Summary

The article advises on a proactive approach to securing a Data Science internship by leveraging networking and direct outreach through LinkedIn, rather than waiting for advertised positions.

Abstract

The author, with six years of experience in the field, emphasizes that securing a Data Science internship is challenging due to their scarcity and low priority for many companies. The recommended strategy involves reaching out to potential mentors and decision-makers at companies of interest via LinkedIn. This approach includes building a strong professional network, crafting a strategic message, and selecting the right individuals to contact, such as team leads or data scientists. The article provides practical tips for using LinkedIn effectively, including how to connect with professionals and how to compose a compelling message that is both simple and genuine. The author also shares personal experiences and examples of successful outreach messages, encouraging readers to be proactive and transparent in their search for internship opportunities.

Opinions

Data Science internships are rare and not a high priority for many Data & Analytics teams.
Waiting for internships to be advertised is not proactive; one must actively seek opportunities.
Learning to ask for opportunities is crucial for career advancement in Data Science.
A proper LinkedIn profile is essential for networking and job searching.
Networking should be a mix of establishing meaningful connections and directly asking for opportunities.
When reaching out, it's important to choose the right contacts within a company and avoid spamming multiple individuals.
A good cold message is straightforward and sincere, and examples of effective messages are provided.
The author offers free 1:1 mentorship for those seeking a career in Data Science or needing guidance on their next career move.

Stop Searching for Data Science Internships, Do This Instead

Advice from an ex-hiring manager

After 6 years of experience in this field, I can tell you with confidence that the fastest way to land your first Data Science job is through a Data Science internship.

The problem is that Data Science internships are quite rare.

Most Data & Analytics teams aren’t set up to work with students or interns.

And even if they are open to hiring interns, it is still quite low on their list of priorities.

This is why it doesn’t come as a surprise that students are having a hard time finding advertised internship positions.

Today, I want to share with you a better strategy that I have seen work at multiple companies, and that led me to hire my first Data Scientist intern.

The power of asking

Waiting for an internship to be advertised doesn’t equal being proactive.

You must put yourself out there and connect with those who have the potential to give you the opportunities you are looking for.

You have to ask!

I know, asking can be embarrassing and scary. No one likes getting ghosted or rejected.

But the reality is that you won’t make it very far in your career if you don’t learn to ask for what you want.

But of course, it isn’t just about asking, you must be strategic.

The cold message

To get an internship that is not being advertised, you need to find someone to “champion you” at the company you are interested in working for.

If you don’t have a proper LinkedIn profile yet, stop reading this article and go make one right now!

I’m kidding, don’t leave yet. But seriously, making one is a must.

Let me share a few tips on how to use LinkedIn

1 — Start connecting

Use LinkedIn to connect with people who work at the companies you are interested in

For example, if I was interested in working at OpenAI, I would visit their LinkedIn page, go to the “People” section, scroll down, and connect with Data Scientists working at that company.

Alternatively, you can find other Data Scientists working at OpenAI using the “search” feature:

The goal is to connect with as many people as possible to grow your network, regardless if you end up reaching out to them or not.

2 — Define your strategy

Have a clear plan for who you will reach out to and how.

The ‘how’:

You have two options depending on how much of a rush you are in:

Send a message expressing your interest in connecting, but don’t ask for anything yet.
Get straight to the point and ask for an opportunity.

The first option is about playing the long game and establishing a meaningful connection so that they feel more inclined to help out in the future. You should be doing this with every connection regardless.

But there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting straight to the point. Most people will appreciate that you are being transparent with your intentions and not trying to waste their time.

The ‘who’:

Regardless of which method you go for, you’ll need to decide who you should reach out to. You have two options:

Team Leads or Analytics managers
Data Scientists

Each has its advantages and disadvantages, but please avoid reaching out to multiple of them within the same company. Pick one and go with it.

3 — Make the ‘ask’

A good cold message is simple and genuine

Let me share with you some examples of how these messages could look like:

One of the LinkedIn messages I sent back as a recent graduate. With this approach, I ended with a couple of coffee chats and a few office tours, which included the Google and LinkedIn offices.

This is a message I recently received on LinkedIn from someone looking for an internship:

Of course, it is not guaranteed you’ll message will get a reply, so I recommend you don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Reach out to multiple people at once to increase your chances, but please don’t spam.

That’s it! That’s all I have to share for today! I hope all of my tips are useful. Feel free to leave me a comment if you have any questions or wish me to clarify anything.

Also, I’m currently offering FREE 1:1 Mentorship to anyone looking to start a career in Data Science or to those who need advice making their next career move.