Slide 1: The moment I got no offer Top 3 preferences submitted First round: nothing Second round: still uncertain Hundreds of grads waiting Speaker note: “The moment that stuck with me was not getting any of my top 3 preferences after months of assessments.” Slide 2: Before data, it was messy Started in Computer Science Poor work ethic early on Semester break in 2018 Retail and call centre jobs Speaker note: “My path did not start cleanly. I struggled at uni, took a break, and worked jobs that taught me what I did not want long term.” Slide 3: Restarting with Data Science Switched to Data Science COVID changed the world Started thinking more seriously Data felt practical Speaker note: “Switching degrees was the first real reset. Data Science felt like something I could actually build a career around.” Slide 4: The APS graduate gamble 2023 APS Data Graduate Program Run by ABS for 30+ agencies Application, video, panel, references Highly competitive Speaker note: “This was the first big professional door I tried to walk through, and it was much bigger and more competitive than I expected.” Slide 5: The numbers were brutal Prior year: ~2,400 applicants Around 200 offers My year: ~300 positions Around 800 reached panel Speaker note: “When you see those numbers, you realise being good is not always enough. Timing, fit and persistence matter too.” Slide 6: The waiting room Online forum anxiety “+1 no offer” Everyone comparing notes Weeks of uncertainty Speaker note: “The forum was full of strangers going through the same thing, refreshing emails and trying to read meaning into every update.” Slide 7: Not my plan, still my doorway Preferences: ABS, ATO, AUSTRAC Got none of them Placed at DSS Moved to Canberra Speaker note: “DSS was not my plan, but it became the doorway into the APS and into real data work.” Slide 8: Learning inside government DSS Fraud Analytics DSS Family Policy Strong managers mattered Data plus policy context Speaker note: “At DSS I learned that technical work only matters if you understand the people, policy and decisions around it.” Slide 9: Leaving the grad program Took APS6 opportunity Health and Aged Care Policy costing analytics Faster growth path Speaker note: “Leaving the graduate program was a big decision. I chose momentum and responsibility over the safer path.” Slide 10: Upskilling while working Masters of Data Science UNE, part time Remote and affordable Building credibility Speaker note: “I chose UNE because it was practical, affordable and remote. It let me keep working while building the skills I felt I still needed.” Slide 11: A wrong-fit role NSW Ministry of Health Data sourcing role Not the right environment Left after 7 months Speaker note: “This was one of those lessons where the title looked right, but the day to day and environment were not right for me.” Slide 12: Finding stronger alignment IHACPA Data Scientist Health pricing and classification National hospital data More technical dept
Slide 1: The moment I got no offer Top 3 preferences submitted First round: nothing Second round: still uncertain Hundreds of grads waiting Speaker note: “The moment that stuck with me was not getting any of my top 3 preferences after months of assessments.” Slide 2: Before data, it was messy Started in Computer Science Poor work ethic early on Semester break in 2018 Retail and call centre jobs Speaker note: “My path did not start cleanly. I struggled at uni, took a break, and worked jobs that taught me what I did not want long term.” Slide 3: Restarting with Data Science Switched to Data Science COVID changed the world Started thinking more seriously Data felt practical Speaker note: “Switching degrees was the first real reset. Data Science felt like something I could actually build a career around.” Slide 4: The APS graduate gamble 2023 APS Data Graduate Program Run by ABS for 30+ agencies Application, video, panel, references Highly competitive Speaker note: “This was the first big professional door I tried to walk through, and it was much bigger and more competitive than I expected.” Slide 5: The numbers were brutal Prior year: ~2,400 applicants Around 200 offers My year: ~300 positions Around 800 reached panel Speaker note: “When you see those numbers, you realise being good is not always enough. Timing, fit and persistence matter too.” Slide 6: The waiting room Online forum anxiety “+1 no offer” Everyone comparing notes Weeks of uncertainty Speaker note: “The forum was full of strangers going through the same thing, refreshing emails and trying to read meaning into every update.” Slide 7: Not my plan, still my doorway Preferences: ABS, ATO, AUSTRAC Got none of them Placed at DSS Moved to Canberra Speaker note: “DSS was not my plan, but it became the doorway into the APS and into real data work.” Slide 8: Learning inside government DSS Fraud Analytics DSS Family Policy Strong managers mattered Data plus policy context Speaker note: “At DSS I learned that technical work only matters if you understand the people, policy and decisions around it.” Slide 9: Leaving the grad program Took APS6 opportunity Health and Aged Care Policy costing analytics Faster growth path Speaker note: “Leaving the graduate program was a big decision. I chose momentum and responsibility over the safer path.” Slide 10: Upskilling while working Masters of Data Science UNE, part time Remote and affordable Building credibility Speaker note: “I chose UNE because it was practical, affordable and remote. It let me keep working while building the skills I felt I still needed.” Slide 11: A wrong-fit role NSW Ministry of Health Data sourcing role Not the right environment Left after 7 months Speaker note: “This was one of those lessons where the title looked right, but the day to day and environment were not right for me.” Slide 12: Finding stronger alignment IHACPA Data Scientist Health pricing and classification National hospital data More technical dept
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This narrative chronicles a journey from initial rejection to a transformative reset, highlighting the challenges of navigating study and work. It details the gamble of entering a competitive graduate programme, showcasing resilience amidst pressure. The story progresses through proactive actions in costing analytics and part-time upskilling in Data Science, ultimately leading to a successful alignment in health data. Each phase reflects growth, adaptability, and the pursuit of clarity in a...