By Sofia Perez Barrios ‘26, Career Fellow and Andrew Symon ‘24, Career Fellow
The data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) industry has grown exponentially in the past couple of years. As we have become more familiar with the potential of technological intelligence such as ChatGPT, finding internships in the industry can be a confusing and overwhelming process. We recently hosted a conversation about this with Career Fellows and students at the Dining Center to discuss what steps should students take to begin their journey in data analysis and AI. Here are three key insights from the session:
- Search beyond Tech:
Data analysis is used in most fields, not just in tech. As an analyst, you can go into finance, healthcare, science, engineering, psychology, social research, you name it. Therefore, we recommend you keep an open mind and not just apply to big tech companies—find a field you are genuinely interested in and make your way as a data analyst. Especially as an underclassman, you want to show that you have the initiative to start your own project. For example, you could start doing some data analysis or AI programming for a non-profit you support, or create databases about your favorite sport’s team performance this past season.
- Identify key resources:
Once you find an area you’re interested in, there are resources that can help you expand your knowledge even more. Taking courses offered by the Career Services and Tri-Co offices can help you build up your skills that you can later on talk about in your interviews and add to your resume, like AESOP Academy. Any self-taught skills you acquire are also valuable, so make sure you are taking advantage of these opportunities to expand your abilities and apply them to more complex programs.
- Connect with other people:
In addition to the applications and practice problems, networking with alumni and those industries is extremely important. Having the opportunity to learn more about the role, interviews and the company can help improve your candidacy for extremely competitive positions. A way to utilize this is through LinkedIn and searching alumni at respective companies. Feel free to reach out to these alumni asking for 15-20 mins to chat about their role and tips for the interview process.
