November

Friday, November 30

Hi everyone, and happy Friday!! I hope you all had a great week!

Keeping your end-of-week announcements brief, I’m excited to announce a walkthrough webinar on Sunday, specifically for DFND students, but valuable to anyone who uses/is interested in learning Tableau!

Sunday, December 2 at 7pm UTC

DFND Project 4: Tableau Walkthrough

This walk-through will cover the whole P4 process - from getting the data into Tableau all the way to uploading your project to Tableau Gallery. @annaDFND will be leading this webinar and answering both pre-submitted and live questions!

To ask a question:

DM @annaDFND prior to the webinar with your question so she can address it during the webinar- this is an especially great option for people who are unable to join live!
Post your question in the live YouTube chat during the webinar, and Anna will do her best to answer as many questions as possible during the presentation

Join here

The webinar recording will be available at the same URL if you’re unable to attend live!

Kathleen offline Dec 6 through Dec 16

I will be out of the office starting next Thursday, December 6 through Sunday, December 16. I will not have access to Slack or email during this time.

Kelsey (whom some of you know from the Grow with Google scholarship!) will be supporting this community by sharing announcements, updates, and monitoring Slack to make sure any urgent questions are answered.

That’s it for this week- have a fantastic weekend and happy visualizing!

Monday, November 26

Hi everyone!! Excited to be back with you all after the long holiday weekend in the US- I hope you had a productive few days, especially the DFND folks, who are just over a month away from the final deadline of December 29!!

To kick off the final week of Jobvember, I wanted to share some career-related events happening this week, and a prompt for folks to share their career stories in the #career_resources channel:

Today is *Mess-Up Monday

We’ve all made mistakes while job-searching. Maybe you forgot to check your email and missed out on an opportunity, didn’t ask someone ahead of time if they’d be a reference for you, or totally blanked during an interview question
These mistakes, while they may feel cringe-worthy at the time, are all part of the career process- many of your peers share these or similar experiences, so take a moment to share your stories of messing up in #career_resources. Maybe others can learn from your mistakes, and hopefully you too can learn from others!

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Some career events happening this week:

Wednesday, 11/28

Breaking into Silicon Valley with Irwin Ki (5pm PT)

Irwin Ki, the author of Breaking Into Your Silicon Valley, will be sharing the steps it takes to get the job you’re looking for in the tech industry. After seeing his wife go from a college dropout to landing her dream career at Facebook, Irwin wanted to share the lessons she learned along the way and how he can help others going through a similar journey. Irwin has worked for Cisco and BMC software as well as startups like Okta and OpenDNS. He has been a hiring manager and sales rep selling technology to clients like GoPro, Fitbit and NVidia.
During this session, Irwin will go over what is needed to land your dream tech job and the persuasion techniques he’s learned as a top performing sales rep. Topics include:
- The mindset you should have when you’re looking for your next job
- Ten steps to go from a blank resume to negotiating multiple offers

RSVP here

Thursday, 11/29

Ask a Career Coach: Martin McGovern (12pm PT)

How do you come up with a job search plan when you don’t even know where to start? Whether you’re just starting your Nanodegree program or you’ve already graduated, we’re here for you. Udacity career coach Martin McGovern joins us in this “Ask Me Anything” type session to answer any and all job-related questions, no matter how big or how small.
RSVP here

Workshop: How to Network When You Don’t Know Where to Start (1:30pm PT)

Everyone knows you “should” network - but how do you actually get started? Roll up your sleeves in this interactive, virtual workshop. We’ll start with an overview of networking mechanics - who to reach out to, how to get in touch, and what to say to get a positive responses - before breaking into groups to practice informational interviewing in a safe environment, with fellow students and alums.
RSVP here

That’s all for Monday, folks! Have a great day and week ahead!

Monday, November 19

Hi everyone, and happy Monday! Some reminders to kick off your week:

Weekly Jobvember theme:

Last week was about mentorship, this week is all about goal-setting. We’ve talked about SMART goals before, but if you want a refresher, you can learn more about what a SMART goal is here

SMART goals are extra important when it comes to making professional progress, since your careers are basically one lifelong project that you’re constantly working on! You may or may not have a specific end goal in mind, so setting smaller SMART goals to carry you forward professionally is critical to avoiding burnout or frustration.

