

how many, how much money we're getting

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per member per month, per person.

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I'm also, like, looking at the

enterprise as a whole, comparing

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data from competitors to see kinda

where we stack up, um, in terms

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of performance on s- star ratings.

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And there's a really complex system of

how the government pays out for Medicare,

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uh, which is constantly changing and

evolving, and they want to pay us

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less and less money as time goes on.

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And so it's kind of a, uh, uh, a

challenge to keep up with the changes,

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but also to stay ahead of competitors

in a way, in a field where, like, margin

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percents can be really, really low.

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So every, every penny really matters.

90

Um, and so we're kinda just

looking at that data and trying

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to stay ahead of the game.

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That is kinda crazy to hear, um,

that, like, margin's small in, in

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healthcare 'cause you often think that

healthcare is kind of ripping you off.

94

It feels so expensive in America.

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And we should, and we should

mention that Humana is, uh, like a

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healthcare, uh, company in the US.

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It is, like, one of the biggest ones.

98

Mm-hmm.

99

I think you guys are, like, you're

at least a Fortune 50 company.

100

You guys might even be bigger than that.

101

Right.

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Um, so this is, like, a huge

healthcare company, um, in the US.

103

We should mention that you are,

uh, located in Kentucky, which,

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which is kind of, like, kind of

close to the middle of America.

105

A little bit, a little bit

to the east of the middle.

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Mm-hmm.

107

Um, okay, very cool.

108

And, like, tell us a little bit about

what your work situation i- is like.

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Are you in the office full time?

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Are you remote?

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How does that work?

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Sure.

113

Yeah.

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So I'm in Louisville, Kentucky.

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I've been living here for two years,

and, um, Humana's headquarters

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is in Louisville, so they have

remote workers all over the place.

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But my specific team is a hybrid team.

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So I go into the office

on Wednesdays only.

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Um, so Monday, Tuesday, Thursday,

Friday, I am working at home.

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Um, and so that has been super nice

balance for me 'cause I love having

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some face time with people, um, and

getting to get out of the house.

122

But, um, the working from home

is also really, really nice.

123

Though there are people even on

my team who are fully remote.

124

But generally, like, for Humana, if

you live within, you know, a 30-minute,

125

45-minute drive, you're probably coming

in one day a week, if not a f- a few more.

126

That's something that I

think is so interesting.

127

Everyone wants a remote job, and, uh,

I've started to see some, I don't want

128

to call it backlash, but some pushback

to remote jobs where it's like, I

129

don't know how healthy, uh, completely

remote jobs are just because I think

130

you, I think you get better training

when you go into the office 'cause it's

131

just, it's hard to train people online.

132

It's, it's hard to,

like, schedule meetings.

133

Um, I think you get better opportunities,

uh, like, to get raises and promotions

134

just 'cause, like, you actually are

forming a relationship with an actual

135

human being, like, with your boss, versus

just, like, talking to them online.

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And I just think, like, mentally

and emotionally, we were meant as

137

humans to interact with people,

like, actually interacting with them.

138

I think, I think there's so much to be

said about a hybrid job like what you're

139

talking about, where it's actually

worlds better than a remote job.

140

'Cause, like, really, it's hybrid, but

you're, you could just call it 80% remote.

141

I mean, that's what, that's

what it is for you, right?

142

Mm-hmm.

143

But that 20% feels so important.

144

You've enjoyed the 20% in office?

145

Oh, yeah.

146

And I completely agree with you.

147

I mean, in fact, like, I was … I

mean, I was working in a school, right?

148

I mean, it doesn't get any

more in person than that.

149

No.

150

Right?

151

You're hands-on dealing

with people all the time.

152

And so I was so ready for the

pendulum to swing the other way.

153

I was like, "Oh, no,

let's be totally remote.

154

Let me, let me get, you know … " It

seems so nice to be so convenient.

155

And as time has gone on, I kinda

wish I had two or three days in the

156

office to go in and work, just because

I feel like that energy exchange

157

between people is so important.

158

And what you said is exactly true.

159

Like- The way you connect with

somebody in person is so different

160

than the way you connect with

them online and, and I find online

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connections are difficult sometimes.

162

They can be really awkward.

163

You know?

164

You can't…

165

It's harder to have a give and

take on a, on a Zoom call, right?

166

Because you, you can't listen

and speak at the same time in the

167

same way that you can in person.

168

Yeah, it's like when you're really

making eye contact with somebody, and

169

you can notice their breathing and

their body language, and you can read

170

the room when everybody else is…

171

When there are other people involved too.

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I think it's so valuable, um,

something that I've really missed.

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Um, and I would also say, like,

working, working remotely can be lonely.

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It can be, it can be depressing.

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Um, it can be really repetitive.

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It can be very comfortable,

but it, it's also…

177

You know, it's, it comes

with its cons as well.

178

I hope, I hope everyone just

listening kind of internalizes that

179

and maybe instead of applying to

remote-only jobs, try some hybrid jobs.

180

'Cause the other thing

about hybrid jobs…

181

I, I'm gonna call them 80% remote

jobs, 'cause that's what, that's what

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yours, that's what yours is right now.

183

Those 80% remote jobs, like, they're

just way less competitive because I

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can only, you know, like, I can only…

185

Okay, almost.

186

You did say there were some people

that are fully remote on your team.

187

But the majority of the people

on your team, you know, have

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to live in the Louisville area.

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And so when a job opens up, uh,

for your team, it's like the whole

190

entire country, the whole entire

world can't apply for those jobs.

191

You know, only people

in Louisville, Kentucky.

192

So your application pool

is just so much smaller.

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So I…

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Anyways, everyone listening,

start to apply to hybrid roles.

