Tech Skills Aren't Enough

It takes more than tech skills to get a job in data

Author

Matt Mike
January 26, 2024

Read time: 2 minutes

It takes more than tech skills to get a job in data.

You may not believe me, but it’s true.

Sometimes I talk to folks who tell me, “I know Excel, SQL, Tableau, Power BI, and Python, but I still can’t get a job!”

The problem here is an over-emphasis on technical skills.

Are they important? Heck yeah.

But that alone won’t get you the job.

Really, skills are only half the battle.

Here are some other very important aspects of the data job hunt that you NEED to consider.

1 | LinkedIn profile

A fully optimized LinkedIn profile is a great asset to have.

You should treat this like your personal landing page. Focus on maximizing every section, utilizing it to show off WHY you’re qualified to be a great data analyst.

2 | Resume

This one may seem obvious, but I’ve seen many resumes that fall short.

Focus on conveying IMPACT. Talk about metrics and/or how you’ve benefitted the organizations you’ve worked for with actionable mentions.

There are plenty of great resume templates out there. Grab one and then use the Google XYZ resume formula to write some great bullet points.

3 | Interview presence

Interviewing is a SKILL. The more you do it, the better you get.

This is why whenever you interview, even if you don’t get the job, you should treat it as experience.

I’ve interviewed so many times throughout my career that I’m very comfortable whenever I sit down for an interview in any setting. Do I still get a little bit nervous? Sure. But I’m confident stepping in.

How you present yourself is sometimes EVERYTHING.

4 | Portfolio

A solid portfolio is a must-have, especially for those seeking entry-level opportunities.

You’ll want to show off your skills with high-quality projects, hosted on a landing page style portfolio.

I have a video walkthrough on how to do this at the bottom of the article 👇️ 

5 | Soft skills

You can’t just be technically skilled, you have to be a well-rounded candidate.

Here’s a solid list of soft skills I recommend you focus on:

  • Adaptability

  • Attention to detail

  • Collaboration

  • Communication

  • Critical thinking

  • Curiosity

  • Domain knowledge

  • Organization

  • Presentation

  • Problem-solving

  • Project management

  • Public speaking

  • Time management

6 | Connections

Connections are a secret weapon and LinkedIn is a great place to make them.

This is a great way to learn about backdoor opportunities to jobs or get referrals directly to a specific role.

Beyond that, it’s great to have peers and mentors in your field. Getting involved in the online data community is a good way to make this happen

In summary, don’t get TOO caught up with tech skills. Of course, they’re super important, but they’re only one part of the overall job hunt equation.

Focus on being a well-rounded candidate.

PS - You may have noticed I released this Friday afternoon rather than Saturday morning. I want to move away from Saturday so I’m playing with release times, but the new day will likely be Thursday or Friday moving forward.

This week’s YouTube video:

Not a new video, but check out this step-by-step tutorial on how to create your own landing page style portfolio.

That’s it for this week.

See you next time

Matt ✌️ 

Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

1 | The Data Portfolio Guidebook

If you’re looking to create a data portfolio but aren’t sure where to start, I’d recommend this ebook: Learn how to think like an analyst, develop a portfolio and LinkedIn profile, and tackle the job hunt.

2 | 1:1 Coaching Call

For help navigating the data job hunt, consider booking a 1:1 career guidance session with me. There are a few options available to help you get to your ideal data job faster.

3 | 4-Session Coaching Program

Interested in ongoing coaching? Fill out the form below for more information and to see if we’re a good fit.