YOUR TURN: Head over to #career_resources, post an achievable, realistic goal that you have for the next several months, and share how you’re going to meet it. See someone else with a similar goal? Ask them to be your accountability buddy- it’s a lot easier when you aren’t doing it alone!

REMINDER: Udacity Closed Thursday and Friday

This week is a holiday in the US, so Udacity will be closed on Thursday Nov 22 and Friday Nov 23. Please expect a longer response time to any emails or DMs sent during that timeframe. I won’t be available Thursday through Sunday, but I’ll do my best to respond to all messages when I’m back on November 26!

REMINDER: Student Career Story Collection

I am still looking for folks to share their stories of career change and growth in the data science field! While I love hearing these stories, the real reason I’m asking you to share is twofold:

your story and experiences help your peers who are also looking to take their next step in their careers, and
making your story available to the world helps bring visibility to the scholarship! We rely on all of YOU to spread the world about scholarships at Udacity- this allows us to create more opportunities and reach more students, so don’t keep these experiences all to yourself!

HOW TO SHARE: Write your story on Medium, send me the link, and I’ll help you get your story shared on a collaborative Bertelsmann Scholarship Medium page!

More on sharing your career story here

We hope to be able to feature a story or two on the Udacity blog, and would love to see yours on there!

That’s it for today, see y’all tomorrow during weekly AMAs!

Friday, November 16

Hi all, and TGIF!! Some brief announcements to close out your week:

DFNDers: we are just SIX weeks from graduation on December 29!!!

Even if you haven’t started yet, it’s not too late! Make a study plan, get a study buddy, and jump into your classroom today to start catching up! Check out #motivation, #turtle_squad, and #dfnd_live_help to find others in the same boat who can help you stay on track!

Sign up for a study buddy here
P3 walkthrough here (credit to @AbdElRhman!)

P4 walkthrough coming soon!!

REMINDER: Student Career Story Collection

I am still looking for folks to share their stories of career change and growth in the data science field! While I love hearing these stories, the real reason I’m asking you to share is twofold:

your story and experiences help your peers who are also looking to take their next step in their careers, and
making your story available to the world helps bring visibility to the scholarship! We rely on all of YOU to spread the world about scholarships at Udacity- this allows us to create more opportunities and reach more students, so don’t keep these experiences all to yourself!

HOW TO SHARE: Write your story on Medium, send me the link, and I’ll help you get your story shared on a collaborative Bertelsmann Scholarship Medium page!

More on sharing your career story here

We hope to be able to feature a story or two on the Udacity blog, and would love to see yours on there!

Udacity closed next Thursday and Friday

Next week is a holiday in the US, so Udacity will be closed on Thursday Nov 22 and Friday Nov 23. Please expect a longer response time to any emails or DMs sent during that timeframe. I won’t be available Thursday through Sunday, but ’ll do my best to respond to all messages when I’m back on November 26!

Have a great weekend everyone, and I’ll see you back here on Monday!

Monday, November 12

Hi everyone, and welcome to Monday! I have two career-related announcements to kick off your week:

In honor of Jobvember, this week’s theme and tip of the week is related to maybe the most important job search topic, networking.

Lots of people report that they hate networking because it can feel inauthentic, exhausting, or like too much effort with an uncertain payoff later

I hear this all the time, and all of those things can be true, which is why I always push people to start with the network they already have: where do your friends and family work? Where do THEIR friends and family work? What about your former coworkers and managers, or teachers?

Your networks are likely bigger than you think- to help you brainstorm, start with this tool!

Another great social resource is to find a mentor.

A mentor can be anyone- a coach, teacher, boss, coworker, or professional acquaintance
They’re someone you can talk to honestly about professional challenges and goals, and who provides guidance and encouragement
They don’t have to work in the same field or have the same life experience as you, though those can be important conditions for some people

Get some great tips on how to find (or not find!) a mentor here

YOUR TURN

Head over to #career_resources and share your experiences being a mentor, seeking a mentor, and how you built your relationship with your own mentor!

