3 answers
Bhumit
Student
Memphis, Tennessee
1
Question
Asked
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What should I be currently doing if I aspire to work as an analyst graduating in March 2025?
I have background in biochemistry with working as a tech and lab chemist with experience in data entry.
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3 answers
Angelie Miranda
CareerVillage.org TeamData Scientist & Engineer
1
Answer
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Angelie’s Answer, CareerVillage.org Team
Navigating the tech job market can indeed be challenging, but remember, you have a powerful tool at your disposal - your network! Make the most of the connections you already have and always be on the lookout for opportunities to grow your network. Don't hesitate to reach out to your professors, project investigators, and previous employers to see if they have any full-time positions available or if they know someone who does.
LinkedIn can be a goldmine of opportunities and not just for finding open job roles. When browsing through companies, try to find any links you may have with their current or former employees, such as coming from the same town or attending the same university. Having a common connection can be a great conversation starter when you reach out to them. Don't just ask about the company, also inquire about their personal career journey and seek advice on how to advance your own career as a data analyst.
Consider broadening your skill set by taking up a part-time job or internship that can sharpen your data analysis skills. This will not only make you a more attractive candidate but also give you practical experience. You might also want to delve deeper into biochemistry to strengthen your industry knowledge. This could be beneficial for roles that require a strong understanding of the field, even if they don't have heavy data analysis requirements. Keep pushing forward, you've got this!
Consider if you want an analyst job in biochemistry or if you want to branch out
Reach out to exisiting network
Grow network online or though events and fairs
LinkedIn can be a goldmine of opportunities and not just for finding open job roles. When browsing through companies, try to find any links you may have with their current or former employees, such as coming from the same town or attending the same university. Having a common connection can be a great conversation starter when you reach out to them. Don't just ask about the company, also inquire about their personal career journey and seek advice on how to advance your own career as a data analyst.
Consider broadening your skill set by taking up a part-time job or internship that can sharpen your data analysis skills. This will not only make you a more attractive candidate but also give you practical experience. You might also want to delve deeper into biochemistry to strengthen your industry knowledge. This could be beneficial for roles that require a strong understanding of the field, even if they don't have heavy data analysis requirements. Keep pushing forward, you've got this!
Angelie, CareerVillage.org Team recommends the following next steps:
Danny Siegel
Management Consultant
4
Answers
Scarsdale, New York
Updated
Danny’s Answer
Hi Bhumit, The term analyst applies to a REALLY wide range of jobs (e.g., financial analyst, data analyst, etc.), so first things first...take some time to look at some job postings on linked in at different types of analyst jobs that are out there and narrow your focus a bit. Analyst jobs tend to all have some common themes around, well, analysis, so whether your looking to stay in the biotech/life-sciences world, or looking to work in finance or consumer products or whatever, you will want to make sure you start to ground yourself in whatever it is you expect to analyze (e.g., if data analyst for bio-tech, I'm assuming you'll want to have some fairly well developed Excel skills, or perhaps even data manipulation tools like SQL language or Python). If you're still in school, you might want to take the opportunity to get some academic experience in analyst skills in things like organizing data, manipulating data, visualizing data, etc...this should apply fairly well to most 'analyst' jobs.
I think the combination of some experience (even academic) with tools of the trade, plus your practical knowledge of biochemistry, might make you a good entry level candidate as an analyst in a biotech firm. However, you should validate this on your own by looking at job postings and checking out the base requirements...this is really the best way to inform what kind of either coursework or self learning you should be engaging in to prep yourself to be an attractive applicant come March. I would agree with the prior poster that even if you could volunteer your time (internship, not-for-profit, etc.) to do analysis of some sort, you might get some apprenticeship and experience to speak to should you get an interview.
Good luck in your search!
I think the combination of some experience (even academic) with tools of the trade, plus your practical knowledge of biochemistry, might make you a good entry level candidate as an analyst in a biotech firm. However, you should validate this on your own by looking at job postings and checking out the base requirements...this is really the best way to inform what kind of either coursework or self learning you should be engaging in to prep yourself to be an attractive applicant come March. I would agree with the prior poster that even if you could volunteer your time (internship, not-for-profit, etc.) to do analysis of some sort, you might get some apprenticeship and experience to speak to should you get an interview.
Good luck in your search!
Patrick Meyer
Executive - Data Analytics and AI
780
Answers
Naperville, Illinois
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
Bhumit, as a biochemistry graduate with hands-on lab and technical experience, you're in a prime position to smoothly transition into an analyst role. However, it's essential to strategically prepare in the months leading up to your graduation in March 2025. Right now, your main goal should be to hone and display technical skills that augment your scientific background, especially in the areas of data analysis and visualization.
Make it a priority to master programming languages like Python and R, and become adept at using data manipulation tools such as SQL, Excel's advanced functions, and business intelligence platforms like Tableau or Power BI. At the same time, seize opportunities to convert your lab and data entry experience into quantitative storytelling. You can do this by building a portfolio of data analysis projects that showcase your talent for extracting significant insights from complicated datasets.
Networking is just as important; make sure to attend industry conferences, become a member of professional associations like the American Statistical Association, connect with alumni and professionals on LinkedIn, and look for internships or part-time roles that offer practical analytical experience. Think about earning entry-level certifications in data analysis, such as the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate or the Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst certification, to boost your appeal in the job market.
Bhumit, it's crucial to customize your resume to spotlight your technical skills, scientific background, and any data-driven projects or research you've undertaken. Highlight your unique ability to merge scientific knowledge with analytical precision. By adopting a proactive, comprehensive approach to skill development and professional positioning, you'll craft a persuasive narrative that distinguishes you in the competitive analyst job market.
Make it a priority to master programming languages like Python and R, and become adept at using data manipulation tools such as SQL, Excel's advanced functions, and business intelligence platforms like Tableau or Power BI. At the same time, seize opportunities to convert your lab and data entry experience into quantitative storytelling. You can do this by building a portfolio of data analysis projects that showcase your talent for extracting significant insights from complicated datasets.
Networking is just as important; make sure to attend industry conferences, become a member of professional associations like the American Statistical Association, connect with alumni and professionals on LinkedIn, and look for internships or part-time roles that offer practical analytical experience. Think about earning entry-level certifications in data analysis, such as the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate or the Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst certification, to boost your appeal in the job market.
Bhumit, it's crucial to customize your resume to spotlight your technical skills, scientific background, and any data-driven projects or research you've undertaken. Highlight your unique ability to merge scientific knowledge with analytical precision. By adopting a proactive, comprehensive approach to skill development and professional positioning, you'll craft a persuasive narrative that distinguishes you in the competitive analyst job market.