Undergraduate Data Science Students Prepare for Career Success
The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) launched a new program for undergraduate data science students to foster development and career readiness. This fall, after welcoming the first cohort of B.S. in Data Science (BSDS) students, OSA has since presented five Accelerate Workshops.
The workshops are designed around building skills not necessarily taught in the classroom but help launch a data science career. Topics included have included inclusive leadership, imposter syndrome, time management, mentoring, and career planning.
Led by Assistant Director of Career and Professional Development Stephanie Joynes, the workshops are designed as a series to work in tandem with the BSDS major. “Our faculty are amazing at teaching technical skills, coding, and data ethics," said Joynes. "The Accelerate Workshop series is intended to help students bridge what they learn in the classroom to real-world application.”
The most recent workshop, Accelerate: Networking 101, took place mid-November at the School of Data Science in a packed Corporate Commons. Joynes began the workshop by reiterating what many in the room already knew: data science is booming. Joynes pointed out the field was expected to experience a 36% employment growth rate in the next decade. Networking and expanding one's professional contacts will be critical in securing jobs and building a career. Joynes explained that many recruiters prefer face-to-face interactions and many companies consider internal referrals, emphasizing the importance of having a networking mindset.
“Authentic networking is not transactional, artificial, or a numbers game. It is based on how many relationships you have truly created.”
Joynes led the students through a thought bubble activity, revealing that the words students most associated with networking were “nervous, anxious, stressed, awkward, desperate, and overwhelmed.” By identifying common stressors, students recognized they were not alone. The networking process may seem intimidating, according to Joynes, but it is also highly rewarding and easily improved upon with practice.
Joynes pointed out that networking was not just about creating a LinkedIn account and making online connections. “Authentic networking is not transactional, artificial, or a numbers game," she said. "It is based on how many relationships you have truly created.”
To ease anxieties and gain experience, Joynes had the students practice networking amongst themselves through rounds of introductions. The students, hesitant and quiet at first, soon leaned into the exercise and the room was quickly ringing with conversation and laughter.
Later, Joynes shared why these workshops are so critical for BSDS enrichment. “We all agree that business networking can be awkward and a bit uncomfortable at first, but it's necessary to meet new people when working in the field." She explained that data scientists today work in diverse industries and many apply data science to real-world challenges. Networking can lead to job or internship opportunities, but according to Joynes, the value is in being authentic and building relationships. "It's about building a community of people who love seeing how technology can impact our lives in innovative and exciting ways.”
Accelerate: Networking 101 marked the last workshop of the fall semester, but it won't be the last of the academic year. The series has been popular with students and many have found them to be valuable additional resources to their coursework. Joynes plans on expanding the program’s scope in future sessions. She shared, "Our goal is to help students build a life you love, with your career being part of that journey.”