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EVENT TOMORROW

WEBINAR: A Peek Into Accenture’s Recruiting Strategy

Tuesday, November 13th at 11 AM

Timothy Perry, the Military Recruiting Expert at Accenture, which has offices in over 200 cities in more than 45 countries, will be sharing more about Accenture’s business model, will explain what recruiters look for in potential candidates and will discuss Accenture’s overall recruiting strategy. As a recruiter for the company, Timothy seeks out the best talent with a military background to join the Accenture team! If you are interested in learning more about how companies find and recruit new candidates, please join us.REGISTER HERE

Friday, November 9

Hi all, TGIF!

A few brief announcements to wrap up your weeks:

New Udacity Events Page

There is now a Udacity events webpage! View it here.

I will share out events here and on the calendar that seem relevant for this group, but keep an eye on that page in case other events pop up that you might be interested in! Events will be virtual and in-person, and across all fields and schools that we cover here at Udacity, so a great resource for you double-trackers and folks with multiple interest areas!

Speaking of events…

Webinar with Irwin Ki on how to get a job in the tech industry

Irwin will be sharing the steps it takes to get the job you’re looking for in the tech industry. He has worked for Cisco and BMC software, as well as startups Okta and OpenDNS as a hiring manager and sales rep.

The webinar will cover:

What mindset you should have when you’re looking for your next job
10 steps of going from blank resume to negotiating multiple offers
Q&A on whatever topics you want to ask

Learn more and RSVP here.

Reminder: Study Buddies!

Remember to sign up for a study buddy if you’re looking for support, accountability, and motivation to stay on track to graduate! We are more than halfway through DFND, 40% through BAND, and 30% through DAND. The past two months have gone by quickly, and the next few months will go by equally fast! Don’t let yourself fall behind!!

Sign up for a study buddy here

Reminder: Resource Database

Don’t forget to share your resources in the Resources Database so they remain accessible to the entire community!

That’s it for this week, folks! See you back here on Monday. Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, November 7

Hi everyone! Happy Wednesday! I hope you’re all having a great week so far.

OPEN CALL FOR ALL CAREER-CHANGERS!!

Have you started a new job since joining the scholarship?
Did this community or the skills you learned as a result of the scholarship help you secure that job?

If so, then please SHARE YOUR STORY!

Changing careers can seem like an insurmountable goal. Where do I begin? How do I know I have the skills? Whom should I be talking to? What companies are hiring for people like me? Would anyone even want to hire me?!?!

If you’ve ever looked for a job, you probably know these feelings well. Which is why it’s SO important to share your experiences with others. The anxiety, stress, and insecurity of job searching is normal, and you can get through it, but it’s a lot easier when you know how to navigate the job search.

TO SHARE YOUR STORY

I am collecting stories all through the month of November. If you have started a new role at any point in the scholarship, please share your story! Here’s how to get started:

Write about your experience! Where are you in your career? How did you choose to pursue your current job? How did you use what you’ve accomplished in the scholarship to help you? What advice do you have for others? Here are guidelines to help you get started.
DM me with your story. I will help you get added to the scholarship Medium page so you can post your story here.
That’s it!

Please also join the #career_resources channel and add your tips, questions, and resources! The people in this scholarship have thousands of unique experiences- let’s not keep them to ourselves! #bettertogether

Career Resources Access

I’ve gotten some questions about accessing the career projects, so wanted to clarify the process.

Please follow the below steps:

Make sure you are logged into your classroom
In the same browser, go to the Career Resource Center
Scroll down a bit- you will find see the projects with the title “Career Service:”
Click the career project you wish to start. This will open a new window in your classroom with additional lessons to prepare you to submit your project
Once you are ready to submit, follow the steps to submit your career project.

That’s it! You need to access the career projects in this way- you will be unable to access them through your classroom.

Again, I recommend waiting to submit your career projects until after you graduate from your Nanodegree if possible. This way, you can get feedback on the versions of your career tools after you’ve added all of your project and Nanodegree experience!

