It's freaking hard to land a data job, but with the right habits and mindset, it’s possible.

I started off with no experience in this field. Now, 100,000+ consider me an expert. 

I owe a lot of it to these seven essential habits that 10x'd my career, and I want to share them with you. These aren’t flashy tricks or shortcuts. They are boring. They're difficult. They take time. They're uncomfortable.  

But when done consistently, they'll build real skills and open doors you didn't know existed.

Habit 1: Build a Real-World Project Every Single Month

Exercises and tutorials are good...but nothing beats the learning you get from working on REAL projects. You might not feel ready to do a project. Or you might not know where to start.

That's ok. Think of projects like baby swim lessons. You ever seen those videos? They literally just throw the baby into the water at first and basically, the baby just sinks. But that's exactly where the growth happens. The baby struggles initially, but eventually figures it out. Projects simulate the kinds of challenges you’ll face in the workplace far better than contrived exercises.

The Utah Jazz. I love basketball so I wanted to do a data project involving the sport. I decided to web scrape every shot taken by the team in a season from ESPN’s shot charts and analyzed which players took the best shots from which locations. I learned a ton from this project. Previous to this project, I wasn't the best at Python, web scraping, or complex data visualization.

By the end, I felt a lot more comfortable with all those things. I figured them out. And it was the one thing that helped me land a job with The Jazz. 

Do a project every month. 

Habit 2: Read Five Pages a Day

Reading is one of the most efficient ways to absorb new knowledge, and I personally make it a habit to read at least five pages daily. When you read, you learn. Simple as that. 

Whenever I need to learn something new, I turn to books first. If you want a curated list of great data books, I’ve compiled one that you can check out to fuel your own learning journey.

Habit 3: Start Seeing Data Everywhere Around You

Data isn’t confined to spreadsheets. It’s literally everywhere. Just look around. I trained myself to spot real-world applications of data daily. Whether it was Netflix’s recommendation algorithms or the charts and box scores on the ESPN app, I started recognizing how data and visualization shaped what I was seeing.

Start looking for data. On the news, in the mail, on social media. 

You'll start to see how data tells stories and helps you make decisions. You'll grow in your analytical mindset. 

Habit 4: Share Your Learnings on LinkedIn Weekly

Okay, scary I know. Maybe even cringe. But sharing on LinkedIn can change your life. Don’t worry about being judged. Most of your friends aren't even on LinkedIn. Plus, most people on LinkedIn aren't paying close attention, and the few who do will appreciate your content.

For me, sharing on LinkedIn has changed my life. It started when a VP at a private equity firm offer me a consulting job. That experience boosted my confidence and helped me transition into freelance consulting and content creation.

Not sure how to start? Just answer one question each week: "What did I learn today?"

Just post that. I promise, it will change your life. 

Habit 5: Apply for Jobs Consistently. Don’t Wait Until You Feel Ready

Impostor syndrome is REAL. Waiting until you feel “ready” to apply for jobs is a trap. You might never feel ready. Instead, apply early and often. And again. And again. 

One thing is for sure, you don't apply for jobs, you don't get offers. 

And in today's market, getting an interview 5x for every 100 applications is good. 

Habit 6: Send 1 to 3 Cold DMs Every Week

Reaching out to people you don’t know might feel scary, but cold direct messages (DMs) can open doors. When I was breaking in, I regularly sent cold DMs to data professionals who inspired me or held roles I wanted to learn about.

Cold DMs don’t just help with jobs...they build friendships and mentorships. These relationships can be career-changing and provide ongoing support.

Be concise. Be flattering. Ask for something small. 

Habit 7: Attend Analytics Meetups, Webinars, or Events Every Month

There's something magical about in-person meetups. I dunno if it's the time-blocked commitment or the human-to-human interaction, but magic happens in person.

Go to data events. You'll build connections, learn about job opportunities, and learn a heck of a lot. 

Reading data content online (like this) is good. Participating in real-world, live data events is great. 

Start Practicing These Habits Today

These seven habits (building monthly projects, reading daily, seeing data everywhere, sharing on LinkedIn, applying consistently, sending cold DMs, and attending events) have quietly but powerfully shaped my career. They won't make you an overnight success but will 10x you with steady, consistent effort that compounds over time.

To help you stay on track, I created a free habit tracker that you can print and use to monitor your progress. You can grab it at datacareerjumpstart.com/7Habits.

Start adopting these habits today, and watch how they transform your journey into data analytics, even if you’re starting with no experience.