April 1, 2025 • 27 mins
Jen Hawkins went from delivering pizzas to becoming a six-figure data analyst at a FAANG company in just 17 weeks. In our chat, she shares her Data Accelerator Program journey, how she used her background and new skills to stay motivated, land job offers, and eventually achieve her dream role.
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Jen Hawkins' Confessions of an Accidental Delivery Driver: Tableau Supply Chain Project:
⌚ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Introduction
00:30 - The Struggles and Turning Points
07:49 - Transitioning to a Data Analyst Role
19:46 - Life as a Data Analyst at a FAANG Company
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🤝 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeandriska/
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🎥 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@averysmith
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🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@verydata
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jen Hawkins (00:00):
When I had to get down and actually go get a pizza delivery job,
(00:04):
that was like the lowest time of my life.
I'm like, I really need a job.
Avery Smith (00:08):
That is Jen Hawkins.
She's now a six-figure dataanalyst at a FANG company.
But as you heard, just Amir100 days ago, she was a.
Delivery driver.
So how did she do it?
Well, in this episode, you'll hearexactly that Jen tells everything you
need to know about her story of going fromdelivering pizzas to delivering insights.
(00:28):
Let's go ahead and getstraight into the episode.
Alright, Jen, so you had a thrivingreal estate business that kind of
fizzled out and you're like, crap, Igotta go back to a nine to five job.
And you struggle trying to find a job.
And so you kind of endup doing deliveries.
You're door dashing, you're deliveringpizzas, you're delivering medicine,
you're delivering toilets even, andyou're like, okay, I wanna get into data.
(00:49):
I don't want to be delivering anymore.
And ultimately you landed a six figuredata analyst job at a thing company.
So first off, congratulations,uh, on doing that.
But how the heck did you do it?
Jen Hawkins (01:00):
Oh man.
Um, yeah, lots of perseverance,but definitely positive mindset.
I would say for me it was just reallyfocusing on the goal and not deviating
because you know, in life you have somany distractions and just, you know, I
went through a very difficult time and.
Just like, just really focusingon the positive during that time.
(01:23):
Trying to find every goodthing and just really focusing
on my goal is how I did it.
I mean, and just doingeverything you told me to do.
Exactly.
You know, I try to doeverything step by step.
Yeah.
Just getting it done.
Period.
Avery Smith (01:36):
Well, you are very motivated and, uh, you are very disciplined.
But I guess we should say that you were,uh, a student inside of the accelerator
program and you, that's ultimately oneof the things that helped you land a job.
But let's go back to that,that delivery driving.
Um, you actually have a LinkedInarticle, we'll, we'll put a link to
it in the show notes that kind oflike goes through your whole journey.
But like those first likedoor dashes and those pizza
(01:59):
deliveries, I can't imagine those.
I mean, I'm, I'm sure that therewere some pros to that job.
Um, but one of the things yousaid was your car, you're putting
a lot of mild on your car and itstarted to smell like garbage.
So take us through what it waslike doing those deliveries.
Jen Hawkins (02:12):
Man, when I had to get down and actually go get a pizza delivery job,
that was like the lowest time in my life.
I'm like, I really need a job.
I couldn't go back to my old job.
Nobody was hiring and it was likeChristmas like, so I call the pizza
place and I'm like, Hey, I need a job.
And they're like, yeah,can you come tomorrow?
(02:33):
And I start working, you know,pizza delivery and yeah, I only
had 33,000 miles on my car.
After all said and done, it's like75,000 now, just within eight months.
I'm like, it was really crazy.
But yeah.
Um, the smell of pizza and, youknow, door dashing and everything,
(02:53):
it really ruins your car.
If you're gonna do deliveries, I recommendusing someone else's car or a car
you really don't like, not a new car.
Avery Smith (03:01):
I can only imagine, uh, that would be a really hard job.
And obviously you wanted topivot into data analytics and
ultimately become a data analyst.
You're delivering pizzas though, soyou're not, you're not, most people
would say you weren't very close.
But one of the things that I, I love,and you talk about it in this article was
even though you weren't really close, youwere trying to think like a data analyst.
(03:22):
At that job.
So, uh, can you tell us about whenyou were delivering pizzas and kind
of how you tried to use analyticsto adjust the timing to, to get
less complaints and better reviews?
Jen Hawkins (03:31):
Oh yes, definitely.
Um, I remember telling my boss at thetime that I was a data science student
and that I could help his businessif he would let me see his data.
And he's saying, Hmm,lemme think about that.
And it's the problem.
I know immediately what theproblem was with that business.
Looking at all of the reviews on Yelp.
And, um, you know, it was a few things,but one of the main things, um, that
(03:54):
was an issue was they were quoting,um, too soon of delivery times.
They just needed to tell their customerslike, Hey, during peak hours you
probably won't get your delivery untillike an hour, you know, instead of 30
minutes because people were piling in.
Um, so that was one and two, you have tobe really strategic in how you, um, get
(04:16):
into gates because people have gate codes.
There's a lot of gatedcommunities here in Austin.
So the only way people will let you inis if you communicate in a certain way.
So what I would do is take a pictureof whatever it is, whether it's a
pizza, a box, and I would show themlike, Hey, I have a package for you.
Can you let me in so that way they'llknow that I'm really a delivery
(04:37):
person and I have their, you know,their, their item, whatever it is.
Um, but if you don't do that,they're not gonna let you in.
So just really testing those thingsand figuring out which works best, you
know, and really analyzing the situationand trying to figure out, uh, uh, the
best way to get your job done each day.
Avery Smith (04:57):
I think you call it AB testing, your text messages, testing.
Mm-hmm.
Which is so funny because if you lookat AB testing in like a true traditional
statistical standpoint mm-hmm.
Like it requires math and itrequires P values and hypothesis
testing and a large sample size.
And obviously you didn't really have that.
But you did the best with what you had,like you did small scale data analytics
(05:21):
at a job that most people probablywould be like, there's no data analytics
involved in, so I think that says a lotto, to you and your attitude one, but
also hopefully is a learning for alltheir, listen, all of our listeners, I.
Like no matter what job you haveright now, you can figure out at
least one or two small ways that youcan use data analytics in that job.
And that's going to one, like keepyou more motivated at that job.
(05:44):
But two, it's gonna give you greatbullet points for your LinkedIn and
your resume down the road where you'relike, ah, I had this job has nothing
to do with data, but like bullet point.
Like you could kind of make up somenumbers increased, like package acceptance
by 10% by AB testing communication.
Jen Hawkins (05:59):
That's a great bullet.
Exactly.
It's, and then I actuallyhave another story.
It's really funny.