195

Um, okay, I wanna talk about- Oh, yeah

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that in-person job you

had, the choir teacher.

197

You're, you're right that, like, other

than, like, being a doctor or a nurse,

198

like, teaching is, like, one of those

jobs that is, like, in person, hands-on.

199

Um, so you're teaching, you

know, all these students music.

200

You're, you're, you're,

uh, a choir teacher.

201

Um, like, at what point were you

like, "Uh, I don't know if I wanna

202

do this the rest of my life"?

203

Like, what was, what was

so hard about that job?

204

Sure.

205

I mean, in my first job, I was

fresh out of college, and I mean,

206

and any first-year teacher can, can

commiserate with the energy and the,

207

the crazy, uh, amount of effort it

takes to just get started as a teacher.

208

It's really just kind

of unbearable at times.

209

It's really emotional.

210

It was, it was emotional for me.

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I'm an emotional guy.

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I teach music.

213

What can I say?

214

But it really, it just requires so much

effort and so much investment, and there's

215

so many factors that are unpredictable.

216

These kids, they bring in their

own baggage and problems to the

217

door, and it's so often you have to

check yours and just be a caregiver

218

Uh, much more than a teacher.

219

And I taught through the pandemic.

220

I, uh, I only got, like, a year and a half

of, you know, in-person instruction before

221

I was teaching with a mask for two years.

222

Um, and for me, it's always

been about mentorship and

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connection, uh, with, with people.

224

And so, uh, the mask kinda

took that away for me for that

225

kind of level of connection.

226

So, uh, that's when I left

to go get my master's.

227

But, um, when I went to go teach--

When I go- went back to go teach

228

middle school, I just found that it

was a totally different landscape.

229

I found that I wasn't really able to

teach the way that I wanted to teach

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or teach, um, primarily, um, because

in that role, I definitely was m-

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m- majorly a caregiver and a, and a

therapist and a babysitter and a, uh…

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Yeah.

233

Th- thi- But I wanted to teach choir,

and so I kinda felt like in a way that

234

was not available to me, um, anymore,

or at least where I was and Yeah, I, I

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was getting, I started having nightmares

about this, going into work and waking

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up as late as possible and going home and

not saying a single word, and was just

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really struggling at the time that I was

looking to pivot ca- uh, pivot careers.

238

I had just gotten to a really low point.

239

I mean, probably some- one of the lowest

points I'd been in, uh, was just be-

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this because of teaching and just because

of all the, all of the things going on.

241

I mean, I was dealing with lots

of violence in my classroom.

242

I was dealing with lots of,

uh, some really troubling home

243

lives with students, and that…

244

What it, it is a beautifully compassionate

job, um, but it is incredibly taxing.

245

And so I think I had reached, I, I had

reached my limit with what I could handle.

246

Do not blame you one bit, and I think

everyone who's listening, one, loves

247

teachers, and we're thankful for you

teachers, but also recognizes how sucky

248

of a job it is and how hard it is.

249

My mom's a teacher and, uh, you know,

we're, we're recording this kind of,

250

uh, during the, during the summertime,

and my mo- I was like, "Mom, when

251

do you have to go back to school?"

252

Well, she's like…

253

And she's like, "The official

day is this, but I'm gonna go

254

back a week early to prepare."

255

I'm like, "Mom, you're just

working a week for free for, to,

256

like, you don't get paid for that.

257

You're just doing it out of

the goodness of your heart.

258

Mom, I love you.

259

You're a good person, but no one should

have to work a week for free, especially,

260

you know, teachers in America."

261

But alas, that's the, the system we're in.

262

Okay, so you're like, "I, I

gotta get out of teaching.

263

This is, this is too much, you

know, taxing on, on my wellbeing.

264

This is, this is very difficult.

265

I wanna try something new."

266

How did you decide on data?

267

Like at what point were you like,

"Oh, I wanna become a data analyst"?

268

Okay, it's actually wild because

I wasn't considering it at all.

269

I didn't even know it existed.

270

Um, but what I was doing was going

out and trying to find community.

271

Um, I was just out and

I joined some choirs.

272

I was singing in this group called

the Louisville Chamber Choir, and

273

I had made some friends, and had

started like speaking into the ether

274

that I was like ready to change,

ready to s- do something different.

275

And, um, a woman by the name of

Erin Sheena comes to me from across

276

the room and is like, "Hello.

277

I know we have like friends in

common and we've been singing

278

together in this group."

279

And she…

280

I kind of asked her what she did and I was

like, "That sounds like what I wanna do.

281

Can we get like coffee and talk

about what you do for work?"

282

And so Erin and I, we got, we had

like a, we had a get together.

283

We kiki'd and we talked about…

284

'Cause she had changed from

music therapy to this job and I

285

was like, "How did you do that?

286

Uh, point me in the right direction

'cause I need a change," and I knew I

287

wanted to work in something with money.

288

I knew that I enjoyed, um,

like working in Excel, and I

289

thought coding was interesting.

290

As, as she was explaining it to

me, it sounded really intriguing.

291

So yeah, she pointed me in the

direction of the DAA and I, uh-

292

Yeah, I, I really, I put my all

into it and really didn't look back.

293

Um, so I watched the YouTube videos

and listened to the podcast and, um,

294

knew that I would give, give it a shot.

295

Okay, this…

296

There's so many cool things here that

I, I need everyone in the audience to,

297

to pay attention to and r- and remember.

298

So if you've been a listener to the

podcast for a while, you'll know

299

that Erin Sheena, we've interviewed

Erin on the podcast before.

300

Uh, it was a few years ago,

though, so some of you guys

301

who are OGs might remember.

302

Mm-hmm.

