Read time: 2 minutes
Hey there 👋🏽 - Ali here
Welcome to the 3rd edition of Career Science.
👋🏽 to all the job seekers (data & non-data) who are curious to learn the science behind landing their dream role.
This whimsical Wednesday (I am running out of adjectives that start with Ws, send me some suggestions by replying to this email will ya) we’ll be discussing 🚀 6 Tips for a Productive Job Search (without burning out).
Hold on to your Workday accounts and don’t let go cause this one is a 2-minute read. Read this and ignore those ‘entry-level’ job postings that require 3-5 years of experience.
Curious for the search science? Well then, let’s dive in.
😂 Meme(s) of the Week
😵💫 Crazy Job Search Story
This job seeker just gave up on her job search (after getting laid off) and started her own thing. Kudos to her. Remember she has a lot of experience (and possibly a cash cushion). Not everybody has the luxury of doing this.
🔆 My Weekly Highlights
Building Career Science: I just reached 6450+ followers on LinkedIn. WILD!
Weekend Pic (end of the 📧): I went to watch Oppenheimer 💣 AND Barbie 🩷! Honestly, it was wild experiencing two very different genres one after the other. Somehow I got very similar looking pics. Coincidence? 🤔
Job Search Nano-tip: Keep a ‘Wins’ document handy at all times. Use Notion. Write what you did well in your internship, work experience, class projects or volunteer work. When the time comes (like in interviews) you can go in locked and loaded (they won’t see you coming with all dem wins).
Favorite Tweet: By Sahil Bloom
Ali’s Aces (end of the 📧): This week we have an AI tool to manage your network better, AI powered job boards, an online tool to get 10x more networking responses, a recruiter finally answering the prehistoric question “How do I get experience if I need experience to get experience?”, and finally a practice dataset on ‘Cable News Coverage of Sexual Misconduct Allegations’. (I know right, like what?).
⚒️ Data Tool Tip of the Week (new)
Let's dive into a Barbie-themed 🩷 analogy to explain the difference between ‘WHERE’ and ‘HAVING’ in SQL (this comes up in technical interviews).
WHERE: Imagine you're at a Barbie party, and there's a big table with different Barbie dolls. You want to pick out only the Barbie dolls with blonde hair. In this case, you're looking at each individual Barbie and their hair color.
In SQL, you would say something like: "Hey, database, show me the Barbies WHERE their hair color is blonde." It's like telling the database to go through each Barbie and only show you the ones with blonde hair.
Here's how you might do it in SQL:
SELECT *
FROM barbies
WHERE hair_color = 'blonde';Output:
HAVING: Now, picture that you have Barbie tables for different age groups, and each table has a bunch of Barbie dolls. You want to find out which age groups have more than 20 Barbie dolls. In this case, you're looking at groups of Barbies (tables) and their total count.
In SQL, you would say something like: "Hey, database, show me the age groups HAVING more than 20 Barbie dolls." It's like telling the database to count the Barbies at each table and only show you the age groups with more than 20 dolls.
Here's how you might do it in SQL:
SELECT age_group, COUNT(*) as total_barbies
FROM barbie_tables
GROUP BY age_group
HAVING total_barbies > 20;Output:
To put it simply:
WHERE helps you pick specific rows from a table based on conditions related to individual items (like Barbie dolls with blonde hair).
HAVING helps you pick groups from a table based on conditions related to the whole group (like age groups with more than 20 Barbies).
So, just like how you might choose your favorite Barbies and groups of Barbies for different tables, SQL's WHERE and HAVING help you filter and group data for specific insights!
🔬 Deep dive into search science
6 Tips For A Productive Job Search
Ever went in so deep in your job search that you literally felt overwhelmed looking at a job board. All those jobs just looking at you…whispering…apply to me…apply to me…apply to me!!
You reach a point where you are applying to get rejected. Sounds triggering? I can relate. Hence here are 6 tips for a productive job search (without burning out):
1. Set a designated time each day or week for:
• Reaching out to leads
• Searching for suitable roles
• Getting on phone interviews
• Sending tailored applications
Create time blocks on your calendar and stick to them
2. Use productivity tools like:
• ChatGPT - Literally everything
• Simplify - Automate applications
• Notion - Knowledge management
• Calendly - Set informational interviews
Use AI to help you but don’t be helpless without it. Personalize.
3. Prioritize your tasks and break them down:
• Set out 1 to 2 hrs/week to search for your target roles
• Don’t search for roles and apply at the same time
• Write down answers to questions beforehand
• Set a timer for 25 minutes of intense work
Rinse and repeat.
4. Seek support from a job search buddy or mentor:
• They will help you take good decisions
• They help you set S.M.A.R.T goals
• They will provide encouragement
• They will keep you accountable
Don’t search alone, search alongside.
5. Make time for regular breaks and self-care:
• Make time for loved ones
• Make time for relaxation
• Make time for exercise
• Make time for hobbies
Don’t go into an interview sad and lifeless.
6. Focus on quality over quantity:
• Quality conversations
• Quality applications
• Quality emails
• Quality DMs
Doing less is definitely more.
To summarize:
1. Seek support from a job search buddy/mentor
2. Prioritize your tasks & break them down
3. Focus on quality over quantity
4. Make time for self-care
5. Use productivity tools
6. Set time blocks
Implement these productivity tips and achieve more than 99% of people.
🙋How I can help your Job Search
Thanks for reading!
Whenever you are ready, here are 2 ways for us to work together:
Reply to this email with ‘resume’ if you want a resume review ($25 only)
Reply to this email with ‘coaching’ if you want 1:1 personalized coaching (pay when you land a job)
📊 Are you looking for a role in data?
🌎 Where are you from?
🤔 Got a minute? I'd love your feedback on today's newsletter
🎯 Ali’s Aces (Weekly Resources)
🤖 AI Tool: Keep track of your network
💼 Job Boards: AI Powered Job Board
📚 AI Job Search Playbook: 50+ AI Tools & MORE
🛠️ Job Search Tool: Get 10x more responses with Video Outreach
✅ Recruiter’s Advice: “How do I get experience if I need experience to get experience?”
📊 Dataset for Practice: Cable News Coverage of Sexual Misconduct Allegations
🎥 🎬 💣 🩷 Weekend Pic: Oppenheimer & Barbie!!
Why is Oppenheimer sad like Barbie?
Why is Barbie sad like Oppenheimer?
Two very different movies but I somehow got pics where someone who hasn’t seen both movies would think this is a single movie. Unreal.
“Psst!..You want a Job?
👋🏼 See ya!
Reached the finish line? Awesome. I’d love to know what you thought of the 3rd edition of Career Science? Reply to this email. I respond to every email!
