Avery Smith | Data AnalystJen Hawkins went from delivering pizzas to becoming a six-figure data analyst at a FAANG company in just 17 weeks. In our chat, she shares her Data Accelerator Program journey, how she used her background and new skills to stay motivated, land job offers, and eventually achieve her dream role.
Jen Hawkins' Confessions of an Accidental Delivery Driver: Tableau Supply Chain Project:
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 00:30 - The Struggles and Turning Points 07:49 - Transitioning to a Data Analyst Role 19:46 - Life as a Data Analyst at a FAANG Company
How This Delivery Driver Became a FAANG Data Analyst Β (JenΒ Hawkins)Avery Smith | Data Analyst2025-04-01 | Jen Hawkins went from delivering pizzas to becoming a six-figure data analyst at a FAANG company in just 17 weeks. In our chat, she shares her Data Accelerator Program journey, how she used her background and new skills to stay motivated, land job offers, and eventually achieve her dream role.
Jen Hawkins' Confessions of an Accidental Delivery Driver: Tableau Supply Chain Project:
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 00:30 - The Struggles and Turning Points 07:49 - Transitioning to a Data Analyst Role 19:46 - Life as a Data Analyst at a FAANG Company
π CONNECT WITH AVERY π₯ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@averysmith π€ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/averyjsmith πΈ Instagram: instagram.com/datacareerjumpstart π΅ TikTok: tiktok.com/@verydata π» Website: datacareerjumpstart.comThink Your Data Is Safe? A Data Analyst Explains Why Itβs NotAvery Smith | Data Analyst2025-09-30 | Think your data is safe online? Think again. In this video, a data analyst breaks down the hidden ways your so-called βprivateβ information gets exposed when itβs used in AI models, apps, and digital platforms. From sensitive personal details inside datasets to the risks of βanonymousβ data that can still be traced back to you, weβll explore why your privacy isnβt as secure as you believe β and what companies arenβt telling you.
Youβll learn: π How AI and data science can unintentionally reveal private information β οΈ Why βde-identifiedβ or βanonymousβ data isnβt always truly private π’ The real risks when companies handle personal & sensitive data β Steps and ethical practices that help keep information safe If youβve ever wondered how much control you really have over your data, this video will open your eyes.
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction: The Ethical Dilemma in AI Development 01:21 - The "A Very Smith Health Solutions" LEAKED Zoom debate! 02:45 - Sensitive Data Discovery and Synthesis 03:41 - Redacting and Synthesizing Data with Tonic Textual 04:30 - Applications and Benefits
π CONNECT WITH AVERY π₯ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@averysmith π€ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/averyjsmith πΈ Instagram: instagram.com/datacareerjumpstart π΅ TikTok: tiktok.com/@verydata π» Website: datacareerjumpstart.comThe One Skill That Makes You More Valuable Than Senior AnalystsAvery Smith | Data Analyst2025-09-23 | Data storytelling matters more than ever. If you have the ability to make your analysis understoodβand acted onβit can make you more valuable than analysts with twice your experience. In this episode, Mike Cisneros walks us through his practical, tactical playbook to turn good analysis into powerful data stories that get results.
Make your data storytelling sing. Check out Mike's co-authored book here: Storytelling with Data: Before and After - Practical Makeovers for Powerful Data Stories Amazon link: amzn.to/41ViFmv Website: storytellingwithdata.com/books
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 01:16 How To Become A Better Data Analyst and Storyteller 04:41 Storytelling with Data: Before and After 15:33 A Case Study: Analyzing Call Center Data
β¨ Try vibe-coding yourself with Replit!!! replit.com/refer/AveryData p.s. this is an affiliate link, so I will earn credits if you end up using Replit - but I truly love this tool!
π CONNECT WITH AVERY π₯ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@averysmith π€ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/averyjsmith πΈ Instagram: instagram.com/datacareerjumpstart π΅ TikTok: tiktok.com/@verydata π» Website: datacareerjumpstart.comI Asked 7 Data Analysts What Tools They ACTUALLY UseAvery Smith | Data Analyst2025-09-09 | Before you start cramming tools to land a data job, ask yourself this: What tools are data analysts actually using every day? In this episode, I went straight to the prosβanalysts at Google, Amazon, Apple, Tesla, Humana, Veterans United, 7-Eleven, and moreβto hear which tools truly power their work.