303

I did a, a, a rerun of her episode

maybe about a year ago, so some of

304

you guys have probably heard it.

305

But yeah, she was a music therapist,

uh, like Mason said, and she joined my

306

accelerator program, was able to pivot,

uh, to a, a pretty similar role, uh,

307

to Mason's role, we'll get to that in

a bit, um, and become a data analyst.

308

Okay, so you, so you met Erin, and

she was like, "I'm a data analyst.

309

I used to be a music therapist.

310

Music therapist was really, you know,

taxing and a very difficult job,

311

and I was able to pivot into data."

312

And you're like, "That sounds fun.

313

I like Excel.

314

I'm interested in coding."

315

Did you like puzzles, like, growing up?

316

Like, did you always like numbers, or was,

like, math something you didn't enjoy?

317

Oh, yeah.

318

I mean, full disclosure, I did

get my minor in math- Ah, okay.

319

That's good to know … in my undergrad.

320

My mother was a math teacher.

321

And, um, I mean, really, music and math do

have lots of overlap, um, intellectually.

322

So I, uh, I've alwa- yeah, I love puzzles.

323

I love games.

324

I'm a big board gamer.

325

I'm a big video game nerd anyway, and so I

find things like that really interesting.

326

But yeah, I, uh, independently

was applying for jobs and, and

327

Erin ended up being my reference.

328

You know, our desks, by the way,

are, like, right next to one another.

329

I saw her yesterday.

330

We see each other all the time, but

she was really my, my in at Humana,

331

and is one of my dearest friends

and, um, I kind of followed her

332

path in, step by step, to be honest.

333

Like, I listened to that

podcast episode with her and was

334

like, "Yeah, I wanna do that."

335

And so I probably listened to it, like,

four times until I made it happen, so.

336

And that's, that's my, my next

question exactly, is, like,

337

how did you make this happen?

338

So you're, you're at this, like, uh,

singing event, and you meet Erin, and

339

she explains, "Yeah, I was piv- able

to pivot from music to, to data."

340

You go get a coffee chat, you know,

you explain what you wanna do, and

341

she's like, "This is how I did it.

342

You know, I joined Avery Smith's

Data Analytics Accelerator,

343

was able to pivot out."

344

And you're like, "Okay, I'm

just gonna follow that."

345

So you, you end up joining the

accelerator, and, uh, how long-

346

Mm-hmm … did the whole process take

from, like, deciding you want to become

347

a data analyst to your first job offer?

348

Okay.

349

So before this interview, I went

and I g- I grabbed my diary.

350

And so I found this journal entry

that I wrote after I got my job, okay?

351

And it says, "On October 25th," this

352

the Data Analytics Accelerator.

353

I learned Excel, Tableau, and SQL.

354

On December 4th, I accepted a job

as a financial analyst at Humana."

355

So it really was like- 35, 40 days.

356

It was a whirlwind of a time, um,

but it happened really, really fast.

357

And, uh, the job offer was $75,000,

work from home four days a week,

358

which was, like, already more than I

was making as a teacher, by the way.

359

Um, and a lot-- and better benefits, so.

360

You were in.

361

Yeah.

362

That's it.

363

Um, so I- when I started the program,

I, uh, I'm an all-in kind of person, and

364

so I was like, "Okay, I'm doing this."

365

I made-- I, I think I finished

the first module in a day.

366

You know, I woke up at 8:00 a.m.,

367

and I was like, "I'm doing this."

368

And every little strong arm

emoji, I was like, "I'm doing it.

369

I'm doing it."

370

I made my LinkedIn.

371

I had all my photos fig- figured out, and

then, um, I was just like 100% gung-ho.

372

I was listening to the

podcast on my way to school.

373

I was listening to it on

the way out of school.

374

I was listening to it in my,

uh, in my, what is it called?

375

Planning period.

376

Wow, sad that I've already

forgotten what that was.

377

Um, and I even-- I also had, like,

27 Sick days that had just been

378

accrued, I was cashing those in.

379

I was like, you know, I- if I'm

gonna leave this job, which I

380

did, I'm gonna forfeit all of

those sick days, which I did.

381

I ended up forfeiting the rest of

them 'cause I left my, left my job.

382

So I was using all the sick

days as, like, project time.

383

So I had my portfolio

with, like, in Excel.

384

I probably did the first five or

six modules in two weeks, in a

385

week or two weeks, and I applied…

386

See, I also pulled up my job

tracker, 'cause I u- I used that

387

job tracker that you posted.

388

I applied for my first job October 31st.

389

So within a week I was applying for jobs.

390

Okay.

391

That's crazy.

392

How many jobs did you apply for total?

393

Okay.

394

So the…

395

Of, of the ones that I put on the

tracker, which probably wasn't all, 80.

396

I applied for 80.

397

Yeah, that's a good number.

398

Um, yeah.

399

I, I, I think I was probably pushing

100, 'cause I did have a low point

400

where I was going through all of

the, like, LinkedIn quick applies.

401

I mean, obviously I didn't

get any of those jobs.

402

Um, but I think an important part,

or important point was the job that

403

I ended up landing was the 24th job

that I applied for, and I didn't hear

404

anything about that for several weeks.

405

Um, I had already applied for many,

many other jobs by the time they

406

finally got back around to me, and then

I fi- I accepted it on December 4th.

407

So it was about a month of interviews-

Wow … and stuff before the job.

408

So many cool things there.

409

So, like, in six weeks you were

able to be like, "I wanna be a data

410

analyst," to having an o- a job offer.

411

Uh, that's amazing.

412

Congratulations.

413

That is so cool.

414

Thanks.

415

Um, and, and that 24th, so it

was the 24th job you applied.

