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Build a Career That’s Actually Yours
Seven things you’ll wish you’d started five years ago
Every few months I hear from someone in my community looking for career advice. Typically, these folks are recently out of school or looking to switch into a data science or a visualization role. “How’d you do it?” they ask. “Should I get a master’s? What books should I read?” I chuckle. If only.
Let’s get this out of the way: you should go to school if you want to go. You should also read the books and take the online courses that you think seem helpful. Learning is great, as are the communities that come with being part of an academic institution. Ask any recent graduate though, and you’ll remember that having bulk knowledge is quite different than being able to actually do things.
My advice to these kind and eager souls is therefore more focused on creating than consuming, and emphasizes the ‘doing’ over passively experiencing. When I look back to the start of my career, here are seven things I’m glad I did — or wish I’d done more.
