What do you do if you want to tap into your network for data visualization job leads?

Think of your resume as your advertisement for data visualization skills. Make sure it clearly shows how awesome you are at turning complex data into easy to understand visuals. 1. Focus on projects where you've done this well. 2. Mention any specific tools you're a pro at, like Tableau, Power BI. 3. Don't forget to brag about any relevant certifications you have. Basically, you want your resume to scream "data visualization master" to anyone who reads it. That way, when your contacts see job openings that need someone like you, they'll immediately think of you and recommend you for the position.

In my experience, I polish my resume based on my data visualization. You can start by making a separate space for projects where you can mention tools such as Power BI or Tableau, and techniques used such as ETL, and Power Query for data transformation and cleaning, and data modeling. In data modeling, highlight the type of schema you performed. Next, showcase your professional certifications from online platforms such as Coursera, and Udemy. Additionally, you can do projects from Coursera project networks where you can work on different topics to diversify your portfolio. A well-structured resume will act as a silent marketer that will showcase your capabilities further making it easier for your contacts to refer you to opportunities.

Having a relevant resume is key. Make sure you have your technical skills and certifications listed first. After that have your relevant work experience. A good guideline is to keep your work experience to the last 10 years or so. Make sure you have listed the impact your work had, for example was their a time savings, an FTE savings, an increase in a specific metric, etc. Showing the impact lets the prospective employer know the quality of work you do and the impact it has had on the companies and the teams you have worked for and on.

Here are some steps you can take: Ensure that your LinkedIn profile is complete and up-to-date. Highlight your skills, experiences, and projects related to data visualization prominently. Join LinkedIn groups related to data visualization, data science, and analytics. Share your data visualization projects on LinkedIn, Twitter, or specialized forums such as Tableau Public or GitHub. Please contact your contacts who work in companies or industries that interest you. Follow companies that you're interested in working for on social media platforms. By actively engaging online and leveraging your network, you can increase your chances of finding data visualization job leads and advancing your career in the field. #DataViz

One thing I've found helpful is that a good LinkedIn profile can significantly increase your chance of landing into your data visualization career. You can start by posting content that includes dashboards made in Power BI or Tableau, and certifications or any achievement that is related to data visualization. This will increase the views or visitors on your profile. In my experience, I designed my posts accurately by focusing on Project Summary, Description, and Solution to engage my audience with the content I was posting effectively. This will demonstrate your active involvement in the data visualization and who might know you land a job.

Make sure your online profiles are in sync with your actual resume. This show your attention to detail. Also list on your online profile what groups your are a part of and if you have not started posting, learn how. Today's world is online and most engagements we do are virtual and it will also start getting you more active in the community.

Once you are finished with your project portfolio, it's time to reach out to your contacts. One of the best platforms would be LinkedIn, where you can send a personalized well-crafted message to express your interest in new opportunities. Start by introducing yourself, then clearly state your expertise in data visualization such as Power BI and Tableau, then close with how your expertise can help drive the business team. Also, you can ask for personal feedback so that you can focus or improve based on the industry you are willing to pursue your career. Remember, a respectful and concise approach can bring confidence in your contacts to share job leads and event refer you in their networks.

Reaching out to your contacts is a great way to get your name out there, especially if they have contacts in organizations you are interested in joining. They can advocate for you and make introductions you otherwise would not be able to get.

If you're hit by a sudden and unexpected layoff, then there's not much you can do other than ask for help and hope for the best. However, the ideal way to prepare for this is to build up a strong presence before this happens. A previous step already mentioned the need to network and make connections. But contributing something of value is equally as important here. Participate in data visualization challenges. Post your vizzes to a public portfolio and share them on LinkedIn. Share interesting articles, or write blog posts on new tips and tricks that you have learned. Then, if ever you need a job, potential employers can easily see that you're already a person of value. Your prior work shows that you'd be an asset to their organization.

Some of the best resources I’ve made connections with–both inside and outside of the company–were through industry and vendor-related user groups. Companies like Tableau and Alteryx, training platforms like DataCamp, and regions with high concentrations of a certain industry all tend to have meetups for people to network. These are typically smaller, more personal, and an easier way for an introvert like myself to start a conversation (because we’re all here due to a shared interest)!