I worked for this warehouse and Iwas delivering TikTok packages and
Amazon packages and they were doingthings like, in a really strange way.
And, um, one of those things that theywould do, they would make us do a scan,
the packages, and then we had to organizethem by number and then put them in our.
(06:21):
Vehicle, but they were using cardboardboxes and one day it rained, so all
the cardboard boxes were ruined and youhad to like somehow put the packages in
your vehicle and no one knew that, youknow, they have moving bags on Amazon.
So I brought my moving bags.
I was like, you know what, I'm gonnaorganize my packages and I organize them
(06:42):
by 10 and put no one through 10 in here.
So that way I could put them prettyin my car and know, like, I'll
do these celebrities and that.
Then everyone caught wind to what I wasdoing and now everybody at that warehouse
has these Amazon packages, these Amazonmoving bags, and that actually saves
like an hour to two hours of um, youknow, sorting and like putting all that.
(07:04):
So just little things like that is huge.
And I know that helped that companyand they've been around for a long
time and nobody thought of that idea.
So it's just little things like thatthat you could do to really help.
Improve, um, business processes.
Avery Smith (07:18):
Amen.
I I love that.
And for all those people who are maybeworking in a warehouse now or are driving
delivery, we had two students join theaccelerator recently, both named Michael.
Mm-hmm.
Um, one's UPS and the otherone is a freight company.
I can't remember.
One of the things that, that they'vesaid, and that you said as well, is
there is some positive things to,you know, driving and delivering.
(07:41):
Yes.
A lot of the times you can listen topodcasts and that's, you know, one of
the ways that you connected with me.
Found out about, you know, dataCrew Jumpstart and the accelerator
program, uh, in general.
So I, I just love your positiveattitude where you're like, I'm in a
job that I don't really wanna be in,but I'm gonna make the most out of it.
I'm gonna try to find good thingsabout it, and I'm also gonna
try to have it bridge into.
(08:02):
Ultimately the job that you endedup landing, which is a six figure
data analyst job at a FANG company.
Mm-hmm.
Um, so let's talk about how youactually made that transition.
Yes.
You started with a master'sdegree, um, but you didn't quite
finish the master's degree.
You wanna get into the detailsof like why you didn't end up
finishing the master's and maybewhy a master's isn't for everyone.
Jen Hawkins (08:21):
So actually, um, while I was doing my master's program, um,
I had just left, um, apple the firsttime when I was doing, you know,
senior specialist of technical support.
And my business like really grew.
So I couldn't do my business Apple andmy master's degree at the same time.
Like, it was just too much,like something has to do.
(08:42):
So, um, I chose thebusiness and I put a pause.
On my master's degree becauseI wanted to keep the 4.0
grade point average I had, Ididn't want that to like go down.
I mean, that's all I hadgoing for me at that time.
So, um, I'm like, if I keep that andthen just find something else I know I
can possibly, you know, go back to it.
And that's.
Basically what I did, I found yourprogram and I knew that I didn't
(09:05):
really need the master's because otherpeople in, you know, that were getting
success stories from your bootcamp.
They didn't even have a master's.
They were just comingstraight from being a teacher.
Probably had like aneducation master's degree.
Or, um, no degree at all.
Like, you know, just really interesting.
So I was like, I don'tneed my master's degree.
(09:26):
I'm gonna try and do thisbootcamp and I'm gonna make it,
and I'm gonna show everyone.
You don't need a master'sdegree to land a job, you know?
And a fame company.
I mean, if you show them the type ofperson you are and your work ethic.
I, I really don't think you need one.
If you can show them thatyou know how to do the work
Avery Smith (09:46):
well, and congratulations, you did that.
Um, and I like, like you said, you didit in, I think 17 weeks, um, from joining
the program to accepting your FANGoffer, which is absolutely incredible.
Congratulations.
But the, the coolest part about this, inmy opinion, is you called your own shot.
Thank you.
Um, I actually have an email from youwhen you were about to join the program.
(10:07):
And you literally said, quote, Iwill be one of your success stories.
That's incredible.
'cause here you are, you areone of my success stories.
But when you, when you originally toldme that, why, why did you tell me that?
Like, what was the purposeof you telling me that?
Because I have a lot of peoplethat join my program and not all
of them land six figure jobs,uh, uh, thing, company, you know?
Mm-hmm.
A lot of, a lot of them land great jobs.
(10:28):
A lot of 'em ultimately don't actuallydo much with the program and don't
become data analysts, but like you calledyour own shot, why did you do that?
Jen Hawkins (10:36):
It's important to hold yourself accountable.
Avery Smith (10:39):
Um,
Jen Hawkins (10:39):
know, however, a way that may be.
And for me, you know, my dad justalways taught me to always be the
best at everything that you do.
It doesn't matter what it is, whetheryou're delivering pieces or toilets
or, you know, going to school.
And for me, me telling you that, andthen you thinking that and me thinking
that it, it just makes it happen.
(11:00):
So it's like Jen will, I mean, shetold me so I believe she will too.
So just, you know, telling people yourgoal, you know, everyone starts to believe
it and then you even believe it yourself.
So, you know, then I just felt like Ineeded to do that to make it happen.
Avery Smith (11:17):
I love that.
I think that is an amazing attitude.
You're, you're putting yourself on thehook, which nice is accountability that
a lot of people need, including myself.
Like I, I consider myself, youknow, a lot of people are like, oh,
Avery, you do a lot on LinkedIn.
You have find a data job.com.
You have a big YouTube channel,you know, you run the accelerator.
How do you stay motivatedto do all this stuff?
I'm like, I, I don't, a lot of the timesdo mean, but like I set up systems where
(11:41):
I put myself out there to the public.
So for instance, this yearwe're doing mission 52, which
is, which you participated in.
We're trying to help 52 peopleland a a, a data job in 2025.
And that's like a lot of pressure.
I told literally a hundredthousand people about that goal.
Do it when I, I, Hey, thank you.
I, I hope so.
You're, you're, you're one ofour success stories this year.
I'll help you.
That
Jen Hawkins (12:00):
I'll help you.
Let's go.
Good.
Avery Smith (12:02):
Let's do it.
But, but my wife's the same way.
Um mm-hmm.
She, she works out every day,but we recently just signed,
signed up for, uh, like a fitnesscompetition race thing together.
Um, I like those five.
She's like,
Jen Hawkins (12:14):
yeah.
Yeah.
And she's like, I'm
Avery Smith (12:16):
working out so much more harder now 'cause I have like a, a
date, I have a goal that I, i, I wannaput myself on the hook for anyways.
I, I love that about you and Ithink it's amazing that you, like
mindset played a big role for you inyour, in your data journey, right?
