Data Engineer @ Grubhub | Helping early career tech talent get noticed on LinkedIn & land interviews
I've reviewed 100+ CS student profiles who still don't have jobs yet. The pattern I discovered? They're putting their eggs in too many baskets. I made this exact mistake during grad school - applying to software engineering, data science, AND analytics roles simultaneously. Months of failed OAs and rejections. Then I focused on just data engineering and analytics. Everything changed. Recruiter calls started coming in and my interview performance improved dramatically. Here's what you should do instead: 🎯 Pick ONE role and go all-in. When you focus on a specific path, you can: • Tailor your resume to match exactly what those roles require • Practice only the technical skills that actually matter for interviews • Build a portfolio that demonstrates relevant experience • Connect with people already doing the work you want I know what you're thinking – "But what if I pick the wrong specialization?" Here's the reality: a targeted job search beats a broad approach every time. You're better off being a strong candidate for fewer roles than a weak candidate for many. Even if your chosen field has fewer openings, you'll stand out more when your background actually aligns with what companies need. How to choose your focus: 1. Review your projects - Which ones showcase skills you want to use daily? 2. Consider your experiences - What internships, clubs, or side work energized you most? 3. Pick your strongest area - In this tough market, lead with what you're genuinely good at 4. Commit fully - You can always pivot later, but scattered effort gets you nowhere The key is demonstrating depth in your chosen area rather than surface-level knowledge everywhere. If you're currently applying to multiple roles – how has that been working for you?