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 00:24 - Project 1: Stock Price Analysis 03:46 - Project 2: Real Estate Data Analysis (SQL) 07:52 - Project 3: Personal Finance Dashboard (Tableau or Power BI) 11:20 - Project 4: Pokemon Analysis (Python) 14:16 - Project 5: Football Data Analysis (any tool)
π CONNECT WITH AVERY π₯ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@averysmith π€ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/averyjsmith πΈ Instagram: instagram.com/datacareerjumpstart π΅ TikTok: tiktok.com/@verydata π» Website: datacareerjumpstart.comHe was unemployed for 1,000 days. Now heβs a data analyst. (Josh Gledhill)Avery Smith | Data Analyst2025-08-26 | Josh Gledhill was a musicβindustry professional who, after 1,026 days of unemployment, landed not one but two data job offers. In this episode, he shares how he overcame dyslexia and how he used Threads, a 40βpage PRINTED Portfolio, and the SPN Method to become a data analyst at Staffordshire County Council.
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 01:36 - Josh's Background in Music and Transition to Data Analytics 07:13 - Overcoming Dyslexia and Study Tips 10:44 - Building a Personal Brand on Threads 16:19 - The SPN Method 22:06 - Navigating the Interview Process (and flopping the technical interview) 33:04 - Differences in Data Jobs: UK vs. US 41:29 - Ethics and AI in the UK
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 00:05 #1 You can analyze data in Excel without panicking 01:04 #2 You know how to write basic SQL queries 01:30 #3 You can build a bar chart and scatter plot in Tableau or Power BI 02:11 #4 You can Google (or ChatGPT) your way through any error 02:58 #5 You can send me one portfolio project right now 03:58 #6 You talk about your data journey with friends and family regularly 06:03 #7 Youβre actually applying to jobs (not just watching tutorials) 07:16 #8 Youβve joined a data community 08:01 #9 Your resume now includes (lots of) the right keywords 10:24 #10 Youβve optimized your LinkedIn for data roles 10:57 #11 A recruiter reaches out to you on LinkedIn 12:11 #12 Youβve had at least one real interview 13:05 #13 Youβre comfortable not knowing everything (yet)
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 00:31 - Working on Data Projects at Tesla 01:45 - Was it challenging working at Tesla? 08:34 - Hiring Process and Employee Evaluation 11:56 - Tools and Technologies Used 13:38 - Lily Landing the Job at Tesla 15:42 - Advice for Aspiring Data Professionals 19:36 - How the Data Analytics Accelerator helped Lily 25:11 - Data Analyst Titles Matrix 29:50 - Linking Business Needs to Data Solutions
If you're transitioning into data analytics, I've also created a free tool to help you monitor and track your progress. FREE 7 Habits Tracker here: http://datacareerjumpstart.com/7Habits
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 00:06 - Habit 1: βI built a real-world project every single month. 02:23 - Showcase your projects with Gamma! 03:18 - Habit 2: I read five pages a day. 05:24 - Habit 3: βI started seeing the real applications of data. 06:32 - Habit 4: βI started sharing my learnings on LinkedIn. 08:54 - Habit 5: βI applied for jobs consistently, not when I just felt ready. 09:50 - Habit 6: βI sent 1 to 3 cold DMs every week. 11:13 - Habit 7: βI started attending data events every month. 12:38 - FREE Habit Tracker
π CONNECT WITH AVERY π₯ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@averysmith π€ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/averyjsmith πΈ Instagram: instagram.com/datacareerjumpstart π΅ TikTok: tiktok.com/@verydata π» Website: datacareerjumpstart.comBrutally Honest Advice About Landing a Data Job in 23 MinutesAvery Smith | Data Analyst2025-07-23 | Iβve spent the last 10 years working as a data analyst, data scientist, and data engineer for some pretty cool companies like ExxonMobil, MIT, the Utah Jazz, and others. And the last 4, Iβve spent them teaching others how to land their first data job. My students now work at Apple, Amazon, Rivian, Tesla, and other cool companies.
Let me share the 13 things I wish I knew when I was getting started.
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 00:28 - 1. Your Skills Aren't Holding You Back 01:56 - 2. You Will Get Paid to Learn on the Job 03:25 - 3. You Don't Have to Know Everything 04:27 - 4. Who You Know Matters More Than What You Do 07:08 - 5. Your Domain Expertise Matters 09:20 - 6. Don't Take Job Rejections Personally 12:07 - 7. Data Job Titles Are Confusing 13:29 - 8. Data Tools Matter Less Than You Think 14:38 - 9. The Bookends of Analysis Are Most Important 16:14 - 10. How You Present Your Digital Self Is Important 17:42 - 11. All Industries Experience Cycles 20:11 - 12. Mentorship is the Shortcut to Results 22:11 - 13. You'll Never Stop Learning
π CONNECT WITH AVERY π₯ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@averysmith π€ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/averyjsmith πΈ Instagram: instagram.com/datacareerjumpstart π΅ TikTok: tiktok.com/@verydata π» Website: datacareerjumpstart.comThe Best AI Tool for Data AnalyticsAvery Smith | Data Analyst2025-07-15 | The data analysis landscape is changing rapidly. New AI tools are emerging every week, and it can sometimes feel overwhelming. So in this video, I compare ChatGPT and Julius AI to see how they stack up against each other. We'll use a dataset of 1,444 data job listings from FindADataJob.com to analyze trends in the 2025 data job market to answer the question: Which AI tool is best suited for your data analysis needs?
