How did you hear about WeCloudData?
I heard about WeCloudData from an alumni who took the data science bootcamp before, I reached out to him through searching on LinkedIn.
What made you decide to choose WeCloudData’s Data Science program over other companies? Was there something that stood out to you about our program that solidified your decision?
The most important and greatest thing about WeCloudData’s data science bootcamp is their career support, which distinguishes it from all other bootcamps.
That was the reason I decided to choose the WeCloudData’s Data Science program over all other bootcamps, and at the final step I believe the thing that helped me find and land a good job was having real client experience after the bootcamp.
What was your career background before enrolling in our Data Science program?
My background is in engineering; I worked in the oil and gas industry but had no experience in the field of data.
What made you want to pursue a career in Data Science?
I took an elementary course in python and found out that I am interested in coding. When I researched more, I found out that the data science field is very demanding. I decided to switch and search for data analyst jobs, and see what the requirements are. I could not even imagine that I would be able to apply for a data engineering role at that time (before taking the bootcamp).
Can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your journey to where you are today?
As I said earlier, my background is in engineering (oil and gas industry) but had no experience in the field of data. In Jan 2020 I immigrated to Canada, and while searching for a job, I decided to switch to the data science field.
I took the WeCloudData bootcamp from May to August 2021. I can say, before attending the bootcamp I talked with more than 20 alumni who have taken the bootcamp before and tracked their career path on LinkedIn. So, I had a good idea of what the path looked like, but the way that I landed the Data science job was much better than I could have ever imagined.
I tried to push hard during the bootcamp and learn the skills well. After graduating from the bootcamp, I started my client project, and that was the key element in my success to get a job. After 3 months I started applying and in 3 weeks I had the job offer ☺️.
What did you find most enjoyable or interesting about the Data Science program at WeCloudData while being a student? Was there any aspect of our course curriculum or teaching style that stood out to you?
First is the positive atmosphere and being among the community of many smart and supportive data professionals. Anytime I had a problem or question they didn’t hesitate to help me and offer consultancies from the first day of bootcamp even till now.
The second one was working with the client closely. In the program I had the chance to work with two different clients closely and that was a great experience.
How did the Instructors and Teaching Assistants (TA’s) support you during the program? Did you find their knowledge and expertise helpful?
Shan, Shaohua, Vinny, Sonia, Tianshu, and Ernesto have been very supportive throughout the whole journey from week 1 till now. I found them super helpful and smart. They listen to you and your question carefully and offer consultancies.
Based on your previous education experience, how did online classes compare to learning in-person?
At the first step, this was one of my doubts to take the bootcamp. My other thought was to postpone taking it to a time when I would be able to take it in person.
But after I took part in the classes, I found that there is not that much difference between the online class and in-person, besides the fact that you have the chance to go through the lectures in an online format and watch the recordings many times. And the TA sessions were also very helpful.
Do you have any tips for current students on how to be successful in online classes?
Yes, take the classes seriously. Act like they are in an in-person class and follow the lessons carefully, try to have interaction in class. This also encourages others to have interaction in the classes and makes the classes more efficient. If you can not attend the class for some reason and if you could not catch up on the lesson in class, watch the recordings as many times as you can to master the lessons.
How do you feel the real client projects helped you when it came time to find a job?
The client projects were key to finding a job. The client projects show that you have experience in the field of data, and it is the thing that employers are looking for.
How long did it take you to find a job after graduating from WeCloudData?
I found a Data Engineer role 3.5 months after graduating from WeCloudData.
Finding a job during the pandemic has been a challenge for most, what aspects of your resume and portfolio do you believe helped you secure a job so quickly?
I can say the first element was having experience in a real client project. I was asked for the tools that I used in my projects and the challenges that I had during them. Besides that, the data projects that I have done during the bootcamp also were very comprehensive and helped accelerate my resume. They were very interesting for the interviewers.
Can you give us some insight into what the Data Science interview process is like?
I think I had 10 interviews; in most cases, the first step is a short talk with the talent acquisitions for screen reviewing.
The next round or rounds will most likely be technical interviews. This is either an online coding test, take-home assignment, technical questions, or even all of them.
And the last round is a cultural interview which is with an HR manager of the company.
What sort of impact do you feel your Data Science diploma from WeCloudData made on potential employers?
The impact is from two aspects, one is having a degree in data science which makes you more representative in the market and enhances your resume.
The second impact is by the real client experience that WeCloudData offers, and it is the key to being attractive in the market.
Do you have any words of advice for current or future students planning on pursuing a career in Data Science?
If you want to switch your career to data science or are doubtful to choose among the bootcamps, don’t hesitate to take WeCloudData’s bootcamp. This will change your life, believe me ☺️. And try to push hard during the bootcamp, take every step and project seriously.
How has your life changed since you graduated from WeCloudData and gotten a job in the industry?
For me, as it was my first job in Canada, I can say that was super super helpful. I did not have both the Canadian experience and data-related experience to enter the market easily. And before taking the bootcamp I could not even imagine being able to get a well-paid job in my first job.