https://ift.tt/EJfzyHW Kevin Johnson is a data analyst with the SDG Group, but he didn’t start in data science. In fact, he started in what...
Kevin Johnson is a data analyst with the SDG Group, but he didn’t start in data science. In fact, he started in what you might call science-science. Johnson has a degree in physics from Rowan University, and he worked as a high school teacher for five years, teaching classes on physics, computer science, chemistry, engineering, biology, and programming — he even taught pre-calculus at Rutgers University for the “Engineers of the Future” program.
Clearly, Johnson felt like he hadn’t mastered enough of the sciences, and data science was next on his list. He wanted to be working with technology in a business setting, where he could see the results of his work in real time. So, he landed at Dataquest, and he worked on the Data Scientist and Data Engineering paths every day for about eight months. After he’d completed the paths, he started his job search, but something was missing. He wasn’t getting many responses to his applications, so he made a bold move — he started volunteering.
I applied for jobs with little response until I volunteered as a Data Analyst for a Senate campaign that summer at which point companies were much more willing to speak with me due to that real world experience.
Johnson needed a way to stand out, and as a newcomer in the data science world, he could either grind out more projects for his portfolio, or he could go out into the world and do something that showed off his new skill set. With Senate campaign experience under his belt, suddenly Johnson was a hot commodity, and he landed his current job shortly after. To this day, he still relies heavily on SQL and many of the other skills he acquired during his time at Dataquest. Asked if Dataquest helped him land his job, Johnson’s answer is unequivocal, “Yes, I would say Dataquest helped me land my current role.”
If you find yourself in a similar situation, and you need that competitive edge to make your resume and your portfolio stand out, take a page out of Johnson’s book — see what you can do in the community around you, virtual or in-person. Getting out there and putting your skills into action might be just the thing you need to get ahead. And if you’re struggling with your own data learning journey, Johnson has a few parting words of advice for you . . .
Just get started. You don’t need too much background knowledge to get started. I would also say you should work on independent projects on the side. Everytime you learn a new skill, try to implement it in a project of your own!
Find Kevin Johnson on LinkedIn, or check out his GitHub profile.
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