8.3.Optional: Using your portfolio
Your portfolio is meant to be seen and explored. In this part of the course, you’ll learn how to discuss your portfolio and highlight specific skills in interview scenarios. You’ll also create and practice an elevator pitch for your case study. Finally, you’ll discover how to position yourself as a top applicant for data analyst jobs with useful and practical interview tips.
- Discuss the benefits and uses of case studies and portfolios in the job search.
- Discuss the use of case studies and portfolios when communicating with recruiters and potential employers.
In this part of the course, you will learn about how to include aspects of your Google Data Analytics Capstone (case study) in your responses to data analyst interview questions.
It’s important for you to establish the mindset of a data analyst in the real world. This part of the course prepares you to use that mindset when you talk about your case study during interviews, which will ultimately help you be successful in your interviews with recruiters and hiring managers.
In this week's content, different interview scenarios will be presented as useful examples. You will have the opportunity to:
- Familiarize yourself with interview practices and questions
- Develop your own strategies for using your portfolio and case study
- Create and polish your elevator pitch for your case study
- Practice introducing your case study at a high level and at the right time during interviews
- Access resources that will help you become more confident telling recruiters and hiring managers about your case study when you interview for data analyst roles
Your case study demonstrates fundamental skills to prospective employers and showcases what you have learned from the Google Data Analytics Certificate. But being able to present these skills and discuss your case study during interviews is also going to be key to your success!
So far, you’ve learned that an effective portfolio is essential to demonstrating your skills to future employers. Now it’s time to review the portfolio pieces you’ve created so far and the site you’re using to host them. You may already have pieces for your portfolio finished, or you may be working on them now.
Whether you are reviewing finished pieces or evaluating your works-in-progress, use these guidelines and questions to check which areas might need improvement.
If you are building your portfolio for the first time or need pointers on what else to include, refer to this checklist.
Evaluate your portfolio
Now it’s time to evaluate your portfolio. Select a portfolio piece to review and open it. Next, use the questions below as suggestions to help you review your work. As you answer each question, you will identify areas for improvement. When you're done, you can make these changes to improve your portfolio.
Is there anything missing? Are you missing steps in your projects, or details in your descriptions?
- If you have a website, are all the pages you need accounted for?
- If you are hosting your portfolio on an existing platform, are all your projects uploaded properly?
Is there too much info?
- Could any descriptions be revised for brevity?
- Are there places where you include more data than you need? Could something be cut without losing the meaning or context of your project?
Is there anything you think you shouldn’t include?
- Have you included references to others’ work that helped you without citing them? Can you remove them and instead include links to external work?
- Are there any other components that might seem extraneous or unprofessional?
Is your portfolio hosted on the most appropriate platform?
- There are many options for a data analytics platform, such as GitHub, Kaggle, and more. Is the one you’re using (or plan on using) the most appropriate for your needs?
For data analyst positions, you can think of the job interview process as having four stages: introduction, skill test, compatibility, and decision making, Let’s take a closer look at each of these stages.
The goal of the introductory interview is for the recruiter to get to know you. Their goal is to find out who you are and assess your background. This is your chance to shine. Have your portfolio and resume ready and be prepared to speak concisely about your qualifications, experience, and skills using specific examples from both.
This is usually your second interview and it will often be conducted by a fellow data analyst or data engineer. In this interview, you will be given a technical assessment that will consist of testing your SQL and programming skills. You will also be asked to complete a case study or a behavioral test. Your potential employer wants to know if you can do the job that you are interviewing for and they will be focused on getting you to demonstrate your skills. Make sure you are prepared with well-formed answers and highlight your technical knowledge and problem-solving skills.
In some cases, not all, there will be an additional interview to determine mutual compatibility between you and the company. To give you a comprehensive idea of what the work culture is like, the interviewer might include other members of the team during this round.
Often the goal here is to determine if you are a good fit with the rest of the team that you will be working with. This might include individuals who will be your peers as well as the person you might be reporting to. As with the introductory interview, get ready to discuss yourself more in depth, using examples from your portfolio and resume as needed.
Once your last interview concludes, it is advisable to ask about next steps as well as a timeline of when a hiring decision will be made. Take note that the process can take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks as things get finalized and all other interviews are wrapped up.
