Data Science Job Search Tips During COVID-19
By: Joel Prince Varghese
Tags: Job Search, Internships, Data Science, Job Hunting

May 13th, 2016 was supposed to be a happy day. The day I graduate with my Masters from Berkeley after an intense albeit enjoyable nine months. Unlike other mornings, I completely ignored the infamous snooze button and expeditiously opened up my inbox because in there was news that would potentially make or break my day. With my eyes barely open, my alarm blaring away, I frantically opened the email that had had the results of an on-site interview I had given a few days ago.

“We thank you for taking the time to apply to our data science…..”, I had read enough. The devastation and hopelessness that had consumed my half-awaken body at that instant had drained away my energy to read the rest, which I knew was just a nice way of saying that I wasn’t good enough. The bottom line remained that I had failed to get a job before graduation and I just wanted to throw in the towel. I did give up that day BUT I did not give up the next day or the next month. I continued working hard and finally landed an amazing opportunity a month after graduation. Fast forward to today and honestly, I thank the stars for that rejection because I wouldn’t have had the same level of success if I had traversed that path.

Life is an expert at testing our perseverance. While it’s not fair for me to make an exact apples-to-apples comparison of my frustration to the current frustrations of job hunting amidst a global pandemic, just know that no one could have expected this. It’s just a testament to the randomness of the universe and this is yet another test of your tenacity. However, just know that you’re not alone, everyone in a similar situation as you, almost everywhere is struggling. If you’re looking for your first job, got laid off, or trying to find a new job, things are probably as tricky and uncertain as they can be. Here are some tips to navigate the job search during this time:

Tip 1 — Apply Apply Apply

Honestly, finding your first job or making a career transition to a new role is usually a game of numbers. The more you apply, the greater the probability of you hearing something back. I mean, that was when things were normal, at this time, you need to do that 10x times. Find every possible job opening and apply for it. Use your university career website, LinkedIn, Indeed, WayUp, AngelList, and apply apply apply. Don’t worry if you don’t have all the years of experience or all the skills listed in the job description, just apply so your resume is out there. The more it’s out there, the more likely it is to catch someone’s eye and the greater chance of hearing back.

Also, check out live lists at Levels.fyi and Candor to know which companies are still hiring or have hiring freezes.

Tip 2- Network

This really depends on the timeframe you have to find a job. If you’re cutting close to 1–2 months then I would say exploit Tip 1 while only trying to make connections and network on LinkedIn for companies you’re really interested in. Everyone’s at home these days so people have more time and are more willing to help. Reach out to relevant people and ask them if they can talk to you about their job and then bring up the potential possibility of referring you for an open position in their company. Even if they can’t, it’s always great to make a connection for the future. Like applying for jobs, the more connection requests you send out, the greater the chance of something working out. Also, keep in mind to always include a personalized message in your LinkedIn requests.

Another useful resource would be Virtual Office Hours. They have weekly virtual Q&A sessions with data scientists, data engineers, analysts, product managers, etc and is a good way to get your specific questions answered.

Tip 3— Broaden your job search profile

With a greater supply and lesser demand right now, data science openings might be more competitive and tough to come by. Therefore, it’s advisable to broaden your field of view by looking for related job profiles. Data Analysts, Business Analysts, Product Analysts, Marketing Analysts are all roles that someone with data science skills would be a good fit for. While it may not be exactly the work you want to do, it helps you get your foot in the door. There will always be an opportunity to move within teams in a company later on and also scope to apply your data science skills in any data-related role.

Tip 4— Pick up skills

Given the current situation, I can argue that there is going to be no other time in your entire life when sitting at home all the time is cool and also the right thing to do. While in grad school, the biggest conundrum for me was with wanting to go out and having fun versus sitting at home and studying to have a good career. It’s very hard to think long-term when you have this vibrant student community at your doorstep in college. But in such a time, devoid of social pressures or commitment, use the extra time you have to pick up new data science skills. Read about topics you don’t know, do an online course or do a project to amp up your resume. Trust me, just like investing in a bear market, this investment of your time will definitely payout in the long-run.

Another thing you could do is to reach out to small startups offering to help them out. Many universities have startup accelerators and incubator programs with many startups who could use a helping hand. It’s a great way to rack up some useful practical experience while you look out for other full-time opportunities. It would definitely look good on your resume.

Tip 5— Be skeptical (scrutinize companies and industries)

These are uncertain times and we are in an uncharted economic territory so even if you get a job or internship offer, scrutinize the company and industry it’s in. You want to work for a company that has a strong balance sheet or funding that can weather this storm and is also set up for success during a post-coronavirus era. For example, travel, retail, and transportation might not be the best sectors to get in right now but any of the big tech companies or companies like Slack or Zoom who thrive in a work-from-home world might be better options. Assiduously scrutinize the company that gives you an offer. You don’t want to end up in a scenario where you get an offer and it then gets rescinded or you get laid off a few months in and are back to square one.

In conclusion, all I can say is that these are definitely tough times and that’s when you have to get tougher. Honestly, just keep doing something, anything related to the five tips above, giving up is the biggest mistake you can make right now. More importantly, even after saying all this, remember that Rule #1 of life is to stay alive. Your health should be your top priority. Take care of yourself and others, be socially responsible, work out, pick up skills, make connections, apply apply apply and show the world your indefatigable determination through these hard times and like me, you’ll have a good story to tell one day. Most likely, even better.

YOU GOT THIS!