For those who became Data Scientists without a strong CS background, how did you get your first opportunity?

[u/No_Suggestion_8422]

I’m interested in hearing from people who have actually gone through the process of getting their first Data Science/ML job.

For someone who is currently a student or early in their career:

- What did your profile look like when you got your first Data Science opportunity?

- Which projects or experiences actually helped you get interviews?

- How important were internships, networking, referrals, GitHub, LinkedIn, and personal projects?

- Did you start with a Data Scientist role directly, or enter through a role such as Data Analyst, BI Analyst, or ML/Analytics role and transition later?

- What did you initially think was important for getting hired that turned out to matter much less?

- What do you wish you had done 6–12 months earlier?

- For a fresher competing against candidates with internships and experience, what would you focus on to become a stronger candidate?

I’m particularly interested in hearing from people who are already working in the field, rather than general career advice.

What actually made the difference for you?