You can receive one of three responses: an offer letter, a rejection letter, or no communication. Receiving a job offer is very exciting and something you can take pride in. However, don’t feel pressured or obligated to accept the first offer you are presented. Feel free to ask for time to consider, do your research on a fair salary or benefits package, and be open-minded and willing to compromise.
Unfortunately, there are times when you will receive a rejection and despite any disappointments you may have, responding back with a thoughtful email will create a professional relationship with that hiring manager or company. You may even stand out in a way that might benefit your career in the long run.
There will even be cases where you will receive no response from the hiring manager. This doesn’t necessarily mean you did not get the position and sending an inquiring follow-up email will help clear things up. However, if you indeed didn’t get the position, then simply accept it and continue applying for jobs. Remember, every rejection is an opportunity to practice your interviewing skills.
Persistence is a very important part of landing a job interview, continuing your job search, and acing the job interview. Finding a job is hard work and you have plenty of resources to help guide you through the process. So keep applying and continue practicing your interviewing abilities until you find that perfect job.
In the next reading, you will closely examine these interview stages as they are applied to real-world circumstances and the following videos will guide you through this process.
Data analytics is an exciting field that can involve tons of different industries and specializations. As a trained data analyst, you will have a wide variety of opportunities to choose from. Before you get there, though, there is still one last part of your career journey that you have to master: the interview process.
Potential interviewers will ask you lots of different types of questions to ensure that you are both a great technical fit for the job, and an overall personable and professional person. The following videos will guide you through different scenarios you might come across during a typical job interview. In these scenarios, you will meet the job applicant, Sally, a recently certified data analyst, and Jordan, the head of human resources. Sally applied to a job at BWR Technical Services and was asked to participate in an interview.
To use the template for the job application posting, click the link below and select “Use Template.”
Link to template: Job application posting
1. Introduction: The purpose of this video is for Jordan to get to know Sally and gain insight into her personality and background. This is the part of the interview when the interviewer usually answers questions about the company and the position. It’s also an opportunity for the applicant to outline how the skills they used in past roles can translate into the position they are applying for.
2. Case study: In this video, Sally is tasked with solving an assigned challenge where she has to outline her thinking, ask key questions, recommend solutions, and more.
To use the template for the case study presentation, click the link below and select “Use Template.”
Link to template: Case study presentation example
3. Solving problems: Most interviewers will ask applicants questions related to their problem-solving abilities. In this video, Sally provides specific examples of past challenges and how she used her problem-solving skills to overcome them.
4. Salary negotiation: Once the interviews are over, if the company offers you the position, you and the company both need to agree on your starting salary. Although it is often an uncomfortable part of the process for many job applicants, negotiating a salary that you feel is fair is very important. This video highlights how Sally has done her research and didn’t feel pressured to accept the company’s first offer on the spot.
When it comes to job interviews, there is no such thing as being too prepared. Be sure to do your research on the company, the role you are applying to, and salary expectations for the position. Practice marketing yourself and your skills and use active listening whenever you are asking and answering questions.
There is a certain question that you will probably be asked throughout your career, especially during professional interviews: “Tell me about yourself?” This can be tricky to answer well, but the goal is to positively and accurately represent yourself using your past and present experiences and skills–essentially, you need to pitch yourself. In this reading, you will learn how to promote yourself as an effective and highly skilled data analyst in a job interview. Even if you don’t have any professional data analysis work on your resume yet, experience and skills you gained from previous work of any kind can be useful to share if you pitch it the right way.
To help you prepare, here are some possible questions you might be asked in an interview, including technical questions to assess specific practical knowledge and questions that require you to apply your own personal experiences.
- “What are your preferred tools for analysis?” This is a chance to demonstrate that you are well-versed in data analysis, with proficiency in SQL, Excel, and R programming.
- “How do you maintain integrity in your data?” Reliability and accuracy are essential parts of good data analysis, and any issues with your data can have a major impact on data-driven business decisions. Be prepared to discuss the methods you use for error checking and validation.
- “Do you understand different SQL functions and the roles they play?” SQL is arguably one of the most important skills for you to have as a data analyst. This is an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of different types of SQL functions and their value or result.
- “Was there a time when you took initiative during a project and what was the outcome?” This question can come in many forms with slightly different wording, but the goal is to understand your leadership abilities and how you have used them in the past.