416

For first, so first off, I wanna say,

like, you, if your first job that you

417

applied for was, like, almost on Halloween

it sounded like, that means it was, like,

418

a week into the- Mm-hmm … accelerator.

419

And I think that's such a good

point, that so many people…

420

Like, you had only heard about data

analytics for, like, maybe a m- maybe,

421

like, three weeks, a month before

applying to your first data analyst job.

422

And I can't even tell you- Mm-hmm … um,

how many people wait years before

423

applying to the job, 'cause they never

feel like they're gonna be ready.

424

So, like, what was your thought

process of, like, "You know what?

425

Screw it, I'm just gonna apply to jobs."

426

Like, h- how did you feel ready?

427

Oh, I have a healthy amount of delusion.

428

I- and I think that is a very important

thing to bring into your life.

429

Just a little bit of I

can do anything energy.

430

Um, and, and actually I would have

like, I would have a little…

431

Before I have, would have an interview

to like talk about this thing that I had

432

never done before, um, I would just like

have some mirror moments with myself

433

where I would just like make eye contact

and say, you know, "I'm a data analyst.

434

I can do this."

435

You know, "I have what it

takes to like, get this job."

436

So honestly, it was kind of

like a mindfulness practice in a

437

way, um, while it was happening.

438

And I was doing lots of yoga and drinking

lots of tea and just trying to remain calm

439

because, you know, my job was so chaotic.

440

Um, it was so chaotic and I really,

um, was coping with that in a

441

way by, uh, by spending all of my

energy trying to make this happen.

442

Um, but yeah, I, I think a

healthy amount of delusion can

443

serve someone pr- pretty well.

444

I mean, 'cause on my,

on my resume, I put…

445

I would tailor the title.

446

I would just put Mason Rice, data

analyst or business analyst or financial

447

analyst, whatever the job posting

was, and put it on there and add my…

448

You know, and I kept my, uh, teaching

experience on my resume, but I put my

449

data analytics stuff at the very top and

all of my portfolio and stuff and skills

450

at the top and tried to like push the

s- the teaching stuff down a little bit.

451

But, um, but yeah

452

That's, I mean, I love that,

having a healthy delusion.

453

I think that's, that's a great thing.

454

And, and one thing, one thing I try

to talk about in the program is,

455

like, one, I don't think anyone's

ever ready to become a data analyst,

456

especially 'cause it's always changing.

457

A- and two, it's like if you don't think

you're ready to be a, a data analyst or

458

apply to data analytics jobs yet, well,

can you at least fake it till you make it?

459

'Cause I promise you, like- Period

… like, you're more ready than you realize.

460

And a lot of the times when, you know,

you're getting rejected, you know,

461

'cause that happens, 'cause, like, what?

462

There's, I don't know how many interviews

you got out of, out of those 80 or 100

463

that you applied for, but, like, over,

over 75% of them, 80% of them, you

464

probably got ghosted or rejected, right?

465

And- Oh, yeah … and I think that s-

people think that means, "Oh, I suck.

466

I suck as a data analyst."

467

And it's like, no, you're normal.

468

That's how it is when

you're applying for jobs.

469

It's like, it's like, for instance,

a Hall of Fame baseball player, if

470

they hit the ball one out of three

times, they're a Hall of Famer, right?

471

And it's not like, "Oh, I missed

it two out of three times.

472

I suck."

473

It's like, no, that's par for the course.

474

That's, like, what we're supposed to do.

475

And I think some people get

s- so discouraged with that.

476

Um, so how were you able to stay

optimistic when you weren't hearing

477

back or when you got rejected?

478

Well, for me, I think I, I kinda

knew what I was up against in a way.

479

Like, when I applied for my job,

there were probably 300 applicants

480

on the first day, you know?

481

And every time a role gets

posted at Humana, that's

482

kind of the story, you know?

483

There's always all of these applicants.

484

So my strategy was always, you know,

what can I do, what, what can I do

485

that's gonna make myself stand out?

486

Um, the number one thing was apply

for hybrid jobs in Louisville.

487

I mean, I was exclusively applying

for hybrid jobs in Louisville

488

because I knew that my…

489

If I could just get my foot in the door

and get an interview, I could, I could

490

land it because I could talk my way to it.

491

Uh I would make, I would somehow

be able to convince those people,

492

or at least, like, to have a, to

start making connections in a way.

493

Um, so- Applying for hybrid

jobs, uh, also just knowing that

494

applying and then moving on.

495

Like, if I never hear…

496

I don't expect to hear from most- for

most of these jobs that I'm applying

497

for, so I'm gonna give them, like,

the time that the job speaks to me.

498

You know, if I'm not that

excited about the job, uh, I'll,

499

I'll fill out the application.

500

But if I'm really excited about it or

it seems like I could really have a

501

shot, I'll spend a lot of time on this.

502

Um, but I kind of had, like,

drafted my elevator pitch.

503

I had drafted my answers to,

like, common questions and just

504

learned what applications were

looking for, what they were asking

505

for, and it made it a lot easier.

506

And yeah, I d- I definitely didn't

take any personal offense by not

507

getting a job because at some point,

you know, they never see your face.

508

You know, they never get to speak to you

until you're in an interview, and so it's

509

like if you say no, you're missing out.

510

Dude, that, that is a great attitude.

511

Um, how else did you stand out?

512

So one of the things that you mentioned

earlier was you were able to secure a

513

referral for this application, and that

was Erin- Okay … um, who had joined,

514

you know, my accelerator program,

came and did data analysis at Humana.

515

You found this opening at Humana, you

apply for it, and she was a referral.

516

Did…

517

Was that helpful in the interview process?

518

Like, was…

519

How did that process go down?