β TIMESTAMPS 01:17 Uploading and Previewing Data 03:01 Data Analysis Suggestions 05:04 What State Has The Most Jobs Listed? 08:08 Analyzing Job Trends Over Time 10:31 Customizable Chart Themes 11:10 Analyzing Job Salary Trends 17:01 Investigating Experience Levels in Job Listings 19:44 Handling Missing Data with MissingNo 21:34 Exploring Interesting Trends in the Dataset 25:34 Conclusion: Which Tool Should You Use?
Get the books here! DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this video are affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Storytelling with Data by Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic π amzn.to/3ZYHhsG
Ace the Data Science Interview by Nick Singh and Kevin Huo π amzn.to/3XZ9IaB
β TIMESTAMPS 00:16 Book 1: The Big Book of Dashboards 02:52 Book 2: Data Science for Business 04:38 Book 3: Fundamentals of Data Engineering 06:05 Book 4: The StatQuest Illustrated Guide To Machine Learning 07:52 Book 5: Moneyball 10:09 Book 6: Ace the Data Science Interview 11:24 Book 7: Storytelling With Data
I've interviewed some of these awesome data authors! Check out these episodes! Stats You Need to Know as a Data Analyst (w/ StatQuest) π youtu.be/nqtQUg4mZ9I?si=yabARcd9B7Fxke0A
π CONNECT WITH AVERY π₯ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@averysmith π€ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/averyjsmith πΈ Instagram: instagram.com/datacareerjumpstart π΅ TikTok: tiktok.com/@verydata π» Website: datacareerjumpstart.comHiring Manager Explains: How to Become a Healthcare Analyst (Jason Bryll)Avery Smith | Data Analyst2025-07-01 | Jason Bryll is a healthcare analytics expert and hiring manager with nearly two decades of experience. In this episode, Jason explains what healthcare analytics entails, why it's essential, and the role of AI in the field. More importantly, you'll learn how to stand out to hiring managers-- even in today's market!
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Healthcare Analytics 00:27 Jason's Career Journey 02:23 What Is Healthcare Analytics? 06:37 Parable Associates 10:56 Understanding Revenue Cycle and Accounts Receivable 15:00 Complexities in Healthcare Data Management 19:47 The Importance of Domain Knowledge 27:12 The Importance of Building a Strong Portfolio 31:43 Recommended Data Tools and Platforms 34:10 Advice To Become A Healthcare Analyst
Here's a realization you need to hear: You're ALREADY a Data Analyst. You're not as far away as you think you are. In this episode, I teach you how to reframe your everyday tasks (and mind) to showcase your existing data skills, along with some real-life examples from my bootcamp students! Also, I provide useful tips to enhance your LinkedIn profile and resume to attract more job opportunities!
What's the secret to having three six-figure jobs at once? My guest, Delaney William, cracked the code on overemployment/ job stacking and he's here to spill the beans! Is overemployment a genius move or totally unethical? Delaney shares his personal journey, the secrets to his efficiency, and how he helps others triple their income without working 80-hour weeks.
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 00:55 - Understanding overemployment/ job stacking 05:40 - Can a Data Analyst do overemployment/ job stacking? 09:12 - Is overemployment/ job stacking even legal? 17:09 - How to start job stacking/ overemployment 21:53 - Optimizing your job application strategy 28:28 - The tools you need for successful overemployment/ job stacking 35:40 - Talk with Delaney William!
Today we'll create an entire data pipeline from scratch without writing a single line of code! Using Keboola MCP server and ClaudeAI, weβll extract data from my FindADataJob.com RSS feed, transform it, load it into Google BigQuery, and visualize it with Streamlit. This is the future of data engineering!
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 00:54 - Definition of Basic Data Engineering Terms 02:26 - Keboola MCP and Its Capabilities 07:48 - Extracting Data from RSS Feed 12:43 - Transforming and Cleaning the Data 19:19 - Aggregating and Analyzing Data 23:19 - Scheduling and Automating the Pipeline 25:04 - Visualizing Data with Streamlit
AI is transforming how we work, how we make decisions, and how we understand the world through data. In this episode, I explore how Julius AI can simplify your data tasks, automate repetitive work, and offer valuable insights in MINUTES. Dive into the future of data analysis and get ready to 10x your productivity!