Jen Hawkins (12:30):
Yes, for sure.
Um, I mean, because in lifeyou're gonna go through stuff.
Sometimes you think.
You're in a really comfortable situation.
You're really happy for that one moment.
But things happen and you know, youjust have to always try to see the
positive in everything because theminute you start thinking negatively
about it, like more bad stuff happens.
(12:51):
So it's like, wouldn't you rather just.
See the good in it and hope for moregood things to come instead of seeing
how everything's falling apart,and then more things fall apart.
So that's kind of justthe attitude I have.
Um, there's always something goodabout anything you're going through.
Avery Smith (13:07):
It's easier said than done, so kudos to you
for being able to, to do that.
Did you find that in, in my, myprogram compared to, like, for
instance, a master's degree.
One of the things that someonesaid to me recently was they
didn't realize how much, like.
Mindset stuff that we,we do in the program.
Like one of the things we talkabout is you have to do, you have
to think progress over perfection.
(13:28):
We're perfectionist,we're we're progressing.
Did you, did you find in the programthat there was a lot of mindset
stuff that you found helpful?
Jen Hawkins (13:33):
Actually, not, you know, I do a lot of business, you
know, everything I, I've purchasedlike really expensive courses, like
I think yours is way under priced.
So for anyone that says.
2000 is a lot.
You No, I paid 10,000 for, you know,certain business courses, you know,
and they all start with mindset andit's like very detailed mindset.
(13:55):
But yours is like, it's so smart.
'cause it's like, yeah,progress over perfection where?
The, your whole life you're taught, youknow, you need to do things a certain way.
Exactly.
So I just, I really love that concept.
It's simple.
To me, it wasn't that much mindset at all.
Um, for me, I already have that mentality,but I do agree to not do the course
(14:17):
unless you do have the right mindset.
Like, don't come in here and belike, oh, maybe Avery can help me.
I don't think he can.
But then buy the course.
Because you already came inwith a negative attitude,
like it's not gonna work.
And whatever you're thinking happens.
So you just wanna, yeah.
Progress over perfection and just staypositive while you're going through it.
(14:39):
And just do it.
Well, do the whole thing.
Just do it.
Uh, that attitude, I People buy,buy your program and don't do it.
Right.
Like they, you just never hearfrom them after like two weeks.
Yeah.
Just do it.
Avery Smith (14:50):
Just do it.
Go into it and just do it.
That positive attitude must have reallyhelped you manifest landing your job.
At fang, but also gettingcontacted by recruiters.
Um, I've had a lot of people gothrough this program and very
few have had as many recruitersreach out to them as, as you did.
So you had a lot of recruiters from, Imean, you'll tell us the companies that
(15:10):
were, that were reaching out to you.
Yeah.
I guess first off, who was reachingout to you and why do you think
they were like looking at you?
Jen Hawkins (15:16):
Yeah, and it's just so funny because on the.
To, you know, getting off of work.
I already had like four reach out to mejust in that past hour from like Amazon,
DoorDash, like just today, you know, andin California, like places I'm, I'm not
even, I'm like, I'm in Texas, you know?
But I think it's, it'swhat you post on LinkedIn.
(15:38):
It's your resume.
It's your portfolio, it's everything.
It's all like a beautiful soup, right?
Like you can't just have onething or the other, but two,
it's how you post about yourself.
Like you are tellingyou're selling yourself.
Like not in a weird way, butlike you're telling people
(15:58):
like, I am the best out there.
I believe it in myself.
You know, and you're sharing it withother people, like, um, you know, this
person wants me, that person wants me.
So it's like the other recruitersare like, well, I want you too.
Like, you know what I mean?
It's like, like, so it's goodwhen you have those opportunities.
Put it out there, show it on yourLinkedIn and it'll, it'll attract.
(16:22):
People to you.
And I think that's really important.
I am, it's consistent.
Ever since I would say the second,third project when I was posting it
more and more and sharing my leadswith people, um, I started in even more
context and, and it's, um, it's reallynice 'cause I, I feel that security
like, okay, well things don't work outApple, I'll just go here, I'll go here.
(16:45):
And it's not just data analyst jobs,it's all of them, like business analysts.
Dean of manager, I'mlike, really weird stuff.
And I'm like, I didn't apply forthat, but okay, I'll, I'll take it.
You know?
And don't look at itand be scared of them.
I see people are like, I'm through,it's way too overqualified for me.
So it's like you're blockingthat blessing because you're.
(17:06):
Scared of the things comingin, but be excited about them
even if you don't qualify.
So that way you can attract more to youand in instead of being like, well, I
don't know why they're contacting me.
You know?
So just, it's really the, yourattitude and how you think about it.
Avery Smith (17:21):
Uh, if I, if I heard you correctly, there's like two big
things that seemed to, to help you.
One was like your personal branding,which is something we work really
hard on in the accelerator.
Like, yes, in module one and moduletwo we're touching LinkedIn a ton.
Uh, module three we're doingresumes, and by module four you have
three projects and two portfolios.
So mm-hmm.
We're, we're really focusingon personal branding.
(17:43):
So that seemed like it played,uh, a big role for you, but also
going back to the mindset thing.
Because you, like you said, a lot ofpeople maybe will see opportunities
and they'll, they'll reject themselvesbefore they let a, a recruiter
or a hiring manager reject them.
Mm-hmm.
And I, one, one way I say islike, look at the requirements.
You know, you can, you can say, see ifyou fit like 60% of it, if so, apply.
(18:04):
Um, the other way I look at itis like, squint your eyes and
basically like, see it really blurry.
Mm-hmm.
Um, and if that, if it looks good,still still apply, but like mindset
for you played a big role becausemaybe you are applying for jobs.
That, Hey, maybe you,you weren't a good fit.
Maybe like you were underqualified,but that attitude of being
like, no, I can land.
This kind of led you ultimatelyto landing a, a great job, a six
(18:28):
figure job at a fame company.
Jen Hawkins (18:29):
And, and then too, it's like if you have that right attitude
and you're attracting all theserecruiters, you get to pick, you're
like, okay, well I don't want this, youknow, laundry list, job description.
If it's really long, youprobably don't want it.
That means they want you to do everything.
But if it's, you know, mine,the one I finally decided
on, it was like five things.
So I was like, oh yeah, that's perfectjust for right now, because, you
(18:52):
know, I'm transitioning into this.
This is different thanwhat I've ever done before.
Um, so, so that's what I wassaying, like it's really important
to just have, you know, options.
Um, whether it's, it's what you think maybe too much or too little, just be happy
for every option that comes in, and thenyou'll get the one that you really want.
Avery Smith (19:11):
And it's easier said than done, but once you, once you
said, actually we were talkingbefore we started recording.
