Forage’s Post

I paid $17K (via a private loan) to do a data science bootcamp... and I didn't even finish the program. I have such mixed feelings about this. On one end, quitting my job and paying so much for a bootcamp was a leap of faith that forced me into a position to get my first data science role. On the other end, I'm still paying off the loan for a program that a) costs more than a masters degree, and b) didn't live up to the promises it made. The challenges: - Paid a premium to get access to their job network, and yet there were minimal jobs available in their portal, and few of the actually employers responded. - When I was able to land an interview, they refused to support me in interview prep (what they offered) because the job wasn't from within their portal. - Their key relationship manager between the program and employers quit the week the program started. I ultimately saw the writing on the wall, and instead of going through the exercises and lectures, I instead just devoted all my time to job applications and cold messages to employers. Out of the cohort, I was one of the few students who landed a job before the program ended. And while I had these challenges, they all fall on me not doing enough due diligence on the program I paid for. If I were to evaluate a program again, I would do the following: 1. Find people who completed the program, and interview multiple people from different cohorts. 2. Find their statistics on graduation rates and job placements. For example "School Performance Fact Sheets are required by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. These Fact Sheets provide specific information for each of the degree programs offered to campus-based students at their respective locations." 3. Weigh your options by creating multiple scenarios, timelines, and funding requirements. If I did this, I think I would have chosen differently. Do you have experience with a bootcamp? What was it like for you? #data #datascience

It's GCSE results day. Not something that I'd normally be posting about, as I don't have kids. I can't be the only one who has mixed feelings about what those few letters meant for my life. Mine were... B - Physics C - Chemistry, Maths, Music D - German, History, English Lang, English Lit. They were not the grades predicted, I recall; I was supposed to do better. I wanted to do three sciences at A-Level (I did the Biology course work - but not the exam, so I could), but then I hated school. I went to college and attempted A-levels. Physics, Chemistry, Economics, General Studies and Art - but failed miserably. To this day, I have no idea what possessed me with Economics!! I then wanted to be a graphic designer, but that didn't go down well, so I did an OND in Computer Studies. Having never really touched a computer or having no apparent aptitude for that kind of thing. The current boyfriend of the time was into that stuff, so what the heck, right? I then did a HND in Information Technology (which was all coding, electronics and the good shit that I still love). I hated Unix with a passion. Whilst I am good with pseudocode, I am not a coder. My brain doesn't work like that; I know that now. I failed Unix in my final year. So I ended up on Jobseekers, trying to find work. It was hard because back then, no one really wanted you to do part-time and resit one unit at Uni. Ultimately, after a lot of faffing about, I ended up at JBA; because I'd worked at Exel Logistics and I knew warehousing. I worked my way up to being a principal analyst. The rest, they say, is history... But this journey isn't over. This wasn't what I'd planned, but now I'm sitting here typing this; none of it was. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up! Who knows what 18 month old me was thinking here? The journey hasn't always been easy, but I am still going! Exam results aren't the end; they're just the start...

Date: 01/14/2024 1:47pm Hi, and welcome to my profile!           I am located in Winooski, VT and would consider occasional office work. But I would mainly prefer mobile office work. I have a highly commutable vehicle and I love the trip, as it helps me unwind and be at my best performance; albeit, the road can get a little hairy at times, but I'll choose to brave it, over performing badly at work! I have extensive knowledge and criteria in the skills required for this position. I do not know everything, but presume I will be working on a team and doing some team work and perhaps video conference calls. So whatever skills I'm lacking, I could make up for, with a reasonable amount of time.. I have a very fast laptop and it is locked down very well. I'm not sure if you'd provide one, but I have one at my expense. Where I have acquired the skills necessary for such a responsibility as the <employer/> <employee position/> position {(the research and logistic probate data manager)}, is that(obviously, my two alumni statuses at Fisher College and CCV);, I have some projects that I've been working on. I also had a mother, who taught me cooking, a father(well 2 fathers and one tutored me in math, since my parents were divorced) with strong work ethics. I have worked in collaborative think tanks, was very close to my brother who made the Dean's list and pioneered in areas of software development and OS development; who has been deceased since 2015. My brother and I would ponder over the future of Technology and at the same time, we strived hard to further our existing skill set in computer science. Some of my projects are rooted in software development and studying object oriented programming; and some are goal oriented study of math and communicative and social concepts. I took 'Business Technology' in Trade school. I then went on to take Intermediate College Algebra and advanced graph theory. Unfortunately, I got an incomplete in pre-Calculus, but at the same time, I had learned most of the course and had a B average when I had to withdraw from the course; but I had since continued on to Calculus. Then I took A&P(Human anatomy and physiology), and I learned Microsoft Access and databases, which would form the basis for a lot of my scientific research which some of, has yet to be published or put to good use. I have a good vocabulary, I pick up concepts quickly and I appreciate my downtime as I recognize this, as crucial to successfully making milestones with ones goals in life. I could submit some references and College transcripts apon request depending on what you are looking for.  :) Thanks for taking the time to read this, Warmly, Micah J. Jackson (802)310-0597