Happy job hunting!

Friday, November 2

Hi everyone, and happy Friday! Excited to close out your weeks with a couple announcements:

Launching… JOBVEMBER!

In addition to the Career Resource Center, we are rolling out Jobvember, a month-long focus on all things careers-related. Career month was about us sharing career resources, tips, and information with you, and now it’s time for YOU all to share your best tips, advice, and learnings with each other! 82% of you shared that you joined the scholarship to grow in your careers, and Jobvember is all about putting your goals into action, no matter what stage of your career you are at.

HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE

Are you trying to make a career change?
- If you’re still in the process of finding your next opportunity, please post in Slack about the experiences you’ve learned from, your questions, and how you stay motivated! Head over to the #career_resources channel to start sharing!
Were you offered a new job since joining the scholarship?
- Share your story on the collaborative Bertelsmann Scholarship Medium blog, where other students and the greater data science community can learn from your experience. This will grow into an anthology of stories that will be a resource for others who are starting, growing, or pivoting in their careers.
- Follow this link for more info on how to share your story. And keep an eye on Slack over the next month for weekly themes, challenges, and resources to keep you moving towards your goals!

REMINDER: DFND Project 3 walkthrough tomorrow!

@AbdElRhman is hosting a P3 DFND walkthrough tomorrow! DFND-ers, if you’re still working on P3 and struggling with SQL, be sure to check this out!

When: Saturday, November 3 at 6pm UTC
Where: Zoom

Double trackers is back!

I am back-pedaling on my channel pause announcement last week…

You might remember #double_trackers from Phase 1, and now it’s back! Many people in this community are also in other scholarships, Nanodegrees, or other online courses, so this channel is for all you over-achievers.

Share learnings from your other courses, recommendations, and tips for balancing it all!

See who won the costume contest!

Thanks to everyone who voted or shared a costume in the #halloween channel- check out which of your peers won!

Thursday, November 1

Happy first day of November, everyone!

I hope you’re all having a great week! I’m interrupting the usual announcement cadence with three important community updates:

Vote on your favorite costumes in the #halloween channel! We still need some more votes on your peers’ costumes in #halloween! Remember, there are three awards:

most creative
best execution
scariest

Vote for your favorites from each category before 10pm UTC tomorrow (Friday)! using the above emojis. I’ll announce winners in tomorrow’s announcement before the weekend.

DFND Project 3 Walkthrough

Due to some technical difficulties last weekend, @AbdElRhman kindly rescheduled his P3 DFND walkthrough to this weekend. DFND-ers, if you’re still working on P3 and struggling with SQL, be sure to check this out!

When: Saturday, November 3 at 6pm UTC
Where: Zoom

Last but certainly not least, I want to share the bittersweet news that @Udacity-Dan has accepted his next career opportunity and will be moving on from Udacity. We will miss him here on the scholarships team, but career change is a great part of lifelong learning, so this is an exciting shift! Dan asked me to share this message with you all:

Hi scholars! It’s been an honour and a pleasure to work with you guys through all highs and lows over the last six months, but I’m leaving Udacity with (as we say in German) one crying eye and one smiling eye. I wish you all the best with the rest of the scholarship, and hope to hear more about the amazing things you all do in the future. I’m already friends with many of you on LinkedIn so feel free to hit me up there!

See you soon!

Dan

With Dan’s transition, I am very excited to introduce @nick.udacity, who will be stepping into Dan’s role. Some of you may recognize him from the GwG scholarship; Nick is a wonderful colleague (see if you can spot him in our team’s #halloween costume!) and is super excited to support the Bertelsmann Scholarship moving forward! Please give him a warm welcome!

As always, please continue to see me as your main point of contact for all scholarship-related communications. Like Dan, Nick will not be active in Slack daily, so keep sending your questions, feedback, and updates my way!

For folks who are graduating from DFND and inquiring about follow-on scholarships, please direct these inquiries to scholarships-support@udacity.com, and I will be sure to address your questions as quickly as possible!

Thank you everyone, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow! Happy November!

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