Into the thick of it: finding a career in data science

Let’s talk about the exploration phase and the application process!

Published in

NYU Data Science Review

5 min readMar 1, 2022

There’s a reason why people call New York the city of dreams. With a vibrant and diverse community, there is always something for everyone. The same can be said for data science. The land of data science is diverse, with roles offered in every possible industry.

But this begs the question: where do you begin? How do you find your niche in data science and opportunities related to that niche? Here’s my guide to doing just that.

Exploration

The first step when considering your niche is exploration — taking time to discover what you’re interested in and what best suits your skillset. What does that mean? You can most certainly take the traditional route by browsing the web and entertaining online forums, but that’s not the only option you have. Send emails to professionals, chat with your friends, watch a YouTube video, try developing a project — the opportunities are endless. Exploration doesn’t mean passively consuming content; it means getting your hands dirty and trying something new.

And here’s the remarkable thing about the exploration phase: it never ends. Whether you’re a senior in college applying to new opportunities or currently in the workforce entertaining a new job, you can continue to explore. College is most certainly not the only time to grow as an individual; you are constantly changing, and so are your interests. It only makes sense that you continue to discover new topics of intrigue.

Note that this part of the process does not need to explicitly focus on the data science aspect. Data is imbued within much of the content we consume, making it very versatile. Even if you decide to switch your focus at a certain point, the skills you learn as a data scientist will be applicable in every field of study.

Networking

Networking is quite possibly one of the most challenging steps during career hunting; some people find it easier to avoid it entirely. It can be daunting to reach out to recruiters or alumni, but the result can be gratifying.

Networking is the process of making connections and building relationships [1]. This is not an easy task, but I find that there are a few ways to go about it.

Reach out to Alumni. Your school may have an extensive alumni pool from diverse backgrounds/interests. Take advantage of your alumni network and ask them questions about your major and industry of interest! It’s an excellent opportunity to connect over your shared experiences.
Attend networking events. Whether it’s run by your school or externally organized, networking events are great ways to meet new people who are also interested in connecting with others.
Talk to people in your professional circle. This means reaching out to your professors, colleagues, or peers! It can be as simple as participating in office hours or scheduling time to grab a coffee.
Use LinkedIn. Even if you might not know a person in the field you’re interested in, someone in your network definitely will. LinkedIn is a wonderful way to connect with and meet new people.

Whichever options you decide to pursue, the most important thing is being honest and respecting the time of the person you’re working with. Be candid about your struggles; ask for advice, and listen to their stories. These connections can offer you the answers to questions you might not ever get to ask in an interview or find on an online forum like Glassdoor.

Applications

So you’ve figured out your niche and found new people to connect with. Now what? How do you get a job? There are a few steps involved:

1. Find positions related to your interests

Using what you’ve learned from your research, you should be able to find organizations that align with your interests. Many of these places have career pages to browse through and include internship or career opportunities.

2. Polish your resume

Many people think that their resume should consist of every single job/experience they’ve ever had since high school. Unfortunately, they could not be more wrong. When you submit your resume to a specific position, you want to pick the most relevant experiences according to the job description. Your resume is meant to highlight why you would be a good fit for the role, not your life story.

Keeping that in mind, your resume should include the following pieces of information:

Education/Certifications (and year of graduation for those still in college).
Relevant experiences catered to the job description.
Personal projects that highlight your skill set.
A relevant list of skills, including your proficiency.
A list of organizations you’ve participated in.

Remember that each experience you highlight in your resume should answer a point within the job description. Although this is not an exhaustive list, it’s a perfect place to start. Look forward to a more detailed article on resume building soon!

3. Fill out the application.

This is easy but can often be done incorrectly when an application directly extracts your information from the resume you uploaded. Make sure to review your application before submitting it.

OPTIONAL: Reach out to on-campus recruiters/obtain a referral if possible.

This is where your networking comes in handy. Referrals or campus recruiters can help to expedite the application process. Try reaching out and seeing if they would be willing to help! It never hurts to ask.

What’s Next?

Once you’ve submitted your applications, the emails will start coming in: auto-rejections, video screenings, phone interviews — keeping track of them can feel like a nightmare. In the future, I’ll be sure to discuss a more in-depth article on building your resume as well as the interview process. But for now, go out into the world and explore!

About the Author

Keerthana Manivasakan is a junior at NYU studying computer science and data science. Originally planning to study politics, things changed once she took a programming course. Now, she uses background to support her interests in machine learning. Currently she works at CDS as a Science Writer and will be working at J.P. Morgan & Chase as a software engineer over the summer! In her free time she enjoys reading, playing video games, and exploring the city.

Resources

If you’re currently a student at NYU, look at the following resources to help you out!

References

[1] What is Networking, and Why Do You Need to Do It? (2022), Columbia University Center For Education