- “What was the most challenging project you have ever been faced with?” This question is usually meant to assess your problem-solving and interpersonal skills. Come to the interview prepared with several different examples of how you successfully navigated a difficult project or situation in the past.
- “How would you explain a complex topic to a stakeholder who was unfamiliar with it?” This question helps your interviewer get a sense of how skilled you are at communicating effectively in high-pressure or sensitive circumstances.
- “How do you cope when things don’t go according to plan?” It is important to be adaptable, especially when things don’t go the way you expected. This question provides a great opportunity for you to explain how you coped with unexpected changes and adapted quickly to a different course of action.
Try crafting answers to each of these questions and coming up with fitting examples for each scenario. Write the answers down and practice them until they feel natural and unrehearsed.
There is no way for you to know exactly what your interviewer will ask you. But preparing some polished and professional answers to common interview questions can be incredibly helpful. Learning how to successfully pitch yourself and your skills as a data analyst takes practice. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will likely be during the actual interview, regardless of what questions you get asked.
You just learned about some best practices when it comes to data analyst interviews. Read on for four final preparation tips to help set you up for interviewing success.
First, re-read your resume and the job description to help you draw lines between the two. Where do they connect? Then, as you interview, include specific keywords or phrases from the job description that match skills you possess or achievements you have accomplished previously in your career.
As you start to think about things you want to highlight in your interview, don’t forget to include data. This helps your interviewer understand not just your overall achievements, but how big of an impact you made. What data can you provide that tells the story of your experience in terms of the needs of this position? The “equation” we suggest including goes something like this: I accomplished X as measured by Y doing Z. Here’s an example: “I increased customer satisfaction by 22% in three months by designing a new digital onboarding process.”
If you don’t have access to this kind of data from a previous position, you can still indicate the scope you were accountable for and strengthen the language you use when describing your responsibilities by including action words like provided, created, developed, supported, implemented, and generated. For example: “I implemented a new scheduling system that led to 95% of the team meeting deadlines.”
Review your work history. That may not sound like something you need to prepare for, but most of us have done more than we think and it’s easy to forget some of our own wins (and lessons learned from mistakes).
Think of examples of times you achieved something so you are prepared to answer questions like “Tell me about a time when . . .” or “How would you approach this situation . . .?"
Next, come to the interview with your own questions, such as “What are some upcoming projects I’d be working on? What current goals is the company focused on? Can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with?” This not only shows you care about understanding the company and the position you’re applying for, but it’s also a testament to the research you’ve done by looking into the company. Besides, this is your opportunity to interview them as well.
This type of preparation will help you feel confident and prepared to talk about yourself and the position. It will enable you to fully explore your experience, the position, and your career aspirations and really connect with the employer!
TOTAL POINTS 5
An elevator pitch gives potential employers a quick, high-level understanding of your professional experience. What are the key considerations when creating an elevator pitch? Select all that apply.
- Consider your audience’s interests
- Focus on your process over the results
Keep it fresh by not over-practicing it- Make sure it’s short enough that it can be explained to someone during an elevator ride
Correct. Key considerations of an elevator pitch include keeping it short, considering your audience’s interests, and focusing on your process.
What are the key purposes of discussing a case study during an interview? Select all that apply.
- Outline your thinking about a data analytics scenario for your interviewer
Negotiate a fair salary for the position- Recommend real-world solutions based on your own work
Ask your potential employer questions about the company
Correct. You may discuss a case study during an interview to outline your thinking about a data analytics scenario or recommend real-world solutions based on your own work.
If an interviewer says, “Tell me about yourself,” it’s important to limit your response to topics related to data analytics.
True- False
Correct. If you are asked to tell an interviewer about yourself, your goal is to positively and accurately represent yourself using past and present experiences and skills. Experiences and skills gained from previous work of any kind can be useful to share.
During an interview, you will likely respond to technical questions, practical knowledge questions, and questions about your personal experiences. What strategies can help you prepare to respond effectively? Select all that apply.
- Write down your answers to common questions
- Brainstorm examples from your own experiences that support your answers
Copy real-world examples from more experienced professionals to include in your responses- Practice your responses until they feel natural and unrehearsed
Correct. To prepare for an interview, write down answers to common questions, brainstorm examples from your own experiences, and practice your responses until they feel natural and unrehearsed.