You're like, once you get oneoffer, it somehow just starts
to snowball because Yes.
Then all of a sudden someone elsecan reach out to you and you'd
be like, well, I already havethis offer from this company.
And then all of a sudden you getexpedited and that company, and then
it's just like this big momentumball that just gets rolling.
Jen Hawkins (19:31):
It's, and then you can treat it like a real estate transaction.
Like, yeah, I'm valuable.
Yeah, I need more money.
Avery Smith (19:38):
It, it's almost like playing hard to get when you're dating or like,
like you just seem more desirable.
Some more people wanna date you.
Um,
Jen Hawkins (19:44):
exactly.
Avery Smith (19:46):
Okay.
Let's talk about whatyour job is like at thing.
So, uh, we, we've already talkedabout thing company over six figures.
Are you hybrid?
Are you remote?
Are you in person?
Jen Hawkins (19:55):
Uh, yes.
I'm, I'm actually hybrid, whichI, I actually like because it's
not that far from my house.
So I get to work at home on Mondaysand Fridays and Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, I'm in the office.
But yeah, what what's goodabout it too is, um, you know,
me, my boss is really nice.
So if I wanted to tell her that I wantedto work at home, um, you know, during
(20:16):
one of those hybrid days, if it's nota big deal, as long as I let her know.
That's the beauty of hybrid is if,if you have a great boss and you
know, they don't mind that every nowand then you could still be at home.
Avery Smith (20:28):
That's great.
I love that.
And what type of tools are, are you using?
People might assume it's fang, soyou're doing like, I don't know, AI
programming in like secretive assemblycode language or something like that.
But what, what tools are youactually using on a day-to-day basis?
Jen Hawkins (20:43):
Um, surprisingly, you know, I thought exactly what you said.
I'm like, oh my gosh,what am I getting into?
But yeah, I use Excel all day and Tableau.
So that's it.
Um, I do have the opportunity touse Python, you know, to maybe do
automation, but there's anotherperson that is like the go-to.
So I just talked to him about what I wannado and, you know, still learn from him.
(21:06):
Because I want to be the one that,you know, knows how to do it.
But yeah, just Tableau and Pi,um, excuse me, Tableau and Excel.
Avery Smith (21:13):
It's amazing how much you can do with, with Tableau and Excel.
Mm-hmm.
Like those are are really great toolsand you can do so much with them.
And, and to me it's not ahuge surprise 'cause I also
worked for a big corporation.
I worked for, for Exxon.
Excellent.
Um, and like the companies ofAmerica are built on Excel.
Like it's, there's a lot ofExcel, um, and Tableau's.
Awesome.
So that, that makes a, a lot of sense.
(21:35):
And what you
Jen Hawkins (21:36):
can do with Excel.
Like I made all these macrosand I used to cut three hours of
time by doing like, just macros.
And they're like, how did you do that?
You're amazing.
Avery Smith (21:48):
That's, that is awesome to hear and I'm glad
to hear the macros alive.
I wasn't sure.
So that's perfect.
Uh, and I also like that you'relearning, like you're, one of the
things we talk about in the acceleratorprogram is getting your foot in the
data door, like getting, getting your,just any job we can in the data world.
And then getting paid to learn,because right now you're getting
paid a fairly handsome salary.
And like you said, you'redoing new things weekly.
Uh, yeah, weekly.
(22:10):
And you're doing new things in Excel.
You're doing new things inTableau, new things in Python.
And that knowledge grows with you, youknow, so you can get a promotion at your
job, like you could potentially becomethe Python person in, in your group.
And basically those skills you'll alwayshave with you and they'll compound
the, the rest of your career andyou're getting paid to learn them now.
So that's a great option for you.
Jen Hawkins (22:29):
It is.
I agree.
I agree a hundred percent.
And, um, and I love it.
I love the work.
To me it's like, itfeels like it's too easy.
I'm like, okay, where'sthe hard stuff coming?
You know?
But it's, it's really notas difficult as you think.
I mean, there, there are some jobs.
That are very difficult.
But again, what gives you an indicatoris how long that job description is.
(22:53):
That's how you know how much you'll work.
Pick the small one like I did.
Avery Smith (22:57):
Very cool.
Is there anything that'slike surprised you?
Um, I think you've, you've been theremaybe, uh, a month or or two now.
Is there anything that's like, beensurprising to you or something that
you've enjoyed about, about working there?
Jen Hawkins (23:09):
I think, well, I enjoy, I enjoy the work.
It's, it's very.
It's busy work.
I love to stay busy.
I don't like slow periods becauseI'm like twiddling my thumbs,
trying to find things to do.
Um, and for me it's like a kidin a candy store just looking
at all this data and I'm like,which one do I wanna attack first?
Like, you know, like, likehow can I fix this first?
(23:31):
And, and I love that, likeall my jobs I've done before
somehow apply to what I'm doing.
Like whenever, whenever I was a managerbefore or doing Apple Care, you know.
Anything.
Um, even pizza deliveries, you know,like when they're talking terminology,
I'm like, oh yeah, I did that.
(23:52):
Like, you know, it's just, it's really,it's really interesting and, um, so yeah,
Avery Smith (23:58):
Jen, like you did such a good job and I just wanna
congratulate you for Thank you.
Working on your personal brands.
Learning the right skills, buildingthe projects, growing your network,
um, obviously it's paid dividends.
What advice would you give to all of theaspiring analysts that are listening?
Listening now?
Jen Hawkins (24:14):
Um, I think the biggest advice, um, is I went
through a very dark time.
Um, and you know, there's a lot ofpeople going through that right now.
With layoffs and, and things like that.
Um, and just know that, you know, ifI can overcome that really dark time
in my life, I know that you can too.
(24:35):
Whether it's, you know, doing this programor something else, but just having a goal
in mind will help you get through it.
It doesn't matter what that goal is,but just having something to strive for
it, it will, it will help you overcome.
Uh, and this program, if youwant a data analytics career,
like you just, just do it.
(24:55):
Just do the whole thing as quickly aspossible, you know, but get everything
that you need to learn exactlywhat to do and have the confidence.
And once you like.
Have that confidence, then you're ready.
Like just go for it and thenjust, you know, apply and, and
you'll get, you'll get the goal.
Avery Smith (25:14):
Thank you, Jen.
Uh, thanks for sharing that.
And thank you for your shining example.
We'll have, uh, we'll have Jen'sLinkedIn in the show notes down below.
So you guys can connect withher, um, and follow her journey.
You guys can see what her LinkedIn lookslike, see what her portfolio looks like.
It's pretty similar to what we do in theaccelerator program, but she's put a great
spin on it and made it look really good.