520

Oh yeah, absolutely, because my boss had

a desk right next to Aaron, you know?

521

Um, I mean, I would say that it's probably

the primary reason I got an interview, um,

522

because Aaron was willing to vouch for me.

523

Um, but once it was the interview, you

know, it was really up to me, um, to talk

524

about my projects 'cause they, they were

specifically asking about my projects,

525

my, the experience that I had at Sequel.

526

Um, I had a, I had a few technical

questions in there, you know, about join

527

types and, uh, what the most complicated

thing in Excel I had ever done was.

528

Um, oh, and this is totally off topic,

but my Excel project was on iFood.

529

Is it still the iFood-

Yep … Excel project?

530

Yeah.

531

I got that in a tr- I got that

as a trivia question last week.

532

Like, what is a Brazilian, like,

food delivery, uh, company?

533

And I was all on that.

534

Um- That's awesome.

535

So I thought about you

just, like, two weeks ago.

536

Oh, good.

537

Um, but yeah, I, at that point,

like, to stand out, I was just

538

gonna lead into my humanity.

539

I was like, I was just gonna try to show

them who I was more than what I could do.

540

Um, like I, every opportunity I had to

talk about my friends and my family and my

541

loved ones and things that I loved, I did.

542

I really tried to lean in to

just being a hard worker, um,

543

loving collaborating with people.

544

Um, I talked about my master's

mentor from my conducting degree.

545

I talked about my favorite principal

'cause u- 'cause all of those questions

546

like, uh, for the two interviews

that I did, the two different

547

companies, they both asked me, like,

"Who's your favorite boss been?"

548

And that was my opportunity

to talk about my experience.

549

Like, I'm gonna talk about my mentor.

550

I'm gonna talk about my principal.

551

Um, or what, like, all of the questions

that they're gonna ask you from like a

552

per- personal standpoint, you can use

your experience, uh, to talk about.

553

And a lot of those things are gonna

554

tell the story of who you are more

than, like, what you're able to

555

do in Excel, 'cause they can teach

you what they want you to know.

556

Because it, I, well, I would say

starting at any new company is always

557

gonna be a learning curve anyway.

558

I mean, I had a million different

acronyms to learn at Humana just because

559

I'm not part of that culture, and I had

to learn-- I mean, I've learned things

560

about finance, I've learned things

about healthcare, but I didn't know

561

any of that going in, and that's okay.

562

Like, I think at the end of the day,

what m- what at least the people on

563

my team were looking for was somebody

who was willing to learn, someone

564

who would be a good person they

could get along with, um, and that

565

brought, uh, at least a, a willingness

to give it a shot, um- To a table.

566

Uh, I, Mason, I just think you, you

brought up so many good points there.

567

Um, and, and one thing I

think you're really good at…

568

So, like, guys, undoubtedly Mason's

a, a smart person, a capable person.

569

Um, like, good, good technically.

570

Um, can understand data and make

it easy, communicate it well.

571

But, uh, if you, if you listen closely

to this story, like, you're really gonna

572

find that he landed this job because of

his social skills and, and his networking.

573

It's like Mason was brave enough to,

you know, he was new to a city, and

574

to go to these awkward events where

you don't know anyone, and you're

575

like, "Hi, I'm new to this city.

576

Uh, like, nice to meet you."

577

Like, you, you were social enough

and, and brave enough to go to those

578

things and meet people like Aaron.

579

And then you were brave enough

to know, "Hey, Aaron, do you

580

mind if we go get coffee so I can

learn more about your career?"

581

Uh, and then, you know, you're able to

say, "Hey, Aaron, can I use those a- as

582

a referral for this job application?"

583

And I think so many people are, are scared

of that, are just not willing to do it.

584

Or, or maybe it's just they don't see

the value in it because it's, it's

585

kinda like planting a seed, right?

586

It's like you don't

see the benefit- Mm-hmm

587

the immediate benefit of

doing these social things.

588

'Cause a lotta times social things or

networking doesn't actually lead to

589

anything valuable ever, or it's, you

know, many weeks or months or years before

590

it actually is something in- valuable.

591

And I think people get so addicted

to the dopamine of, I just learned,

592

you know, something new in SQL.

593

I hit execute on the SQL query, and I

got the results- Yes … immediately.

594

And they're like, ooh, dopamine hit.

595

Mm.

596

I'm, I'm making progress.

597

And, and I think some- p- people

get so addicted to learning

598

skills is how I land a data job.

599

And it's really, they're getting

distracted is learning skills

600

is how I get a, a dopamine hit.

601

It's like there's no correlation-

Mm … between how skilled you are at

602

SQL and how quickly, uh, you land a job.

603

'Cause, like, I mean, you, you, like you

said, you dove in headfirst, you did the

604

modules, you, you did the SQL modules.

605

But it's like you couldn't have been

that good at SQL after six weeks of

606

learning what SQL even meant, right?

607

Compared to someone who's

been doing it for a year.

608

But you were able to land a job in those

six weeks because you followed the full

609

SPN method of learning some skills.

610

Like, there was a bare minimum

amount of skills you had to have.

611

You had a project with SQL in your

portfolio, and then your networking.

612

Like, really it was all

three of them landed a job.

613

And I think some people get so addicted

to the, the skills part of it that

614

they kinda forget the other two.

615

Like, do you agree with me

that, like- Oh, yeah Absolutely.

616

I mean, I think you're touching on

something that's affecting our entire

617

culture, uh, generally, is that,

you know, we have a dopamine hit

618

in our pocket, like, all the time.

619

And so it's kind of like we're

chasing that all the time.

620

But the humanity and the person to

person has really been my whole career.

