On November 2024, I was invited to the Long Night of Careers at University of Zurich to share my experience as a fresh graduate on how to find a job and tips about navigating the transition from university to professional life.
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Just a few years back, in September 2021, I moved to Zurich to start my MSc in Data Science, and by April 2024, I graduated and soon after, in June, I started my full-time role as a Cloud Data Engineer at SWISS International Airlines in Zurich.
From the outside, that might sound like a smooth, linear path, but as you might expect, it was far from it. When I was preparing for this talk, I thought: If I were sitting in this room three years ago, what would I have wanted to hear? And from that reflection, I came up with five tips to help you think about your next steps.
Starting Your Career: Five Things I Wish I'd Known
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Find What You're Interested In: The first tip might sound simple but is so powerful: find out what you're genuinely interested in. This includes exploring both the field you're drawn to and the kind of work that excites you. Are you captivated by deep problem-solving, or do you thrive in hands-on roles where you design and create solutions? Do you like collaborating in team discussions, or prefer diving into solo research? Take courses that intrigue you, explore different areas, and stay curious. What captures your attention? What triggers your concentration?
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Plan Ahead and Build the Skills You'll Need: It's useful to plan for the path you want to follow and gather the right tools along the way. If academia or research is your goal, prioritize publishing and connecting with people in your area of interest. For those eyeing industry roles, leverage resources like LinkedIn, ask for opinions from those in the field, or attend different events. If you feel you need to practice for tech interviews, save some time for that. Don't be afraid to take the extra time if it means gaining valuable experience: in my case, I took 5 semester instead of 4 semesters to finish my MSc because I wanted to do an internship.
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Understand the Job Market and its Trends: In fields like data science and AI, everything is constantly evolving. Take Generative AI, for instance, just a couple of years ago, it wasn't in the spotlight the way it is now. New roles are emerging, like prompt engineering, alongside growing needs in data governance, storage, and fine-tuning. Keep an eye on trends and adapt your skills to meet future demands.
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Learn from Mistakes: Mistakes will happen, but each one is a learning opportunity. After an interview, whether you get the job or not, ask for feedback. Reflect on what went well and what could have been improved. Feedback can sometimes be hard to hear (when you manage to receive it 😅), but it's incredibly valuable for growth. I take notes from previous interviews to check what I could do better, and I always ask for feedback if I get a rejection.
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Prioritize Yourself and Your Wellbeing: Finally, remember to take care of yourself. This journey isn't just about achieving career goals; it's about your personal growth and wellbeing too. It's easy to get caught up in grades or external achievements, but try to set realistic goals and allow yourself to enjoy the process. There's no need to compare yourself to others. Instead, compare today's version of yourself to yesterday's. Aim for steady progress, and be proud of every small step.
Overall, your attitude plays a huge role. This is a long distance race. There is always a bit of "luck", but if you work hard in your career, I am sure you will be a bit luckier.
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