Jen, thank you so muchfor sharing your story.
(25:35):
We really appreciate it and I'msure so many people resonated.
Jen Hawkins (25:38):
Yes, thank you.
Thanks for having me.
It's been an honor and justreally happy to be part of, of,
of all, of this and, and I hopethat my story, um, helps someone.
When I had to get down and actually go get a pizza delivery job,
(00:04):
that was like the lowest time of my life.
I'm like, I really need a job.
Avery Smith (00:08):
That is Jen Hawkins.
She's now a six-figure dataanalyst at a FANG company.
But as you heard, just Amir100 days ago, she was a.
Delivery driver.
So how did she do it?
Well, in this episode, you'll hearexactly that Jen tells everything you
need to know about her story of going fromdelivering pizzas to delivering insights.
(00:28):
Let's go ahead and getstraight into the episode.
Alright, Jen, so you had a thrivingreal estate business that kind of
fizzled out and you're like, crap, Igotta go back to a nine to five job.
And you struggle trying to find a job.
And so you kind of endup doing deliveries.
You're door dashing, you're deliveringpizzas, you're delivering medicine,
you're delivering toilets even, andyou're like, okay, I wanna get into data.
(00:49):
I don't want to be delivering anymore.
And ultimately you landed a six figuredata analyst job at a thing company.
So first off, congratulations,uh, on doing that.
But how the heck did you do it?
Jen Hawkins (01:00):
Oh man.
Um, yeah, lots of perseverance,but definitely positive mindset.
I would say for me it was just reallyfocusing on the goal and not deviating
because you know, in life you have somany distractions and just, you know, I
went through a very difficult time and.
Just like, just really focusingon the positive during that time.
(01:23):
Trying to find every goodthing and just really focusing
on my goal is how I did it.
I mean, and just doingeverything you told me to do.
Exactly.
You know, I try to doeverything step by step.
Yeah.
Just getting it done.
Period.
Avery Smith (01:36):
Well, you are very motivated and, uh, you are very disciplined.
But I guess we should say that you were,uh, a student inside of the accelerator
program and you, that's ultimately oneof the things that helped you land a job.
But let's go back to that,that delivery driving.
Um, you actually have a LinkedInarticle, we'll, we'll put a link to
it in the show notes that kind oflike goes through your whole journey.
But like those first likedoor dashes and those pizza
(01:59):
deliveries, I can't imagine those.
I mean, I'm, I'm sure that therewere some pros to that job.
Um, but one of the things yousaid was your car, you're putting
a lot of mild on your car and itstarted to smell like garbage.
So take us through what it waslike doing those deliveries.
Jen Hawkins (02:12):
Man, when I had to get down and actually go get a pizza delivery job,
that was like the lowest time in my life.
I'm like, I really need a job.
I couldn't go back to my old job.
Nobody was hiring and it was likeChristmas like, so I call the pizza
place and I'm like, Hey, I need a job.
And they're like, yeah,can you come tomorrow?
(02:33):
And I start working, you know,pizza delivery and yeah, I only
had 33,000 miles on my car.
After all said and done, it's like75,000 now, just within eight months.
I'm like, it was really crazy.
But yeah.
Um, the smell of pizza and, youknow, door dashing and everything,
(02:53):
it really ruins your car.
If you're gonna do deliveries, I recommendusing someone else's car or a car
you really don't like, not a new car.
Avery Smith (03:01):
I can only imagine, uh, that would be a really hard job.
And obviously you wanted topivot into data analytics and
ultimately become a data analyst.
You're delivering pizzas though, soyou're not, you're not, most people
would say you weren't very close.
But one of the things that I, I love,and you talk about it in this article was
even though you weren't really close, youwere trying to think like a data analyst.
(03:22):
At that job.
So, uh, can you tell us about whenyou were delivering pizzas and kind
of how you tried to use analyticsto adjust the timing to, to get
less complaints and better reviews?
Jen Hawkins (03:31):
Oh yes, definitely.
Um, I remember telling my boss at thetime that I was a data science student
and that I could help his businessif he would let me see his data.
And he's saying, Hmm,lemme think about that.
And it's the problem.
I know immediately what theproblem was with that business.
Looking at all of the reviews on Yelp.
And, um, you know, it was a few things,but one of the main things, um, that
(03:54):
was an issue was they were quoting,um, too soon of delivery times.
They just needed to tell their customerslike, Hey, during peak hours you
probably won't get your delivery untillike an hour, you know, instead of 30
minutes because people were piling in.
Um, so that was one and two, you have tobe really strategic in how you, um, get
(04:16):
into gates because people have gate codes.
There's a lot of gatedcommunities here in Austin.
So the only way people will let you inis if you communicate in a certain way.
So what I would do is take a pictureof whatever it is, whether it's a
pizza, a box, and I would show themlike, Hey, I have a package for you.
Can you let me in so that way they'llknow that I'm really a delivery
(04:37):
person and I have their, you know,their, their item, whatever it is.
Um, but if you don't do that,they're not gonna let you in.
So just really testing those thingsand figuring out which works best, you
know, and really analyzing the situationand trying to figure out, uh, uh, the
best way to get your job done each day.
Avery Smith (04:57):
I think you call it AB testing, your text messages, testing.
Mm-hmm.
Which is so funny because if you lookat AB testing in like a true traditional
statistical standpoint mm-hmm.
Like it requires math and itrequires P values and hypothesis
testing and a large sample size.
And obviously you didn't really have that.
But you did the best with what you had,like you did small scale data analytics
(05:21):
at a job that most people probablywould be like, there's no data analytics
involved in, so I think that says a lotto, to you and your attitude one, but
also hopefully is a learning for alltheir, listen, all of our listeners, I.
Like no matter what job you haveright now, you can figure out at
least one or two small ways that youcan use data analytics in that job.
And that's going to one, like keepyou more motivated at that job.
(05:44):
But two, it's gonna give you greatbullet points for your LinkedIn and
your resume down the road where you'relike, ah, I had this job has nothing
to do with data, but like bullet point.
Like you could kind of make up somenumbers increased, like package acceptance
by 10% by AB testing communication.
Jen Hawkins (05:59):
That's a great bullet.
Exactly.
It's, and then I actuallyhave another story.
It's really funny.
I worked for this warehouse and Iwas delivering TikTok packages and
Amazon packages and they were doingthings like, in a really strange way.
And, um, one of those things that theywould do, they would make us do a scan,
the packages, and then we had to organizethem by number and then put them in our.
(06:21):
Vehicle, but they were using cardboardboxes and one day it rained, so all
the cardboard boxes were ruined and youhad to like somehow put the packages in
your vehicle and no one knew that, youknow, they have moving bags on Amazon.