621

I mean, the through line of my tr-

trajectory in all of my jobs has just

622

been connecting with people, getting

to know people, working with people.

623

How do I get this group of people

to do what I'm asking them to do?

624

And now, how can I use this group

of people that I know to help me

625

get to the place I wanna go next?

626

Um, I completely agree.

627

And yeah After like the first two

weeks on my job, I was like, "Yeah,

628

no, I actually don't know anything."

629

I was like, "I don't know what I'm…

630

There's so many things that I don't know."

631

You know, I was handed my-- I inherited

some codes and my first job was just

632

like, "Okay, go learn the code."

633

I didn't know how to

comment things in SQL.

634

I didn't know that you could like hit the

little green button up at the top of SQL

635

Server and like take a line of code out.

636

I didn't know that you could run

like little chunks of code at once.

637

I didn't know like really

how to join anything.

638

I knew what the joins were 'cause I

knew what those little Venn diagrams

639

were enough to say like, "Yeah, a

left join keeps the first table."

640

But, uh, I didn't know the practical

application of that or what questions

641

were really trying to solve.

642

I just knew the skill.

643

Um, and so yeah, I think all the other

stuff comes and, um, you know, and I

644

was okay with it coming on the job.

645

And, you know, I, I, I was very

straightforward, uh, after I, after

646

I got the job to say, "Look, I'm

gonna make mistakes, you know.

647

I anticipate that.

648

Just be patient with me.

649

I'll figure it out.

650

You know, I, I am best

friends with Google.

651

I, I am best friends with, uh, my coworker

up, up the cubicle, and, uh, I'll ask

652

her, you know, if I, if I need some help."

653

And, and I, I was able to

figure it out as time went on.

654

Um, and I'm still…

655

I mean, to this day, I'm still

figuring stuff out, you know.

656

Like I have…

657

Th- there are codes that I have lived

with for a year and a half now, and I

658

look at it and I think, "Is this really,

is this really what I've been using?

659

You know?

660

Uh, or maybe I should do something

about this part at some point."

661

Um, but you know, also when I took this

job, they had documentation that told

662

me step by step what I needed to do.

663

You know?

664

They had it l- they had the

job written on paper for me.

665

So every time, every time it came

around to I, where, when I needed to

666

make my reports or whatever, I would

go down the checklist, do number

667

one, do number two, do number three.

668

And by the th- fourth or fifth time

of doing that, I was like, "Okay, I

669

kinda know what the checklist is."

670

And I'm now like looking at how to

validate this data and how to make,

671

make sure that it's exactly what we

want it to be, and maybe ask some more

672

intelligent questions than just doing the

job, uh, which is what I think they…

673

Is, is where, you know, I, I've

been headed in my journey now.

674

Um, but yeah.

675

And I, I think it's just being open

to having, having those relationships,

676

being okay with failing a little bit,

being okay-- And not even failing,

677

just making mistakes, um, and being

okay with Not knowing and just take,

678

I honestly, I, I'm all for taking

the leap and just going for it.

679

It, it can be messy.

680

I've certainly had some messy moments,

but, um, yeah, I still have a job

681

doing the thing that I wanted to do.

682

And you're getting paid to learn.

683

Like, that's, that's the whole goal

is, like, we try to get you, uh…

684

We teach you the, all you need to know

to land your first job, and then you can

685

go get paid to learn the rest on the job.

686

Because that's the best way to learn

anyways, because that way you're

687

maximizing your time, you're maximizing

your wallet, and honestly, like,

688

it's just the best place to learn

because you'll actually use everything

689

you're learning at work versus

you probably won't use everything

690

you learn in a school environment.

691

So, um, I love that.

692

One of the things you mentioned is, like,

you were, you were working, um, while

693

you were trying to, you know, pivot to

data analytics, and you, and you talked a

694

little bit about listening to the podcast.

695

I don't know if that's, like,

the publi- public data career

696

podcast or the member-only podcast

that you're listening to- Mm

697

on your commute to work.

698

Right.

699

You talked about utilizing, you

know, your holidays, your sick

700

days, those types of things.

701

Um, what else were you, like, kind of

studying, getting these job applications?

702

And was it early mornings for you?

703

Was it late nights?

704

Was it kind of all over the place?

705

Uh, it was mostly in the evenings,

um, because I mean, my school would

706

start at 7:20 AM, so I, I would

wake up at 6:30, which is late

707

to be waking up to go to work.

708

Um, and I was listening to

the members only podcast and

709

the public podcast as well.

710

But I was thinking about it all day at

school and trying to like, you know,

711

plan what's my, what's my goal for today?

712

If I can get through this SQL module

in the next two days, um, 'cause I

713

guess my goal was to at least have

five projects, two S- I wanted the

714

two SQL projects, I wanted the Tableau

and the Excel project for sure.

715

Um, and then go from there.

716

But yeah, I was using the evenings mostly.

717

Um, and the weekends.

718

I mean, I blocked off my

Saturdays and Sundays as well.

719

Uh, was calling in, um, to like miss

choir rehearsal a couple times 'cause I,

720

at that point I was just still a singer

and, um, I was using every free minute

721

I could to just, to make it happen.

722

But yeah, I mean, I really can't

stress enough, like if you don't

723

use your sick days, you lose them.

724

So just use them.

725

Uh, that was probably the biggest

thing for me, was just taking

726

the time off, um, to, to devote.

727

We, we should also mention that, um,

you know, you're talking about the

728

time to do all of this, that, um,

if I'm correct, you still haven't

729

finished the program completely.

730

Which, which I freaking love because

my, my, my point here is like,

731

my job is to land you a data job.

732

I don't care about you, you

know, finishing the program.

733

The…

734

If you finish the program

when you land a data job.

