Out of Box Ideas to Break Into the Data Industry: Part 1

Why this article? What is the Box?

Most people who want to start with data or any industry limit themselves to traditional methods, such as acquiring a relevant degree or certification. Although these can be effective, they’re not feasible or accessible for everyone. This article will explore out-of-the-box ideas for breaking into the data industry, from independent projects to building a community and networking in non-traditional ways.

Out-of-the-Box Ideas

Here are some non-traditional ideas that can be utilized to get a foot in the door.

1. Cold-Contacting Companies

Cold contacting is sending emails or messages to individuals or companies with whom you want to develop a relationship. It shouldn’t be limited to the sales team trying to sell a product or service; it can also be for job seekers, allowing you to reach out directly to decision-makers and showcase your skills and expertise.

I’ll do an in-depth analysis of cold contacting later, but here’s a brief 3 step method.

Step 1: Choose a Medium of Communication

Email and Linkedin are popular communication mediums, but Twitter is also a rising method.
Here’s my Twitter in case you want more data insights. @sairajchicago

Ultimately, choosing a path that feels most natural to you is essential. Twitter and LinkedIn have advantages, such as the ability for contacts to view your profile easily. At the same time, if your profile isn’t up to date or has relevant context with data, this could prove to be a liability.

Step 2: Make a List of Companies, Data Leads, and Contact Information

Articulate where you want to work.

• Is it a small-mid-stage startup or a corporate company?

• Which industry/sector are you interested in working in?

• What data position would you like to be in?

According to the same, list companies that interest you and identify the data leads in those companies. Data leads could be the principal data analytics, data engineer, or data managers working at the firm. Once identified, their contacts can easily be identified using Linkedin, Twitter, and tools such as Apollo and Rocketreach for emails and phone numbers.

This is a critical step because it lays the groundwork for the outreach. By creating a precise list of companies and contacts, you can increase your chances of success when reaching out to them, as your messages have a tailored meaning behind them.

Step 3: Send a Cold Message

Sending a cold message can be tricky and intimidating initially without guidance. There are two phases to this; the first is having a clear message and concise ask, and the latter is consistent follow-ups.

Below are two examples of a cold message, one as a student and one as a data analyst. As observed, a message should be short and have these qualities:

• Intro about you

• Reason for making contact

• The request

Here’s one for existing individuals in data.

The second crucial phase is to do a follow-up to the email itself. Following up on a sent message is crucial to establish a connection with the recipient and increasing the chances of a positive response. The follow-up message should express gratitude for their time and interest in a timely manner.

2. Publish Content in Public (Niche if Possible)

Publishing content through a blog, newsletter, or other content is a great way to build credibility for your technical knowledge. Gathered that there already is a lot of online content regarding data. The goal is to differentiate yourself by providing value to a niche. A good example is the newsletter you’re reading. I specifically provide value to companies doing “B2C and SAAS” and only then have a few sub-sections for Analytics Engineering, Data Career Help, etc.

Here are examples of niche topics to write about and a way to grow its social presence.

• Product and Marketing Analytics for Fintechs

• Data Engineering for Insurtech and Medical Industry

• Predictive Analytics for CRM and Sales Models

3. Build a Data Product or Service

Building a data product or service can be an effective and non-traditional way to break into the data industry. By creating a product or service that leverages data, you can showcase your skills, demonstrate your understanding of data concepts, and attract attention from potential employers or clients.

The indie-hacker community has proved that as a solo-preneur, building a product or service can be a great way to provide value B2C or B2B. The first step is to identify a problem or gap in the market that you can solve with your product or service. Next, you need to determine the target audience and develop a strategy to reach and market to them. Creating a prototype or MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and getting feedback from potential customers to refine and improve the product/service is essential. Finally, once the product/service is ready, you can launch it and start marketing it through social media, email campaigns, and other channels.

Greg Isenburg does an excellent job of telling explaining this.

4. Open-Source Community Interaction

Interacting with communities for open-source projects/companies is a great way to break into the data industry.

Individuals can familiarize themselves with the product and its audience by participating in Discords and Slack communities. This involves asking questions, helping with bugs, answering questions for other members, and more. Building credibility is pretty easy, and chances increase of getting recognized by decision-makers. This approach can help one demonstrate their skills and knowledge to potential employers while building their reputation in the community. 

Here’s how one of my friends in the web3 space worked his way up to get a job with the project.

Conclusion

From building a data product to contributing to open-source projects, from cold emailing potential companies to showcasing your skills with independent projects, there are many ways to stand out from the crowd and get noticed. The key is exploring new ideas, learning new skills, and networking with the right people. You can make your mark in the data industry and build a successful career with persistence and hard work.

I’m launching a data guide covering everything to get started with data as a career in general. It’s a pay-as-you-like offer!

Watch out for Part 2 and subscribe so I can update you when it releases.