So I brought my moving bags.
I was like, you know what, I'm gonnaorganize my packages and I organize them
(06:42):
by 10 and put no one through 10 in here.
So that way I could put them prettyin my car and know, like, I'll
do these celebrities and that.
Then everyone caught wind to what I wasdoing and now everybody at that warehouse
has these Amazon packages, these Amazonmoving bags, and that actually saves
like an hour to two hours of um, youknow, sorting and like putting all that.
(07:04):
So just little things like that is huge.
And I know that helped that companyand they've been around for a long
time and nobody thought of that idea.
So it's just little things like thatthat you could do to really help.
Improve, um, business processes.
Avery Smith (07:18):
Amen.
I I love that.
And for all those people who are maybeworking in a warehouse now or are driving
delivery, we had two students join theaccelerator recently, both named Michael.
Mm-hmm.
Um, one's UPS and the otherone is a freight company.
I can't remember.
One of the things that, that they'vesaid, and that you said as well, is
there is some positive things to,you know, driving and delivering.
(07:41):
Yes.
A lot of the times you can listen topodcasts and that's, you know, one of
the ways that you connected with me.
Found out about, you know, dataCrew Jumpstart and the accelerator
program, uh, in general.
So I, I just love your positiveattitude where you're like, I'm in a
job that I don't really wanna be in,but I'm gonna make the most out of it.
I'm gonna try to find good thingsabout it, and I'm also gonna
try to have it bridge into.
(08:02):
Ultimately the job that you endedup landing, which is a six figure
data analyst job at a FANG company.
Mm-hmm.
Um, so let's talk about how youactually made that transition.
Yes.
You started with a master'sdegree, um, but you didn't quite
finish the master's degree.
You wanna get into the detailsof like why you didn't end up
finishing the master's and maybewhy a master's isn't for everyone.
Jen Hawkins (08:21):
So actually, um, while I was doing my master's program, um,
I had just left, um, apple the firsttime when I was doing, you know,
senior specialist of technical support.
And my business like really grew.
So I couldn't do my business Apple andmy master's degree at the same time.
Like, it was just too much,like something has to do.
(08:42):
So, um, I chose thebusiness and I put a pause.
On my master's degree becauseI wanted to keep the 4.0
grade point average I had, Ididn't want that to like go down.
I mean, that's all I hadgoing for me at that time.
So, um, I'm like, if I keep that andthen just find something else I know I
can possibly, you know, go back to it.
And that's.
Basically what I did, I found yourprogram and I knew that I didn't
(09:05):
really need the master's because otherpeople in, you know, that were getting
success stories from your bootcamp.
They didn't even have a master's.
They were just comingstraight from being a teacher.
Probably had like aneducation master's degree.
Or, um, no degree at all.
Like, you know, just really interesting.
So I was like, I don'tneed my master's degree.
(09:26):
I'm gonna try and do thisbootcamp and I'm gonna make it,
and I'm gonna show everyone.
You don't need a master'sdegree to land a job, you know?
And a fame company.
I mean, if you show them the type ofperson you are and your work ethic.
I, I really don't think you need one.
If you can show them thatyou know how to do the work
Avery Smith (09:46):
well, and congratulations, you did that.
Um, and I like, like you said, you didit in, I think 17 weeks, um, from joining
the program to accepting your FANGoffer, which is absolutely incredible.
Congratulations.
But the, the coolest part about this, inmy opinion, is you called your own shot.
Thank you.
Um, I actually have an email from youwhen you were about to join the program.
(10:07):
And you literally said, quote, Iwill be one of your success stories.
That's incredible.
'cause here you are, you areone of my success stories.
But when you, when you originally toldme that, why, why did you tell me that?
Like, what was the purposeof you telling me that?
Because I have a lot of peoplethat join my program and not all
of them land six figure jobs,uh, uh, thing, company, you know?
Mm-hmm.
A lot of, a lot of them land great jobs.
(10:28):
A lot of 'em ultimately don't actuallydo much with the program and don't
become data analysts, but like you calledyour own shot, why did you do that?
Jen Hawkins (10:36):
It's important to hold yourself accountable.
Avery Smith (10:39):
Um,
Jen Hawkins (10:39):
know, however, a way that may be.
And for me, you know, my dad justalways taught me to always be the
best at everything that you do.
It doesn't matter what it is, whetheryou're delivering pieces or toilets
or, you know, going to school.
And for me, me telling you that, andthen you thinking that and me thinking
that it, it just makes it happen.
(11:00):
So it's like Jen will, I mean, shetold me so I believe she will too.
So just, you know, telling people yourgoal, you know, everyone starts to believe
it and then you even believe it yourself.
So, you know, then I just felt like Ineeded to do that to make it happen.
Avery Smith (11:17):
I love that.
I think that is an amazing attitude.
You're, you're putting yourself on thehook, which nice is accountability that
a lot of people need, including myself.
Like I, I consider myself, youknow, a lot of people are like, oh,
Avery, you do a lot on LinkedIn.
You have find a data job.com.
You have a big YouTube channel,you know, you run the accelerator.
How do you stay motivatedto do all this stuff?
I'm like, I, I don't, a lot of the timesdo mean, but like I set up systems where
(11:41):
I put myself out there to the public.
So for instance, this yearwe're doing mission 52, which
is, which you participated in.
We're trying to help 52 peopleland a a, a data job in 2025.
And that's like a lot of pressure.
I told literally a hundredthousand people about that goal.
Do it when I, I, Hey, thank you.
I, I hope so.
You're, you're, you're one ofour success stories this year.
I'll help you.
That
Jen Hawkins (12:00):
I'll help you.
Let's go.
Good.
Avery Smith (12:02):
Let's do it.
But, but my wife's the same way.
Um mm-hmm.
She, she works out every day,but we recently just signed,
signed up for, uh, like a fitnesscompetition race thing together.
Um, I like those five.
She's like,
Jen Hawkins (12:14):
yeah.
Yeah.
And she's like, I'm
Avery Smith (12:16):
working out so much more harder now 'cause I have like a, a
date, I have a goal that I, i, I wannaput myself on the hook for anyways.
I, I love that about you and Ithink it's amazing that you, like
mindset played a big role for you inyour, in your data journey, right?
Jen Hawkins (12:30):
Yes, for sure.
Um, I mean, because in lifeyou're gonna go through stuff.
Sometimes you think.
You're in a really comfortable situation.
You're really happy for that one moment.
But things happen and you know, youjust have to always try to see the
positive in everything because theminute you start thinking negatively
about it, like more bad stuff happens.