735

Um, so like you're, you, you have a

certificate, like we, we celebrate

736

you like, because you got a data job.

737

You did, you did the hard part.

738

Um, and I, I just wanna make that clear

because I think it's important that, you

739

know, people realize, you know, we're,

we're all learning data for job purposes.

740

We're not learning it for funsies.

741

We're learning it to, to have a job.

742

And you've, like you said, you've

done, you know, all of the, all

743

of the SQL, and I think you've

done all of the Tableau as well.

744

So like- Mm-hmm … you did everything

you were supposed to land that job.

745

You learned everything on the job

and, uh, I think that's fantastic.

746

I wanna talk about moving forward from

you, because by the time this episode

747

comes out- Sure … it'll probably be

public knowledge that you're, you're

748

taking a, a different job, kind of like

more of a, a dream passion job for you.

749

Um, you wanna tell us a

little bit about that?

750

Yeah, absolutely.

751

So here we are yet again

with another career pivot.

752

Um, but I am actually stepping into

the role of artistic director for

753

our local LGBTQ+ chorus, Voices of

Kentuckiana, here in Louisville.

754

Um, it's been in the works

for a while, uh, but I will be

755

going back into music full-time.

756

Um, so I, I, I'm also gonna be, um,

teaching choir temporarily at Bellarmine

757

University and working as a pianist

at the University of Louisville.

758

So, um, while I've been, you know,

working at Humana, I've also been

759

continuing to invest in music and invest

in my network here in Louisville, and

760

those have kinda come around and, uh,

now I'm stepping into this dream job.

761

I mean, I'm gonna get to conduct a chorus

of, like, 110 adults, um, who perform all

762

year long, um, music of all types, and

an advanced chorus of, like, 28 singers.

763

Um, it's, it's kinda, it's, it's the kinda

job that people retire into, you know?

764

It's like this is the job that

is just comfortable and fun and

765

mission-driven and, um, it's in the

nonprofit sector as well, so I've got

766

a lot of 501[c][3]3 and grant funding

paperwork that I'm gonna have to learn.

767

Um, but, um, it really is a great, uh

convergence of all the skills that I've

768

gained over my time, um, both at Humana

and teaching, teaching chorus as well.

769

Um, yeah, I, I'm like so thrilled

that this is happening in my

770

life, and it's really kind of

cosmically an unbelievable thing.

771

So yeah, I'm excited.

772

That's amazing.

773

Um, I think, I think it's important to,

to always reflect that, like, for…

774

I, I love data.

775

I think data's very interesting, but if

you told me that I could, like, have a

776

comfortable life doing sports stuff or

Pokemon stuff, I'd probably choose those

777

things uh, o- o- over data as well.

778

It's not like data's my

p- like, I love data.

779

Data's really fun, but it's not

like if all things were equal in,

780

in my life, like, if I could like…

781

For instance, uh, I have a, a, a

friend right now that just moved

782

over to Europe to play soccer.

783

Um, they're not making very much

money- Oh, wow … and, like, I

784

couldn't support my family doing that.

785

But, like, I'm super jealous.

786

Like, I wish I could just go, you

know, play professional soccer, you

787

know, somewhere, somewhere else.

788

So I think, I think it's awesome, like,

you're, you're following, uh, like,

789

what your, what your true passions work.

790

Like, I just think that's, that's great.

791

Um, and, and one thing I wanted, I

wanna talk about was, like, you worked

792

for, uh, a really big company, a really

big company in the US, like a behemoth

793

of a company, and I did as well.

794

I worked for, for ExxonMobil, which

is, like, one of the top 10 biggest

795

companies in the United States.

796

Um, and there's something to be

said about, like, corporate work,

797

no matter what you do, sometimes

can be a little soul-sucking.

798

When I was at Exxon, there was times

where I felt like I was, like, this

799

tiny, tiny gear that, like, just keeps

spinning no matter what in, like, this

800

huge, like, wall of different gears.

801

And often it felt like even if

I stopped spinning the gear,

802

everything kept moving on and that

my work felt a little meaningless.

803

Um, do you wanna just talk about,

like, what it was like to work

804

for a big company and maybe how it

differed from working from, like,

805

for instance, a choir or a school?

806

Yeah.

807

I mean, I think you hit the

nail on the head already.

808

Um, you know, a job is a job, is

a job, is a job, and it's always

809

gonna come with pros and cons.

810

And I found that moving from

teaching to this large corporation

811

was quite a culture shock.

812

Um, I really struggled.

813

I, I have struggled with that the

whole time I've been at Humana.

814

Um, and Humana overall, and my, my team

in general, they have a great culture.

815

Everybody gets along really well.

816

It's a very, very positive environment.

817

However, there is just a, an element

of superficiality that comes with

818

working in a large corporation.

819

Um, lots of like, "We're

doing what's best.

820

We're doing what's best for our members.

821

We're doing what's best for our

people, for the world, for…"

822

And sometimes it's really

hard to buy into that.

823

Um, sometimes I've really struggled

feeling like my work actually mattered,

824

um, that my voice was being heard, um,

that I, even if it would matter if I left.

825

Um, at, at the end of the

day, I don't think it i- I

826

think, I don't think it does.

827

Um, I think that's just been

something that I've struggled with.

828

Like I, like you said, I, I'm

kind of just a cog in the wheel.

829

I'm definitely a low man on

the totem pole in that company.

830

Um, you know, I Find it difficult

sometimes to connect with people who

831

are higher up on the ladder than me,

'cause they're playing an entirely

832

different game than I wanna play.

833

Um, yeah, just to, just to actually

watch people play the corporate social

834

ladder game is really exhausting.

835

Uh, it's really kind of scary.

