Tamilore Toyin-Adelaja worked as a research analyst after obtaining her Master’s in Economics from Georgia State University. She got the job early in the pandemic and put off leaving because of the high unemployment rate. Tamilore didn’t feel fulfilled and knew she had to make a change.
“I wasn’t applying all the skills I learned in graduate school in my role. Instead, the position was research-centric and felt like an extension of graduate school. But, I appreciated the value my former employer placed on professional development and their robust tuition assistance program. My manager encouraged me to find a reputable program associated with a higher education institution teaching in-demand skills that would make my resume stand out. I knew I wanted to find a program to teach me how to use SQL and Tableau. I came across the Tableau Data Analytics Certificate during my research and decided to enroll.”
Tamilore applied for tuition assistance through her employer, and they covered the certificate program’s expenses.
“I found the program to be very flexible. There was no set time you had to be online. Work was my main priority, and I took the courses outside working hours. When I needed an extension, my instructor always understood and granted them. I also liked Pathstream’s responsiveness and quickly turned around feedback after I turned in a project.”
After completing the program, Tamilore realized that there weren’t many opportunities to apply her new data skills in her department. She decided to look for a job with the help of Pathstream’s Career Coaches.
“I began the job hunt in September and combed through Career Services newsletters for data analytics jobs every Friday. I kept applying to jobs but heard nothing back until I started working with a career coach on my resume and LinkedIn. My career coach helped me brand myself better as a data analyst, and this made a difference because recruiters started asking me to apply for jobs. But I was frustrated with the job search and took a break until January. When I restarted, I heard back from a few companies but decided to move forward with the interview process for ReUp Education. I got a job offer in March for $23,000 more than I was making. I took the opportunity because they also had great benefits like healthcare, unlimited PTO, and I would have the opportunity to work remotely.”
Tamilore immediately applied the skills she learned in the Tableau Data Analytics Certificate as a Data Analyst for ReUp Education.
“They use SQL, Python, and Tableau. On my second day of work, they had me working in SQL, but I was confident and ready because the program took me from being a novice to an intermediate. My preparedness and skills set me apart because I could immediately refer back to my Pathstream notes when I encountered a challenge, which helped me find a solution. I am grateful for this job because I finally feel challenged at work.”
Tamilore’s final piece of advice to students:
“There are hundreds of data courses, but Pathstream stands out because of its passionate team. Everyone I worked with, from instructors to Career Services, wants to help you. If you’re looking to make a big career change, don’t skip out on working with Pathstream because they won’t just teach you the skills, they will help you achieve your professional goals.”
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