(12:51):
So it's like, wouldn't you rather just.
See the good in it and hope for moregood things to come instead of seeing
how everything's falling apart,and then more things fall apart.
So that's kind of justthe attitude I have.
Um, there's always something goodabout anything you're going through.
Avery Smith (13:07):
It's easier said than done, so kudos to you
for being able to, to do that.
Did you find that in, in my, myprogram compared to, like, for
instance, a master's degree.
One of the things that someonesaid to me recently was they
didn't realize how much, like.
Mindset stuff that we,we do in the program.
Like one of the things we talkabout is you have to do, you have
to think progress over perfection.
(13:28):
We're perfectionist,we're we're progressing.
Did you, did you find in the programthat there was a lot of mindset
stuff that you found helpful?
Jen Hawkins (13:33):
Actually, not, you know, I do a lot of business, you
know, everything I, I've purchasedlike really expensive courses, like
I think yours is way under priced.
So for anyone that says.
2000 is a lot.
You No, I paid 10,000 for, you know,certain business courses, you know,
and they all start with mindset andit's like very detailed mindset.
(13:55):
But yours is like, it's so smart.
'cause it's like, yeah,progress over perfection where?
The, your whole life you're taught, youknow, you need to do things a certain way.
Exactly.
So I just, I really love that concept.
It's simple.
To me, it wasn't that much mindset at all.
Um, for me, I already have that mentality,but I do agree to not do the course
(14:17):
unless you do have the right mindset.
Like, don't come in here and belike, oh, maybe Avery can help me.
I don't think he can.
But then buy the course.
Because you already came inwith a negative attitude,
like it's not gonna work.
And whatever you're thinking happens.
So you just wanna, yeah.
Progress over perfection and just staypositive while you're going through it.
(14:39):
And just do it.
Well, do the whole thing.
Just do it.
Uh, that attitude, I People buy,buy your program and don't do it.
Right.
Like they, you just never hearfrom them after like two weeks.
Yeah.
Just do it.
Avery Smith (14:50):
Just do it.
Go into it and just do it.
That positive attitude must have reallyhelped you manifest landing your job.
At fang, but also gettingcontacted by recruiters.
Um, I've had a lot of people gothrough this program and very
few have had as many recruitersreach out to them as, as you did.
So you had a lot of recruiters from, Imean, you'll tell us the companies that
(15:10):
were, that were reaching out to you.
Yeah.
I guess first off, who was reachingout to you and why do you think
they were like looking at you?
Jen Hawkins (15:16):
Yeah, and it's just so funny because on the.
To, you know, getting off of work.
I already had like four reach out to mejust in that past hour from like Amazon,
DoorDash, like just today, you know, andin California, like places I'm, I'm not
even, I'm like, I'm in Texas, you know?
But I think it's, it'swhat you post on LinkedIn.
(15:38):
It's your resume.
It's your portfolio, it's everything.
It's all like a beautiful soup, right?
Like you can't just have onething or the other, but two,
it's how you post about yourself.
Like you are tellingyou're selling yourself.
Like not in a weird way, butlike you're telling people
(15:58):
like, I am the best out there.
I believe it in myself.
You know, and you're sharing it withother people, like, um, you know, this
person wants me, that person wants me.
So it's like the other recruitersare like, well, I want you too.
Like, you know what I mean?
It's like, like, so it's goodwhen you have those opportunities.
Put it out there, show it on yourLinkedIn and it'll, it'll attract.
(16:22):
People to you.
And I think that's really important.
I am, it's consistent.
Ever since I would say the second,third project when I was posting it
more and more and sharing my leadswith people, um, I started in even more
context and, and it's, um, it's reallynice 'cause I, I feel that security
like, okay, well things don't work outApple, I'll just go here, I'll go here.
(16:45):
And it's not just data analyst jobs,it's all of them, like business analysts.
Dean of manager, I'mlike, really weird stuff.
And I'm like, I didn't apply forthat, but okay, I'll, I'll take it.
You know?
And don't look at itand be scared of them.
I see people are like, I'm through,it's way too overqualified for me.
So it's like you're blockingthat blessing because you're.
(17:06):
Scared of the things comingin, but be excited about them
even if you don't qualify.
So that way you can attract more to youand in instead of being like, well, I
don't know why they're contacting me.
You know?
So just, it's really the, yourattitude and how you think about it.
Avery Smith (17:21):
Uh, if I, if I heard you correctly, there's like two big
things that seemed to, to help you.
One was like your personal branding,which is something we work really
hard on in the accelerator.
Like, yes, in module one and moduletwo we're touching LinkedIn a ton.
Uh, module three we're doingresumes, and by module four you have
three projects and two portfolios.
So mm-hmm.
We're, we're really focusingon personal branding.
(17:43):
So that seemed like it played,uh, a big role for you, but also
going back to the mindset thing.
Because you, like you said, a lot ofpeople maybe will see opportunities
and they'll, they'll reject themselvesbefore they let a, a recruiter
or a hiring manager reject them.
Mm-hmm.
And I, one, one way I say islike, look at the requirements.
You know, you can, you can say, see ifyou fit like 60% of it, if so, apply.
(18:04):
Um, the other way I look at itis like, squint your eyes and
basically like, see it really blurry.
Mm-hmm.
Um, and if that, if it looks good,still still apply, but like mindset
for you played a big role becausemaybe you are applying for jobs.
That, Hey, maybe you,you weren't a good fit.
Maybe like you were underqualified,but that attitude of being
like, no, I can land.
This kind of led you ultimatelyto landing a, a great job, a six
(18:28):
figure job at a fame company.
Jen Hawkins (18:29):
And, and then too, it's like if you have that right attitude
and you're attracting all theserecruiters, you get to pick, you're
like, okay, well I don't want this, youknow, laundry list, job description.
If it's really long, youprobably don't want it.
That means they want you to do everything.
But if it's, you know, mine,the one I finally decided
on, it was like five things.
So I was like, oh yeah, that's perfectjust for right now, because, you
(18:52):
know, I'm transitioning into this.
This is different thanwhat I've ever done before.
Um, so, so that's what I wassaying, like it's really important
to just have, you know, options.
Um, whether it's, it's what you think maybe too much or too little, just be happy
for every option that comes in, and thenyou'll get the one that you really want.
Avery Smith (19:11):
And it's easier said than done, but once you, once you
said, actually we were talkingbefore we started recording.
You're like, once you get oneoffer, it somehow just starts
to snowball because Yes.
Then all of a sudden someone elsecan reach out to you and you'd
be like, well, I already havethis offer from this company.
And then all of a sudden you getexpedited and that company, and then
it's just like this big momentumball that just gets rolling.