836

Um, you know, I could…

837

And, and, and this is not speaking

to everybody at the company for

838

sure, um, 'cause there are gems

that work in that, uh, building.

839

But, uh, but yeah, sometimes

it's really challenging.

840

It's really challenging to watch

people put themselves through, like,

841

a whole rigamarole and pretend that

things are really exciting and that

842

transformation, the transformation

that our company's going through

843

is so cool when, like, thousands of

people are being laid off, you know?

844

So it's just kind of a really

strange culture at times.

845

Um, so I mean, that's why I find it

really important to, like, connect with

846

people who are on your level and just

kinda commiserate with what's going

847

on and try to find the people who you

can really, like, be yourself with.

848

Um, 'cause it's not always everybody.

849

I mean, that's why it's so cool that

you're, you're taking on the, you

850

know, this dr- new kinda dream job

'cause it's like you're definitely

851

gonna feel the impact you're making.

852

And before I worked for, for ExxonMobil,

I worked for a really small, uh,

853

biotech company where I was, like, the

10th person hired, and it was, like,

854

the exact opposite there, almost to a

fault, where it was like everything I do

855

really matters, and if I, like, and if

I mess up, like, the company feels it.

856

Uh, so there's…

857

And, and that, that sucked in some

ways because it was, like, very,

858

it was almost more high pressure.

859

Um, but I definitely felt

my work was more meaningful.

860

So I guess this is just to say

there's, there's pros and cons of

861

big companies and small companies

and, you know, try to figure, figure

862

out what's, what's right for you.

863

Um, Mason and I both decided we like kind

of a smaller company, uh, standpoint.

864

Um, but just something to be

thinking about on your job hunt.

865

Okay, Mason, what would you say to maybe

someone that's a teacher right now, um,

866

who's listening, or maybe someone who's

just an aspiring data analyst and they're

867

like, they've been, like, struggling.

868

Like, maybe they've been stuck in tutorial

hell or maybe they've been, you know,

869

grinding- Mm … all these tutorials

but not really making any true progress.

870

What would you, what

advice would you give them?

871

I would say just make

sure that you prioritize.

872

You know, if, if finishing those

tutorials is something that

873

you wanna do, make it happen.

874

Um, I kind of fi- found that I was letting

my exhaustion from teaching get in the

875

way, and it's easy to be exhausted.

876

But, um, I think if you need to take some

time for yourself to like-- or just take

877

a time for a break, you should do that.

878

Um, you should take some time off.

879

You should invest in yourself, uh,

because at the end of the day, like,

880

you're gonna be the one looking out

for you, and really you're the only

881

one that knows what's best for you.

882

And, um, you know, when I, when I

think about, you know, transitioning

883

my career, like I thought that moving

to Humana was gonna be what's best for

884

me, and it was, and then it wasn't, and

now I'm moving on to something else.

885

And so I feel like life is just a big

series of decisions, so make some.

886

That's it.

887

Uh, if you were to talk to someone

who's maybe like been listening to this

888

podcast quite a bit, been listening, been

looking at joining the Data Analytics

889

Accelerator, but hasn't pulled the trigger

yet, what advice would you give them?

890

Like, would you feel like it was

worth it for you in your journey?

891

Um, I would say

892

If you want it, keep going for it.

893

And don't be afraid to change it up.

894

Don't be afraid to change tactics.

895

You know, uh, the amount of times that

I tweaked my resume, the amount of times

896

that I ran it through that Skill Syncer,

um, to see if it would pass the AI test,

897

um, the amount of times that I tried to

change wordings to make myself seem more

898

fun or more financial or more logistical

or whatever, um, I just kept throwing

899

stuff at the wall until it worked.

900

Uh, and I would just say keep

changing, and, a- and if s- if it's

901

not working right now, change it.

902

Change, change what you're doing

and, and try something else.

903

Um, I- it's definitely possible,

um, to break in to the field.

904

Um, it's, it's hard just because, and

it's mostly gonna be about who you know,

905

so, like, apply for hybrid jobs and

stuff and, and go network with people.

906

But, um, keep doing it.

907

Just keep doing it.

908

And honestly just…

909

But also invest in the

things that give you joy.

910

Um, go out and join a dodgeball team or

a kickball team or go sing in a choir.

911

Come sing in my choir.

912

Um, like, just go out and do

something fun because you may

913

meet the person that's gonna, you

know, help you find something new.

914

It might not even be data.

915

It may be something you don't

even know about yet, you know?

916

Um, so just go out and meet

people and I, 'cause I think

917

people are the best part of life.

918

So invest in your people

and go find new ones.

919

Amazing advice, Mason.

920

Your, uh, your zeal for life is

infectious, and I hope everyone listening

921

today, uh, takes even just a sliver

of, of your energy and your mentality.

922

Guys, if you wanna change your data

career, it's 100% possible Thank

923

you We have a bunch of links in the

description down below that can help you

924

get started, including we'll have a, a

link to, uh, Mason's LinkedIn profile.

925

You guys can kinda check out his story

and connect with him on LinkedIn.

926

Mason, thank you so much

for joining The Data Career

927

Podcast and sharing your story.

928

I think it's gonna

inspire a lot of people.

929

Thank you.

930

Thank you for having me.

931

I mean, again, this is

truly crazy incredible.

932

Um, yeah, reach out to me on LinkedIn

if you want, uh, any advice or whatever.

933

I'll do my best.

934

I honestly, I haven't

been on there in months.

935

But you should also follow,

um, our chorus at voicesky.org,

936

um, on Instagram and Facebook

as well, Voices of Kentuckiana.

937

Um, that's where I'm gonna be moving, so,

uh, you can keep up with, with me there.