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 01:55 - My CRM Data Analysis 02:23 Exploring and Cleaning Data with Julius AI 06:15 Email Analysis and Insights 13:39 Sales Cycle Length Analysis 15:27 The Power of AI in Data Analysis
π CONNECT WITH AVERY π₯ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@averysmith π€ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/averyjsmith πΈ Instagram: instagram.com/datacareerjumpstart π΅ TikTok: tiktok.com/@verydata π» Website: datacareerjumpstart.comLoan Officer Becomes a Data Analyst WITHOUT a DegreeAvery Smith | Data Analyst2025-05-27 | Break into data analytics EVEN without a degree, just like our guest for today's episode! He's Ryan Ponder, a Data Analytics Accelerator program student who transitioned from Loan Officer to Data Analyst within his company-- without a degree. He shares how he leveraged internal opportunities and attained his new role. Tune in and learn actionable steps for making an internal pivot and overcoming career challenges!
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 05:49 - The Internal Pivot: A Unique Pathway to Data Analytics 09:57 - Networking and Overcoming Challenges 15:47 - Imposter Syndrome 23:02 - Final Thoughts and Advice
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 01:43 - Six overlooked data jobs 02:09 - Reason 1: Domain-focused 03:18 - Reason 2: Easier to qualify for 04:26 - Reason 3: Less competition 05:34 - Reason 4: Still provide real data experience 06:42 - Reason 5: Often remote or hybrid 07:49 - Reason 6: Internal pivot 09:03 - Reason 7: Decent pay
π CONNECT WITH AVERY π₯ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@averysmith π€ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/averyjsmith πΈ Instagram: instagram.com/datacareerjumpstart π΅ TikTok: tiktok.com/@verydata π» Website: datacareerjumpstart.comThis Physical Therapist Became a Data Analyst AFTER a 20-Year Career (Melody Santos)Avery Smith | Data Analyst2025-05-13 | Melody Santos has successfully transitioned from a physical therapist to a revenue analyst in a few months! In this episode, she shares three main steps that expedited her journey, her struggles with imposter syndrome, and offers valuable advice for anyone looking to pivot into a data career.
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 00:11 - Reason 1: Certificates Don't Matter in the Data Industry 02:45 - Reason 2: The Course Teaches the Wrong Skills 06:32 - Reason 3: The Course is Slow and Theoretical 09:21 - Reason 4: Lack of Projects and Portfolios 14:15 - Reason 5: No Career or Networking Support
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 03:28 - Gaining traction and recognition through blogging. 07:08 - Career Growth and transition to Alteryx. 14:18 - βLeveraging and advertising your domain expertise. 19:25 - What is a Data Journalist? 22:21 - Writing content. 24:29 - What is Alteryx?
β Control this video using these timestamps: 1:54 - 1 - Data Scientist 3:48 - 2 - Data Analyst 5:42 - 3 - Python 7:36 - 4 - SQL 9:30 - 5 - Keep Learning 11:24 - 6 - Browse Some Jobs 13:18 - 7 - Move On 15:12 - 8 - Apply 17:06 - 9 - Try to Network
π CONNECT WITH AVERY π₯ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@averysmith π€ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/averyjsmith πΈ Instagram: instagram.com/datacareerjumpstart π΅ TikTok: tiktok.com/@verydata π» Website: datacareerjumpstart.comThis Teacher Became a Data Analyst AFTER a 25-Year Career (CynthiaΒ Clifford)Avery Smith | Data Analyst2025-04-08 | Cindy Clifford, a seasoned educator of 25 years, refused to let age or past career define her. She used her skills honed as a teacher and pivoted to data analytics! If you feel you're too old to pivot and become a data analyst, it's never too late-- dive into Cindy's story.
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 01:26 - Burnout with teaching. 11:34 - Cindy's first data role. 13:04 - FindADataJob.com and PremiumDataJobs.com. 19:14 - Cindy's second data job. 30:10 - Advice for teachers who want to become a data analyst.
π CONNECT WITH AVERY π₯ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@averysmith π€ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/averyjsmith πΈ Instagram: instagram.com/datacareerjumpstart π΅ TikTok: tiktok.com/@verydata π» Website: datacareerjumpstart.comHow to Become a Data Analyst w/o Applying 1000 Jobs (ft. Steve Dalton)Avery Smith | Data Analyst2025-03-25 | I talk with job search expert Steve Dalton about his radical approach to landing your dream job-- WITHOUT applying online! As the author of 'The Job Closer' and 'The 2-Hour Job Search, Steve advocates for a networking-based strategy and explains the importance of asking for advice rather than referrals.