Imagine that an interviewer asks, “How do you maintain data integrity?” What topics does this question give you the opportunity to discuss? Select all that apply.
- The importance of reliability and accuracy in good data analysis
- The impact that issues with your data can have on business decisions
- The methods you would use for error checking and data validation
The reasons you strongly preference SQL over spreadsheets for data cleaning
Correct. This question gives you the opportunity to discuss the methods you use for error checking and validation as part of your data cycle process. In addition, you can point out that reliability and accuracy are essential parts of good data analysis and any issues with your data can have a major impact on data-driven business decisions.
Picture this: you have made it through the end of the interview process and great news- the hiring manager wants to offer you the position. Your first instinct may be to accept the offer without paying attention to all the details in the offer contract. You should resist this instinct and do your due diligence. Read through the offer letter carefully, looking at what is offered aside from salary, compare it with what is expected for the role, and most importantly remember that this is a negotiation, but you have power in this situation. Negotiating a job offer is an essential part of the interview process, even for entry-level roles. Let's take a closer look at how to be prepared when the time comes.
Hopefully by this time, you will have done your research on the role - not only on the qualifications for the job, but also the average salary expectations. Knowing the average salary for a junior data analyst in your location is the best way to determine if the offer you received is fair. Keep in mind what makes you stand out as a candidate as it might give you insight as to whether you should ask for more or identify when you have received a generous offer. Always ask for the range that the team is targeting and which components of the offer the company will consider. For example, does the company offer sign-on bonuses? Additional equity? Merit increases? This will give you an idea not just of what you are receiving at the moment but the potential for growth as well.
A salary that compensates you well for your work is great, but you must also consider benefits. You want to keep in mind some of the things that are important to you and whether or not a potential employer can provide access to them as a part of your compensation package. This would include sign-on bonuses, vacation days, paid time off, sick days, retirement plans, healthcare coverage, and more. If they are unable to increase your starting salary, you may want to explore asking for benefits or more perks to be included in your starting package.
In certain cases, you might be asked if you have a rate or salary range in mind at the beginning of the interview process. While this question might seem straightforward, it is important to not respond with a specific number before knowing the actual number for the role because the moment you do, you will be giving up negotiating power.
A contract negotiation often starts with the potential employer providing you with an offer letter with general details about your compensation package. This is their initial offer and companies will often expect your request changes to the package, whether it be more money or additional benefits. This is referred to as a counter-offer. Once a counter-offer is made the potential employer will try to reconcile what you are asking for with what they initially proposed and find a middle ground if possible.
Always remember that negotiation is your right and it is not considered impolite. On the contrary, showing initiative in negotiating displays your confidence and tenacity to advocate for yourself. If you react with a well-researched counteroffer, it will also demonstrate that you are intelligent enough to know your value.
While a negotiated offer is common, don’t be discouraged if your counter offer is not met. Unless you have competing offers, you will likely still decide to take the job if it’s a fair offer. If it makes practical sense to take the initial offer, you should consider reevaluating in 12 months or whenever you have amassed more experience and will have more leverage to work with.
Pay close attention to the following video, which will demonstrate an interview where the candidate displays their negotiating abilities.
"You can't know everything, so it's important to be able to work with cross-functional stakeholders in a very collaborative setting and the best analysis in the world is worthless if you can't clearly communicate recommendations and influence the stakeholders to adopt those and of course if you overlook some important details that could also derail your analysis and your credibility in the eyes of those stakeholders.
"It's important to think about what sorts of problems you find the most interesting, and then find data for those problems and do some analysis on your own. That's a really high-impact way of being able to get some great experience on your own that you can then talk about during interviews and even informal chats with people in your network.
"Why veterans should consider a career in data analysis is that they already have a strong foundation of being able to be really persistent while also remaining really humble and that's super important as a data analyst because if your ego is out of control, you're going to have big blind spots that lead you to make mistakes in your analysis. One of the best pieces of advice that I still think of is that it's better to get speeding tickets than parking tickets. Especially means as a data analyst is sometimes you have to jump into situations that you're not totally comfortable, and you need to learn your way out of it and collaborate your way out of it."
- Nathan, principal data analyst in a trust and safety organization at Google