Exposing Your Profile

As a professional, having a standout profile plays a crucial role in the search for your first job interview. Its purpose is to communicate to the public who you are, your interests, and what you have achieved, as well as describe the set of skills you possess and what you can do with them. Think of it as the first impression that people have of you and the first thing that those who are interested in offering you a job will see as well. That is why you must know how to efficiently highlight your professional profile and stand out from the rest.

In this chapter, you will learn how connecting with people helps increase your chances of getting your first job interview. You will see the power of having an online presence on LinkedIn and the importance of creating your work portfolio.

You will also understand the importance of validating your technical skills through certifications, official courses, or conference talks. Along with that, you will see how teaching...

The power of networking

The human being is the result of connections and disconnections with people throughout their lives. From a young age, we begin to create bonds with those around us, many of which last for a long time, but a large percentage do not. It is easy for us as children to greet our classmates in a friendly way or to tell them how our weekend was at the beach. However, this does not happen as easily for adults. It is as if we are slowly losing empathy or simply do not know how to start a conversation, no matter how simple it may seem.

We are social beings by nature, meaning that connecting with people is in our DNA. Even the American psychologist Abraham Maslow placed personal relationships or friendships within the famous Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, a psychological theory that tries to explain the needs that humans try to fulfill as they satisfy those of the lower level in the pyramid. Of the five levels, belongingness and love needs are third:

...

A quick guide to polishing your resume

There are several documents that we always like to keep multiple copies of. For example, I always have copies of my vehicle registration, my family’s birth certificates, my identification, and my resume.

A resume is relevant and important because it’s the first thing that companies ask for when you start a recruitment process. Let’s say that it will be the seller of your brand. Therefore, it must show well who you are, what your skills are, how you have used them, and how you will add value to the company. A study determined that recruiters spend between 6 and 8 seconds reviewing a resume, so your responsibility is to make every second count, and this is achieved by having a resume that meets a few characteristics. Let’s discuss these next.

Be sure it has the correct keywords

Before preparing your resume, you should research the industry you work in and carefully read the different job postings. This will help...

Creating a personal project portfolio

Today, it’s not enough to just have a brilliant and extensive work experience section in your resume; when it comes to jobs in the technology field, it’s good to showcase your skills and what you can do with them, and you can achieve this by creating a professional portfolio.

A work portfolio or professional portfolio is a compilation of your projects, documents, or achievements that demonstrate your skills and experience. Think of it as your personal art gallery where potential buyers can see what you’re capable of. Although not all recruiters usually visit your portfolio to validate if you meet their client’s expectations, this is a powerful tool that you can use to sell your brand, stand out from the rest, and showcase your professional profile.

As a data analyst and Power BI enthusiast, it’s essential that you start creating your project portfolio; there are a few things you need to consider to begin...

Summary

In this chapter, you learned about the importance of networking and how it can help expose your professional profile. Moreover, you learned how to improve your resume and how to start creating your project portfolio. Finally, you understood the importance of validating your skills and the advantages of learning by teaching others.

In the next chapter, you will learn how to deal with the job search process.

Additional reading

• Explore Power BI pricing here: https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/