Interested in data/analytics healthcare careers? Start a data portfolio and add it to your resume.
Tech is a “show me” world, different from healthcare’s “tell me” personality.
KEY TAKEAWAYS from Next Degree:
Question: Is there something that can help me land a healthcare data/analytics role?
Outcome: A data portfolio is a powerful addition (which you can start immediately, and for free!)
Specific Pivot(s): Role, Industry
Additional Resources: How to build a great data science portfolio (with examples) — Datacamp
Relevance: Track your learnings, cherry pick your best projects, and include them with your job application!
Final Thoughts: Use both “show and tell” — show companies your data expertise, and tell them about your healthcare expertise!
Trying to get a non-clinical role is frustratingly challenging — but not because you aren’t “good enough”.
One of the best qualities about clinicians is that we’re perfectionists. We care for patients because we want them to heal and succeed. The cost of failure is high (pain, reinjury, etc.), so we hold ourselves to a higher standard to reduce the risk of disappointing our patients. This is one of the most admirable qualities of the healthcare workforce. We hold ourselves to a high standard…and so does the tech world.
The difference?
The way that tech measures quality uses a totally different strategy than the healthcare world.
To be clear — tech standards are also incredibly high. It’s the mechanism of measurement that is different, not the quality standard. Understanding the different rules of the “tech game”, therefore, is pretty important if you’re interested in making the leap from patient care to the ‘-tech’ world (HealthTech, MedTech, BioTech, FemTech, etc.)
So what’s a clinician to do? Well, let’s figure it out. Today we’ll be focusing on a particular part of the tech world: data and analytics.
Let’s dive in.
Question 1: What do you mean by “show me” and “tell me”?
Question 2: What’s a “data portfolio”?
Question 3: Can I start one if I have no data/analytics background?
Question 4: How do I start a data portfolio?
Question 1: What do you mean by “show me” and “tell me”?
Healthcare really values certifications, because it’s a proof point on diligence, discipline, and clinical skill. Think things along the lines of “Pediatric Clinical Specialist” in the PT world, “Critical Care Nursing” in the nursing world, etc. These tests are hard, they are expensive, and showing the commitment to excellence to study, pass, and attain these certifications is a great signal to hiring managers that you are committed to your field (and your patients). This is a “tell me” performance indicator.
Tech values certifications too, but also values examples of your skills in action, because tech is a much more abstract field. AI and machine learning are pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and new methods and algorithms are getting created all the time. However, tech has a way of “stacking” — where fundamentals can be repurposed into new and novel ways. Thus, showing fundamentals (and your ability to grow and master whatever emerging tech is coming) is a powerful indicator to the tech world. This is a “show me” strategy — show me what you’ve done, so I can understand where you are, and if your future growth potential aligns with where we need our tech to go.
Bluntly, tech certifications are good, but a data portfolio + a tech certification is much better. And, you can build your data portfolio while you’re studying for your certification!
Question 2: What’s a “data portfolio”?
A data portfolio is a collection of examples and proof points that showcase your skills in whatever area of data you’re interested in. Data itself is a huge catch-all term (much like tech), so you can kind of see why having a “data portfolio” is helpful to companies to understand what kind of data you’re comfortable with, and how you plan on deepening specific data skills.
Question 3: Can I start one if I have no data/analytics background?
Absolutely. I would even go as far as to say you should start a data portfolio as soon as you start your data/upskilling journey. Remember, the data portfolio doesn’t need to be public — it just needs to be there. It’s helpful for you because you can track your learnings — what works, what doesn’t, what you’re interested in, what you’re not. When you’re ready to apply for that dream job, you can then include the link or attachment, cherry picking which parts of your portfolio are most relevant and attractive.
It’s a map at first — mapping what you’re learning and doing. Then it turns into treasure — by showcasing your hard work and competencies (on top of that massive healthcare skillset you are also sitting on).
Question 4: How do I start a data portfolio?
Check out this article from Datacamp to get you started — it’s even got examples for you to sift through. On the project management side, I’d recommend creating a structured program for yourself in your time outside of the clinic — start with 1–2 hours, 2–3x a week. There’s plenty of free resources out there as well, but remember — practice your skills and track them in your portfolio…don’t just rely on theory acquisition!
Interested in meeting other clinicians who share your same interests, as well as learning more about companies using data and analytics in the healthcare space? Check out the “Careers in clinic (and beyond)” group as well as Next Degree — the next-gen healthcare job search designed to help you build a career you love, whether that’s in clinic — or beyond.