Hello Linkedin, How are you doing? Tuesday night, I had my first day of Statistical Inference. I was trying to keep up with the lecture, it doesn't seem too bad. I have to get a real study plan together for the summer semester to make sure I meet the grade goals I want to meet. I am going to truly practice prioritization in my studying making sure I am getting what needs to be done first and using that to help me prepare for exams. In this class, the lecture notes and homework are my best friend in this course. I have a online asynchronous principles of microeconomics class, I need to truly start on the lessons. I watched one of the lecture videos on Tuesday and read the concept term notes. Have my first assignment due on June 8th so that is the first thing I will be working on first. I love school! Scared about the working world and where I could actually work with a Bachelor of Science in University Studies. All my credit courses are mathematics, science, and some business courses. I am trying to figure out what are my skills for this machine we call life. I think I could get hired at corporation, what corporation would hire me with a bachelor's degree in a broad subject matter? I did a lot of pivoting from the major I really wanted to graduate, and I understand why I made the decision but as I get closer to walking the stage. I am trying what can I do in the world. The one career is mathematics tutor due to the fact I started off struggling in mathematics and learning how to solve problems from the struggle, could help me guide a student. I thought about finance but I worried about companies rejecting me due to my bachelor's degree not being in finance, how would sell that I can do the job? I know what a position where I could work with data and numbers most of the day.

Happy Hoildays! Here's to completing another year 🥳🥳 This year I've accomplished so many things. •Finishing my undergraduate degree with a second-class upper. •Completing my summer placement as an economic researcher. •And now futhering my education by completing several online courses on Excel, Stata and economic forecasting. Looking forward to the following year! Next year I'll be learning more, prioritising my professional development. •I hope be a sucessful data analyst and an expert at using multiple programming languages like R, SQL and more. •Gain more experience in financial data analysis. •Learn more about sustainability and sustainable business practices and polices going forward.

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Tech boom? Don't rush to computer science: Why 'Finance + data' might be the smarter move. In the tech-fuelled frenzy, aspiring students flock to computer science. While coding skills are crucial, this equation might reshape your perspective: Finance + Data Skills > Data Skills Why? Today's labour market demands domain expertise and algorithmic literacy [1]. Finance degrees now blend enhanced data skills, like coding and machine learning, with traditional finance knowledge. 📈 Finance + Data Skills Sure, pure computer science is great, but it lacks the industry know-how that sets finance apart. ⚠️ But a cautionary note: not all finance degrees are created equal. TIP: Search for degrees offering coding boot-camps, big data modules, and professors who speak both finance and Python. 💬 Do you agree "Finance + Data" is the way to go? Share your thoughts! [1] Prasanna Tambe, 2023, Algorithmic Bilinguals https://lnkd.in/eQRUwGZ9

You're background is not as important as your learning agility and growth mindset. Data Science and Data Engineering roles require a strong quantitative/computer science background. It doesn't mean that those without this background can't succeed in this career path. You can learn the fundamentals of CS which is really what is important for most of these roles. The rest is really spending time getting hands-on experience on how these fundamental concepts solve businesses problems Most people focus too much on getting the technical knowledge and not so much on how it is applied to solve business problems. I have found in my experience coming from a non-technical background that though the technical knowledge is important, you really just need to understand the fundamentals and how they apply to your domain knowledge be it finance, marketing, health, etc Don't spend too much time complaining about your lack of technical skills, focus learning the fundamentals and applying them to specific domains of interest or experience. --- P.S: The guy in the interview tried his best. He actually demonstrated his "background" in Computer Science. Give him a chance.

Free courses could be the most expensive choice you make. Seems backward, right? Think about it this way: You're looking to land your first role as a Data Scientist or Data Analyst. Let's say this first role pays $80k pa. Taking free courses alone, it will take you (on average) 18 months* to get there. My Data Science Infinity students get there (on average) in 6 months. That's a 12-month difference. A full year earning that $80k salary. Free courses might seem like a budget-friendly option, but they could actually be the most expensive choice you're making. Am I saying free courses are bad, not at all. Am I saying all paid courses are good, definitely not. I'm saying it's all about the ROI and the increased likelihood of getting the results you want. *Based on my experience interviewing & screening 1000+ candidates + my experience helping students move into the field over the past 3 years + my research for my book on Data Science recruitment

Crushing It in Computer Science: Your Job-Hunting Guide! In recent years, computer jobs have changed a lot because of new technology. Companies need smart people who understand this technology and can solve difficult problems. This has made it hard for new people looking for these jobs. Now, just knowing things is not enough. Companies want to see that you can use what you know to solve real problems. This means you need to keep learning even after you finish school. You should also keep up with what's new in the tech world. This can help you stay ahead of the competition. To do well in these jobs, you should not just be good at the technical stuff. You should also be able to adjust to new things quickly and come up with new ideas. This way, you can show that you are ready to face the changes that happen in the tech world. To stand out, you need to show that you can do special things that others can't. This could mean making cool projects or getting experience in a real company. It's also important to be good at working with others and showing that you can learn new things quickly. Employers really like people who can work well in a team. Imagine back when you were in college, you and your team created a really cool computer program for a local store. You were great at working with your team, solving problems, and making sure everyone was on the same page. The program was a big success and helped the store run better. This shows employers that you're not only good with computers but also good at working with other people. They like that kind of skill because it means you can come up with new ideas and work with others to make them happen. So, if you want a job in computer science, you have to work hard to show that you're the best. It's not just about knowing things; it's also about showing that you can use what you know to make things better. Keep learning and practicing, and don't forget to show off what you can do!