β TIMESTAMPS - How to Become a Data Analyst w/o Applying 1000 Jobs 00:00 - Introduction 02:18 - Steps to effective job searching 05:06 - The 2-Hour Job Search 10:54 - Asking strangers for advice vs. applying online 18:35 - Earned referrals vs. online referrals 20:24 - PremiumDataJobs.com and DataFairy.io 24:37 - Effective outreach messages 27:18 - The Role of AI in Job Searching 28:16 - The 6-Point Email 34:00 - Ed Bernier's "Three-Hour Rule" 38:57 - Advice for job seekers
β TIMESTAMPS Data Analyst Jobs: How Much $$$ Could You ACTUALLY Make???
00:00 - Introduction 00:21 - Data Analyst Job #1: Data Specialist ($35k) 04:00 - Data Analyst Job #2: Business and Data Analyst ($55k) 07:48 - Data Analyst Job #3: Data Visualization Analyst ($75k) 10:21 - Data Analyst Job #4: Senior Financial Analyst ($90k) 13:04 - Data Analyst Job #5: Senior Investment Operations Data Analyst ($125k) 14:35 - Data Analyst Job #6: Business Intelligence Engineer ($107k to $189k)
π CONNECT WITH AVERY π₯ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@averysmith π€ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/averyjsmith πΈ Instagram: instagram.com/datacareerjumpstart π΅ TikTok: tiktok.com/@verydata π» Website: datacareerjumpstart.comWomen in Data: Career Advice from 6 GENIUS Data AnalystsAvery Smith | Data Analyst2025-03-11 | Over the past 1000 days, I've interviewed some of the brightest minds in the data world. And in todayβs episode, youβll hear genius career advice from 6 of my favorite data analysts. Theyβll teach you what itβs like working in data, and help you learn what it takes to actually land a data job.
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 00:45 - Sundas Khalid: Keep going, no matter what. 05:26 - Cole Knaflic: It's less about analysis and more about presentation. 11:38 - Rachael Finch: Always be networking. 23:22 - Jess Ramos: Be proactive in your job search and networking. 28:44 - Hana M.K.: Avoid Shiny Object Syndrome! 32:41 - Erin Shina: The importance of having projects.
Check out the full episodes from this compilation! 1. How This High School Drop Out Became a $500k Data Analyst (Sundas Khalid) - youtu.be/e53U55HbBog?si=XvE466DGFxc88NLo
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 00:05 You Need a Computer Science or Math Degree 01:20 You Have to Be Good at Math and Statistics 03:00 You Must Know Everything About Data Analytics 04:27 Certifications Matter 05:35 Skills Are Enough 07:20 AI Will Take Your Job 09:24 You'll Spend 80% of Your Time Cleaning Data 10:08 Data Titles 11:44 There Are Lots of Remote Jobs 13:17 The "Self-Taught" Data Analyst
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 01:05 - From high school dropout, immigrant child, to analytics lead at Google! 15:24 - Number 1 piece of advice 19:36 - AI in the workplace 24:04 - Financial literacy and salary negotiation
@DalianaLui shares her definitionData Science vs Data Analytics (ft. Daliana Liu of @dalianaliugame)!Avery Smith | Data Analyst2025-02-15 | Are data scientists the ONLY ones who do data science? Daliana Liu of @dalianaliugame answers!
π CONNECT WITH AVERY π₯ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@averysmith π€ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/averyjsmith πΈ Instagram: instagram.com/datacareerjumpstart π΅ TikTok: tiktok.com/@verydata π» Website: datacareerjumpstart.comHow to 10x Your Data Career (ex-Amazon data scientist Daliana Liu)Avery Smith | Data Analyst2025-02-11 | In this episode, I chat with Daliana Liu of @dalianaliugame! She talks about her career journey, including her tenure at Amazon, and offers practical advice on making data science impactful in business. Tune in to discover what truly makes a great data scientist and check out Daliana's Data Science Career Accelerator course, designed to help data scientists advance their careers: maven.com/dalianaliu/ds-career
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 13:55 - Focusing on non-technical skills 18:07 - The importance of communication skills 23:11 - How to have positive visibility in your company 28:25 - Data Science & ML Career Accelerators
β TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 01:31 - My 5 steps to help you. 02:40 - PremiumDataJobs.com 05:42 - Data Analytics Accelerator 07:18 - I need your help!