entering the data viz jobs market

A recent project cancellation due to the current funding crisis prompted me to start applying for full-time roles in the past two weeks. As much as I’ve enjoyed the freedom of freelancing, I would like to pour my energy into something more sustainable. Additionally, at this stage of my life, I want to focus on my work rather than the admin of running a business. Here’s my attempt to document my process of applying for data viz jobs.

step one: reflecting

1. I began this process by creating a bookmarks board of projects I find inspiring, projects I would have loved to work on. I noted why each one resonated with me, forming a mind map of what work I’d like to be creating.

2. I defined my non-negotiables in terms of values and lifestyle.

3. Inspired by advice from a mentor, I ideated a bucket list for my life! How can I make my work fit around the things I want to do in life and not the other way around?

4. I created a list of specific skills I want to grow in to help filter down the jobs I applied to.

step two: applying

Counting the jobs I’ve applied to would fit on one hand. I’m trying to be intentional about what roles I want to take the time to interview and do the inevitable assessments for. In short, I only apply for a role if I feel moved by the job description or organization about page in some way and feel compelled to write a tailored cover letter for the position.

The data viz jobs market can be difficult to navigate. Many times, an organization already has preferred candidates for a position. Many of the jobs out there want a unicorn who has skills in design, analysis, development, statistics, and storytelling. Furthermore, there’ve been so many recent layoffs in media, tech, government, and non-profits—there are inspiring, incredible candidates for each open position. While I’m good at what I do, a lot of other people are too! Amid this all, I try to operate from an abundance mindset, knowing that I’m also evaluating organizations the same way they might be evaluating me.

step three: creating a decision-making matrix

A conversation with some folks at the Elevate learning community prompted me to create a rubric for myself going into interview stages. This rubric is helpful for understanding what information I need to evaluate whether an opportunity is worth continuing on in the process for. It clarifies what is important to me at this point and what questions should I ask in an interview. It’s useful for considering freelance opportunities as well!

While I’m honored to even just make it to an interview stage, I also pour a lot of energy into my work and the teams I’m on and want to do my due diligence.

step four: drafting interview questions

Part of preparing for interviews also includes noting what precise questions I want to ask to get the information I need. When I was first starting out in data viz, I’d ask questions like “is this team a service desk?” or “what is the team culture like?” which wouldn’t elicit meaningful responses.

If I want to understand a team’s role within the larger organization, I might ask:

• How often do people on the data/graphics desk pitch and publish their own stories? 

• How do the higher-ups in the newsroom evaluate the performance of this team? How hard is it for this team to backfill positions or get the headcount for promotions?

• As a manager, how do you evangelize the work of your team across the newsroom?

If I want to get a sense of the team’s overall vibes, I might ask:

• What rituals does the team have? (for example, skillsharing sessions, project retros, etc.)

• Can you share an example of a collaborative process that’s evolved over time based on team feedback?

• As a manager, can you share an example of how your feedback helped a direct report grow?

step five: identifying my weaknesses as a candidate

As I officially enter the job market after eight months of freelancing and community-building work, I am trying to be open-minded and gentle with myself. As one mentor reminded me, this industry changes so much and you can only operate on assumptions of what you think the team will look like in the near future. I’m sure there are many rejections awaiting me in the next coming weeks, but I hope each no gets me closer to doing interesting work with a team that inspires me in a role that isn’t causing harm in the world.

I also want to add that these steps are contextual to my personal experience: I am not dependent on employer sponsorship of a visa and have a sustainable income that pays my rent. If this weren’t the case, my job search would be very different. For those who are trying to land a job as soon as possible, here are my favorite places to find opportunities in data viz:

• the News Nerdery slack for data journalism opportunities

• the Data Visualization Society jobs board

• Words of Mouth newsletter

• Elevate data viz community ($)

Good luck to everyone applying for data viz jobs at the moment! We got this!