Hi Sarayu,

If you took an extended break from work for maternity leave, family reasons, sabbatical, or other personal reasons, it can be daunting to relaunch your data science career. However, with some strategic planning and effort, it is definitely possible!

Here are my top 7 tips for landing a data science job after some time off:

1. Update Your Skills The data science field evolves rapidly. Spend time learning the latest tools and techniques like Python, SQL, advanced machine learning models, and big data platforms to close any skills gaps that arose during your break. Take online courses to help you get up to speed quickly.
2. Showcase Personal Data Projects
3. Completing your data analytics or machine learning projects using public datasets can demonstrate your updated abilities. Open source them on GitHub and highlight them on your LinkedIn profile. Discussing your process during interviews can impress.
4. Tap into Your Professional Network Reach out to former colleagues and your broader professional network to let them know you are planning to return to work and are exploring available data science opportunities. Ask for informational interviews to get their perspectives on the current job market.
5. Look Into Returnship Programs Some tech companies have begun offering short-term "returnship" programs targeting professionals who took career breaks. These contracts can help you get reacclimated to the work environment and demonstrate your potential before applying for permanent roles.
6. Consider Internships and Fellowships There are internships and fellowship opportunities available for career switchers that provide invaluable on-the-job data science training. They allow you to build relevant experience when changing functions or industries.
7. Refresh Your Online Profiles
8. Update your LinkedIn and GitHub profiles to highlight recent projects, skills, and certifications and emphasize domain experience. This allows recruiters to understand your current abilities better at a glance.
9. Practice for Interviews Brush up on fundamentals like statistics, math, and computer science frequently assessed during data science job interviews. Review common interview questions online and practice responses to showcase technical and communication abilities.

With targeted updating activities, leveraging your networks, and being open to transitional roles, you can overcome resume gaps or rusty skills and transition into an exciting data science career. The key is demonstrating an ability to learn quickly and add value.

Hi Sarayu! Welcome back to the professional world. If you didn't have previous experience in data science, I suggest exploring online courses for certifications in data analytics or data science. It's a sought-after skill, and certifications from platforms like LinkedIn Learning or Coursera can add value to your profile. Your past experience might have transferable skills relevant to this field, so we can discuss how to highlight those in your resume. Let's schedule a trial session to review your resume and explore ways to make your transition smoother.