I was fortunate to receive my first COVID-19 vaccine shot last week. Despite being uncomfortable and nervous with medical needles, I was excited because the shot represents an end to pandemic times, the beginning of a new normal, and hope.
Obligatory vaccine card photo to mark the moment in history!
One of the things I’m most hopeful for is a return to a “new normal” of work. I am hoping the economy bounces back quickly, leading to more jobs and more hiring — selfishly for myself but also for the millions of others who lost, delayed, or changed job prospects during the pandemic. After four post-undergrad years of diverse roles in the "real world" and lots of reflection on what a satisfying, interesting, and sustaining long-term career would look like for me, I made the decision to go to graduate school full-time (while working full-time!) to gain the knowledge, technical skills, and experiences I needed to begin the analytical career journey of my dreams.
After graduate school, I took the summer of 2019 “off” to enjoy my excess(!) free time, relax, and reflect on my career goals. I started job searching aggressively in the fall of 2019. After hustling so hard in graduate school, I was being somewhat choosey and only applying for roles I believed would be a great fit for the next few years. I had reached peak job search — lots of applications, interviews, technical screeners, and networking — when the pandemic suddenly hit. In fact, I had a really exciting and promising interview the afternoon before everything shut down!
As the pandemic stretched on and on, it became a blessing in disguise that I had not taken a new job, felt that excitement, and relocated my entire life only to have it ripped away by a potential layoff or furlough. I was happy to stay put, literally and figuratively. I was especially grateful for my existing job that allowed me to work part-part-part time safely from home, coordinate and work the occasional in-person event, and qualify for unemployment benefits to get me by financially.
Wearing an N95 plus cloth mask for a "bathroom selfie" at my job as an Event Coordinator, which involves working among large, indoor, eating/drinking groups during the pandemic. Such gatherings were allowable under my state's proclamations;
so many people wanted to still have their special events.
It was a challenge to keep my data skills fresh during this time, especially as my motivation levels fluctuated. I studied using online courses and books while seeking out real-world opportunities to use my skills through my work, volunteer projects, and personal life. I learn and retain knowledge best by doing, so opportunities to actually put my data skills to use were critical. Check out my portfolio pages — I will be adding summaries of these projects very soon!
Most challenging of all, and a challenge I am still experiencing, is remaining hopeful. When I completed my master's programs in May of 2019, this is not what I envisioned my career would look like 1 to 2 years later! Changing plans is always hard, but the reality is unexpected twists and turns are common on career journeys. This is just one of the many twists I have already experienced and one of the many turns still to come. Re-focusing on what’s in my control to continue learning, improve and polish my materials, and keep looking for opportunities has been a crash course in adaptability and gratefulness. I remain motivated to get my foot in the door with a data role because I know I will love it and excel! Ultimately, this difficult period in my career journey will make me even more excited and grateful for the opportunity when it comes!
Update on April 15th, 20201: Fully Vaccinated! All smiles behind my mask!
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