I got rejected so many times, I started wondering if data analytics was even for me.

Then I talked to a mentor who changed everything!

Hiring managers don’t reject you because your SQL is bad or your dashboards are weak. They reject you because they're not sure you'll work out. And when you're competing with 200+ other applicants, even a tiny bit of doubt is enough to get you thrown out.

Here are the 3 things I changed that got me from ignored to multiple offers (including a six-figure role).

1. I Stopped Applying to Everything and Doubled Down on My Domain

At first, I applied to literally any data job I could find. Didn't matter the company, the state, or the industry. I just wanted a job. Anything.

But that's playing on hard mode.

My mentor challenged me to make use of my prior experience more. I had a chemistry background. Data + chemistry? I had no clue what that even looked like.

So I started learning how chemistry and data work together. Then I only applied to jobs where my chemistry knowledge mattered.

Sure, I went from applying to hundreds of jobs to maybe 10 or 20. But suddenly, I was getting callbacks. Why? Because I had something most applicants didn't: domain knowledge.

I recently had dinner with a hiring manager who confirmed this exact strategy. He told me, "I can teach them the data stuff. Teaching them domain stuff takes way longer."

If you have experience in healthcare, finance, education, or any field, use it. Tailor your resume. Apply to jobs where that knowledge matters. You'll instantly look safer than 80% of other people applying.

2. I Stopped Spraying and Praying and Started Networking

I used to quickly apply to 50 jobs a week and never think about them again. Hit “Easy Apply” a bunch and just hope for the best.

That's the spray and pray method. And it doesn't work.

Here's what my mentor told me to do instead: For every job I applied to, try to network with at least 2 people from that company.

Sometimes it was a cold message on LinkedIn. Sometimes it was a cold email. Sometimes I went to career fairs or company events (even though I hate that stuff as an introvert).

Most of the time, people didn't reply. Or it didn’t go anywhere. But when they did, magic happened.

One of my students sent six cold messages to the same person. Five got ignored. On the sixth try, they replied. She got the interview. She got the job. She's been there over two years now.

Stop applying to 100 jobs and hearing nothing. Start applying to 10 jobs and actually reaching out to 100 people. You'll get way better results.

3. I Built a Portfolio to Prove I Could Actually Do the Work

Why would anyone hire you if you have zero proof you can analyze data?

I had no experience. No internships. Nothing to show I could actually do the job.

So I built a portfolio. I put together a brown binder (yeah, a physical binder) filled with projects. Graphs. Analysis. Anything that showed I could work with data.

I brought it to interviews. I showed it at career fairs. I even held it up on Zoom calls.

And hiring managers loved it. Because suddenly I wasn't a gamble. I was proof.

Most people applying don't have portfolios. They just have resumes with bullet points. But a portfolio says: 'Look, I can really do this. It's not just talk.’

The projects don’t need to be super fancy. You just need 2-3 good projects that show you can work with data and solve real problems.

Why you aren’t landing interviews

You're not getting ignored because you're not good enough - not skilled enough. You're getting ignored because you’re not getting seen. And when you do, you look risky.

Start getting seen & try to be the safest hire.

Here's how:

• Double down on your domain knowledge. Apply where your background actually matters.

• Stop spraying and praying. Network with 2 people at every company you apply to.

• Build a portfolio. Show hiring managers proof that you can do the work

I owe a lot of my career to my mentor.