Jen Hawkins (19:31):
It's, and then you can treat it like a real estate transaction.
Like, yeah, I'm valuable.
Yeah, I need more money.
Avery Smith (19:38):
It, it's almost like playing hard to get when you're dating or like,
like you just seem more desirable.
Some more people wanna date you.
Um,
Jen Hawkins (19:44):
exactly.
Avery Smith (19:46):
Okay.
Let's talk about whatyour job is like at thing.
So, uh, we, we've already talkedabout thing company over six figures.
Are you hybrid?
Are you remote?
Are you in person?
Jen Hawkins (19:55):
Uh, yes.
I'm, I'm actually hybrid, whichI, I actually like because it's
not that far from my house.
So I get to work at home on Mondaysand Fridays and Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, I'm in the office.
But yeah, what what's goodabout it too is, um, you know,
me, my boss is really nice.
So if I wanted to tell her that I wantedto work at home, um, you know, during
(20:16):
one of those hybrid days, if it's nota big deal, as long as I let her know.
That's the beauty of hybrid is if,if you have a great boss and you
know, they don't mind that every nowand then you could still be at home.
Avery Smith (20:28):
That's great.
I love that.
And what type of tools are, are you using?
People might assume it's fang, soyou're doing like, I don't know, AI
programming in like secretive assemblycode language or something like that.
But what, what tools are youactually using on a day-to-day basis?
Jen Hawkins (20:43):
Um, surprisingly, you know, I thought exactly what you said.
I'm like, oh my gosh,what am I getting into?
But yeah, I use Excel all day and Tableau.
So that's it.
Um, I do have the opportunity touse Python, you know, to maybe do
automation, but there's anotherperson that is like the go-to.
So I just talked to him about what I wannado and, you know, still learn from him.
(21:06):
Because I want to be the one that,you know, knows how to do it.
But yeah, just Tableau and Pi,um, excuse me, Tableau and Excel.
Avery Smith (21:13):
It's amazing how much you can do with, with Tableau and Excel.
Mm-hmm.
Like those are are really great toolsand you can do so much with them.
And, and to me it's not ahuge surprise 'cause I also
worked for a big corporation.
I worked for, for Exxon.
Excellent.
Um, and like the companies ofAmerica are built on Excel.
Like it's, there's a lot ofExcel, um, and Tableau's.
Awesome.
So that, that makes a, a lot of sense.
(21:35):
And what you
Jen Hawkins (21:36):
can do with Excel.
Like I made all these macrosand I used to cut three hours of
time by doing like, just macros.
And they're like, how did you do that?
You're amazing.
Avery Smith (21:48):
That's, that is awesome to hear and I'm glad
to hear the macros alive.
I wasn't sure.
So that's perfect.
Uh, and I also like that you'relearning, like you're, one of the
things we talk about in the acceleratorprogram is getting your foot in the
data door, like getting, getting your,just any job we can in the data world.
And then getting paid to learn,because right now you're getting
paid a fairly handsome salary.
And like you said, you'redoing new things weekly.
Uh, yeah, weekly.
(22:10):
And you're doing new things in Excel.
You're doing new things inTableau, new things in Python.
And that knowledge grows with you, youknow, so you can get a promotion at your
job, like you could potentially becomethe Python person in, in your group.
And basically those skills you'll alwayshave with you and they'll compound
the, the rest of your career andyou're getting paid to learn them now.
So that's a great option for you.
Jen Hawkins (22:29):
It is.
I agree.
I agree a hundred percent.
And, um, and I love it.
I love the work.
To me it's like, itfeels like it's too easy.
I'm like, okay, where'sthe hard stuff coming?
You know?
But it's, it's really notas difficult as you think.
I mean, there, there are some jobs.
That are very difficult.
But again, what gives you an indicatoris how long that job description is.
(22:53):
That's how you know how much you'll work.
Pick the small one like I did.
Avery Smith (22:57):
Very cool.
Is there anything that'slike surprised you?
Um, I think you've, you've been theremaybe, uh, a month or or two now.
Is there anything that's like, beensurprising to you or something that
you've enjoyed about, about working there?
Jen Hawkins (23:09):
I think, well, I enjoy, I enjoy the work.
It's, it's very.
It's busy work.
I love to stay busy.
I don't like slow periods becauseI'm like twiddling my thumbs,
trying to find things to do.
Um, and for me it's like a kidin a candy store just looking
at all this data and I'm like,which one do I wanna attack first?
Like, you know, like, likehow can I fix this first?
(23:31):
And, and I love that, likeall my jobs I've done before
somehow apply to what I'm doing.
Like whenever, whenever I was a managerbefore or doing Apple Care, you know.
Anything.
Um, even pizza deliveries, you know,like when they're talking terminology,
I'm like, oh yeah, I did that.
(23:52):
Like, you know, it's just, it's really,it's really interesting and, um, so yeah,
Avery Smith (23:58):
Jen, like you did such a good job and I just wanna
congratulate you for Thank you.
Working on your personal brands.
Learning the right skills, buildingthe projects, growing your network,
um, obviously it's paid dividends.
What advice would you give to all of theaspiring analysts that are listening?
Listening now?
Jen Hawkins (24:14):
Um, I think the biggest advice, um, is I went
through a very dark time.
Um, and you know, there's a lot ofpeople going through that right now.
With layoffs and, and things like that.
Um, and just know that, you know, ifI can overcome that really dark time
in my life, I know that you can too.
(24:35):
Whether it's, you know, doing this programor something else, but just having a goal
in mind will help you get through it.
It doesn't matter what that goal is,but just having something to strive for
it, it will, it will help you overcome.
Uh, and this program, if youwant a data analytics career,
like you just, just do it.
(24:55):
Just do the whole thing as quickly aspossible, you know, but get everything
that you need to learn exactlywhat to do and have the confidence.
And once you like.
Have that confidence, then you're ready.
Like just go for it and thenjust, you know, apply and, and
you'll get, you'll get the goal.
Avery Smith (25:14):
Thank you, Jen.
Uh, thanks for sharing that.
And thank you for your shining example.
We'll have, uh, we'll have Jen'sLinkedIn in the show notes down below.
So you guys can connect withher, um, and follow her journey.
You guys can see what her LinkedIn lookslike, see what her portfolio looks like.
It's pretty similar to what we do in theaccelerator program, but she's put a great
spin on it and made it look really good.
Jen, thank you so muchfor sharing your story.
(25:35):
We really appreciate it and I'msure so many people resonated.
Jen Hawkins (25:38):
Yes, thank you.
Thanks for having me.
It's been an honor and justreally happy to be part of, of,
of all, of this and, and I hopethat my story, um, helps someone.
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