My Journey to Landing a Job as a Data Analyst: Emphasizing the Tools and Websites That Made a Difference
In this article, I’ll share my experience, starting with a bit about my background, my Master’s program, the tools and websites I used that helped me land a job in data world.
BACKGROUND
I have about 1.9 years of experience working as a Marketing Analyst/Executive back in India. I’m a Chemical Engineer, so my coding experience was pretty limited to what I learned in my first year. During my job, I mostly worked with Excel and built some dashboards, but I didn’t use SQL or Python at all.
I really enjoyed the marketing side of things, especially the strategy and design aspects. However, I realized I was also interested in data analysis and that’s why I decided to pursue Master’s degree to dive deeper into field of data.
MASTER’S IN US
Ever since I had a plan to pursue Master’s in US, I was sure that I would only go if I got into a university ranked in the top 50/100. The goal wasn’t just to move to the US but also to upskill as much as I could as I entered this new world. I applied to about 5–6 universities, with UT Austin being my dream school. Luckily, I was accepted into their 10-month Master’s in Business Analytics program.
Courses like Machine Learning, Optimization and Data Science Programming were so overwhelming especially since I had no prior background in data. I had to learn Python, R and SQL while keeping up with my academics. The program turned out to be much more intensive than I thought, but it was an incredible learning experience.
TOOLS AND WEBSITES
I used various websites to upskill myself in Python and SQL, as well as some that saved me time in the job search process. I hope you find these resources as helpful as I did.
1. SIMPLIFY
Simplify Copilot was incredibly helpful for me, especially with Workday applications. Add the chrome extension, just enter your details and attach your resume. Then, every time you use a Workday application, Simplify Copilot pops up on the side and fills in about 90% of the fields for you. This really saved me a lot of time and effort during my job search.
Website Link: https://simplify.jobs/copilot
2. APOLLO.IO
Another fantastic tool I used was Apollo.io, which actually helped me in landing this job. Cold emailing might seem underrated, but if done right, it can lead to great opportunities. I used to send 15–20 cold emails every day. I’d keep track of certain companies, check their websites for job openings, and then send cold emails to recruiters or hiring managers specifically about those roles.
Finding email addresses can be tough, but that’s where Apollo.io comes in. Once you set up this extension, it tracks the email addresses of LinkedIn profiles you visit. You can create email templates for different job roles and send emails directly when you view someone’s profile. Apollo.io makes this process much easier and more efficient.
Website Link: https://www.apollo.io/
How to set up?
Step 1: Signup/log in.
Step 2: Click on Emails under Engage section. You will see ‘’You have no mailboxes linked. Please connect your email account to start managing and sending emails via Apollo” on the top.
Click on the “LINK MAILBOX”.
Link the mail id through which you wish to send emails.
Step 3: Click on Templates.
Step 4: Create a template by adding cold email subject and body you wish to use. Attach your resume. Below is a sample email for reference.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Subject: Ready to Analyze and Elevate Business Strategies — Exploring Opportunities
Body: Hi {{first_name}},
I hope this message finds you well. I’ve noticed marketing analyst position on the {{company}} site that caught my eye, and I’d love to discuss about it further with you.
With a passion for both data analysis and creative marketing strategies, I have over 2 years of experience in crafting impactful analysis, market research, and providing actionable insights. Whether it’s data manipulation using Excel, Python, or SQL, or crafting visually compelling insights using Tableau or PowerBI, I can do it all.
I’ve attached my resume for your reference. If it aligns with your schedule, I’d appreciate the opportunity to connect over a call to explore potential opportunities. If not, I completely understand, and I would be grateful if you could direct me to someone who might be able to provide further insight. Thank you!
Looking forward to the possibility of collaborating with you!
Best regards,
XXX
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
{{first_name}} words like these are dynamic variables. Apollo.io tracks the first name of LinkedIn profiles you visit and automatically fills it in when you send emails, making your outreach more personalized. You are all set now.
Keep your cold emails short.
Step 5: Add chrome extension.
Step 6: Go to LinkedIn. Open the company page. Click on people and search using the word recruiter or hiring manager.
Open a profile and apollo extension will pop up on the side.
Click on Send Email and you will see the templates you saved. Ta-da, you just have to select the template and click SEND!
This might bit confusing initially but once you set up, it makes your life easy. This might not track few emails. In that case, just send a connection request and send a message on LinkedIn.
Note: You might not get many responses, but the few you do receive can be extremely valuable. It’s important to be consistent.
3. LINKEDIN
This might not be a new tool, but LinkedIn is incredibly important. I would say I majorly/only used LinkedIn to search for jobs and set up alerts for my dream companies. Make sure to keep your profile updated with your latest projects and accomplishments, as this is what recruiters see when they visit your profile. Sending connection requests and networking as much as you can is crucial. As they say, “Your network is your net worth,” especially in US.
4. LEETCODE
You might already know about LeetCode and I won’t say much about it. While the above tools help you find and apply for jobs, it is really important to be prepared before your interview. I majorly used it for practicing Python and solving few SQL problems.
Website Link: https://leetcode.com/problemset/
5. STRATASCRATCH
This is similar to leetcode but I felt it has better SQL problems.
Website Link: https://www.stratascratch.com/
There are other sites like Data Lemur, HackerRank, and more that you can explore to find the one that suits you best. At the end of the day, it’s all about learning and improving your skills.
You can use W3schools or Data Camp if you want to learn SQL/Python from scratch.
6. OTHER RESOURCES
I didn’t read many books, but a couple of them were really helpful.
Ace the Data Science Interview by Kevin Huo and Nick Singh was great for understanding where to start and how to prepare for interviews.
Another useful resource was ISLP (Introduction to Statistical Learning with Python) for learning statistics and machine learning concepts using Python.
StatQuest with Josh Starmer is a YouTube channel that covers statistics and data science concepts. This channel was a lifesaver for my academics. I love his teaching.
Alex The Analyst’s channel is another excellent channel for anyone starting a career in data analytics. He makes SQL concepts easy to understand and also covers other programming languages, making it a great way to learn and improve your skills.
THE END
As we come to the end of this article, I hope you find these tools and resources helpful for your journey. They were instrumental in helping me land a full-time job, and I’m confident they can be valuable for you as well. Remember, not everything that worked for me may work for you, but experimenting with different approaches will help you discover what suits you best.
I applied to about 1,300 applications and received around 10–15 interview calls, eventually advancing to the final stages with three of them and finally one offer. If someone like me, with no prior background in this field, can land a job, you can do it too. My only advice is to stay open to learning and keep improving your skills.
Good luck with your journey, and I hope these insights help you achieve your goals. I wish you all the best! :)
