Chapter 13: Data Science Failures

This very surprise bonus episode was made after Emily and Jacqueline found themselves simultaneously unemployed. Here Emily will chat about being part of a 15% company-wide labor reduction while Jacqueline walks through the steps she's been doing as she interviews with new companies. Join them for some vulnerable conversation that are relevant to this current wave of layoffs.

In this special live episode recorded at PyLadies London, Emily and Jacqueline discuss those little subfields of data science like experimentation and fraud. They ponder the benefits of becoming more specialized in your career and how different fields have different cultures. The episode ends with a Q&A using live audience questions!

In the final episode of Season 1, Emily and Jacqueline take a moment to reflect on all they've learned in writing a book and making a podcast about data science careers.

In this special live episode recorded at the Data Science DC, Emily and Jacqueline talk about data scientists' relationships with their managers. They discuss how you should communicate with your manager, how much you should be doing what your manager asks vs what you think is best for the company, and other topics. Several times in the episode Jacqueline and Emily disagree, adding drama and intrigue.

After you are a senior data scientist for a few years, what is next? In this episode Jacqueline and Emily talk about three possible career moves for seasoned data scientists: becoming a manager, a technical lead, or an independent consultant. They discuss the pros and cons of the different types of jobs and strategies for getting into those roles.

"You can't fire me I quit!" --a great example of not leaving a job gracefully (but hey it happens!). In this week's episode Emily and Jacqueline discuss how to decide when the right moment is for you to leave a job, and what steps you should take. They also talk about the realities of the situation, like managers who don't seem to listen when you discuss why you are unhappy, walking out of job, and getting a last minute counter offer.

In this special live episode recorded at the ODSC East conference, Emily and Jacqueline discuss what to think about it you can't seem to find that data science job you want. They talk about the different reasons why job hunts don't work, what you can do about it, and answer listener questions from the audience.

Social media, conferences, blogs, and meetups--there are many places where data scientists congregate outside of work. But how does a data scientist become a part of these communities and contribute? In this episode Jacqueline and Emily discuss speaking at conferences, awkwardly attending your first meetup, and many other moments that can happen when a data scientist starts to join the community.

You're not a failure! The field of data science is overflowing with projects that just didn't work out. This episode we talk about these projects and why they fail. We also discuss how to handle them emotionally even though it might feel like you're solely responsible. In the game, Emily makes Jacqueline try and discern true stories of data science mistakes from her twisted deceptions.

Stakeholders! The people who data scientists help by creating analyses and models. Stakeholders have so many needs, and keeping them satisfied is one of the most important parts of being a successful data scientist. In this episode Jacqueline and Emily discuss how to make your stakeholders happy with good communication and empathy.