Data Science Job Hunt: My Visual Journey to Landing the Perfect Role!
Aside from the brief hiatus during my PhD defense in May, my rate of informational conversations remained solid throughout the year. However, I noticed a surge in my job applications as summer drew to a close. It’s like watching the stock market—though I’m no expert, the upward trend of my applications seemed to align with a rebound in the S&P 500 after some rocky lows in late 2022. Coincidence? Maybe, but it felt like job openings were finally on the rise! 📈😲 This spike came on the heels of significant layoffs in the tech sector, where over 10,000 jobs were cut in early 2023, coinciding with the market’s lowest points.
During my grad school days, I discovered my own “Science Happy Place.” I wanted to dive into projects that allowed me to:
- Explore the fascinating world of biology (seriously, genetics is just mind-blowing!)
- Engage in computer science (I love tackling programming puzzles!)
- Contribute to sustainability (because we need to act against climate change now!)
To my delight, I landed in a lab where I employed computational techniques to analyze genetic data from methane-eating bacteria. I envisioned a career that would beautifully fuse my passions in these three realms of Science Happiness.
With several eco-conscious synthetic biology firms on my radar, I was disheartened to learn that the majority of them were in hiring freezes come early 2023. 🥶 Was it unrealistic to expect to hit all three pillars of my Science Happy Place in an unstable economy? Perhaps I’d have to settle for a role that checked only one or two boxes, especially while dreaming of residing in Seattle.
Throughout the year, my focus in the job search shifted, as illustrated by the colorful density of circles in Figure 2. Each conversation, application, and interview was categorized by the type of company. As a computer science student, I gravitated towards roles that incorporated a computational aspect, with many companies tackling challenges within biology, climate, or a mix of both. Although my heart yearned for climate solutions, I initially convinced myself that gaining experience in non-climate fields was acceptable. So, early in 2023, my efforts leaned more towards “Biology + Data Science” roles (blue circles, typically in health/pharma) when “Biology + Climate + Data Science” positions were in short supply.
After a few existential crises, I revamped my outlook: I realized I was willing to pursue climate-related work, even if it meant stepping outside my biology comfort zone. By late 2023, I made a concerted shift toward applying for “Climate + Data Science” roles (orange circles)—climate-focused work that didn’t necessarily leverage my genetics or microbiology background. While initially apprehensive about venturing into unfamiliar territory, I found the experience thrilling, offering a chance to learn about adjacent fields and think creatively about how to apply my skills to non-biology climate solutions.
Figure 4 provides an overview of the total energy I devoted to various job sectors that intersect biology, climate, and data science, with each conversation, application, and interview representing an energy unit. While I didn’t control when I secured formal interviews—those were at the mercy of others’ decisions—I chose to sum these energy units as instances of intense focus and stress. This total doesn’t capture all the reading, research, and preparation that also consumed my time, but those efforts were more dispersed throughout the year.
Fortunately, Fall 2023 ushered in a thawing of those hiring freezes, revealing some thrilling job opportunities at companies that elegantly blend computing and biology to tackle climate issues (green circles in Figure 2, and the dark green center circle in Figure 4). These were the dream positions I had been eagerly searching for, perfectly aligning with my interests, skills, and values! I reached out to everyone I had previously connected with at these companies, expressing my genuine excitement for the roles!
At last, I secured a position that hits the sweet spot of my career aspirations: I’m now embarking on my journey as a data scientist at LanzaTech, a biotech company pioneering bacteria that consume carbon emissions from industrial waste and transform it into sustainable materials. 🤓
In summary, it’s tough to pinpoint what specifically made my applications resonate or flop. The process felt lengthy and full of stress, compounded by the silence that often accompanied the avalanche of Automated Rejections and applications that seemed to vanish into the ether.
If there’s one piece of advice I can share, it’s this: talk to people! Often! We all know networking is crucial (building those professional connections). Sure, it can be awkward and tiring to initiate conversations with strangers. However, entering each conversation with a genuine desire to connect, listen, and ask questions can work wonders! Informational interviews offer low-pressure environments perfect for forging connections and sharing your passions.
Not every conversation will lead to a job opportunity, so it might seem like a lot of time invested without immediate results. Yet, you never know which exchanges might open a door. For instance, I once shared a lunch table with someone from LanzaTech at a conference in 2016, and we kept in touch sporadically via email (once every couple of years). Fast forward to late 2023 (seven years later!), and a job opportunity arose that perfectly matched my skill set. I reached out to that contact and a couple of others I’d met at LanzaTech recently, sharing just how excited I was about the position, which likely helped flag my application for a human review. 😊
If the thought of “professional networking” feels overwhelming, try envisioning your connections as a garden—some seeds sprout quickly, while others take their sweet time. Gardens don’t always flourish on our timeline (like when your grad school insurance expires and you *really* want that tomato to appear!). But with consistent care, gardens grow steadily and can provide a refreshing source of support.
It’s never too late to cultivate your career connection garden—sometimes, all it takes is a heartfelt, professional message to someone intriguing. 🌱
Wishing all job seekers the very best of luck! 💚
