Confronting the Biggest Problem with the Data Science Interview (Jack Blandin) - KNN Ep. 172
Nov 1, 2023
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In this episode, Jack Blandin, a brilliant data scientist and manager, discusses his distaste for the data science interview process and how he plans to improve it. They also explore building an ideal data science team, the importance of product/business intuition, and the challenges of pursuing a PhD while working. Plus, they emphasize the need for customization in the hiring process and challenging conventional wisdom in the data science industry.
Building trust and respect among team members is crucial for effective management.
Transitioning to a leadership role requires shifting focus from technical expertise to problem-solving and people management.
Maturing as a professional involves gaining confidence through experience and embracing difficult tasks.
The current data science hiring process should evaluate individual strengths and align with role and team dynamics.
Deep dives
Building Trust and Respect
Building trust and respect among team members is essential for effective management. It requires demonstrating technical proficiency, being a problem solver, and showing support for the team by advocating for them in discussions with other teams. Trust and respect can be earned by understanding and addressing the challenges faced by the team and helping them find solutions.
Transitioning to a Leadership Role
Transitioning from an individual contributor to a leadership role can be challenging. It requires shifting focus from technical expertise to broader problem-solving and people management. This shift may involve letting go of being the technical expert, trusting others with technical knowledge, and focusing on facilitating communication and collaboration among team members and other stakeholders.
Developing Confidence over Time
Maturing as a professional involves gaining confidence in your abilities. It takes time and experience to trust yourself and navigate challenging situations. Initially, it may feel overwhelming, but embracing difficult tasks and problem-solving helps build confidence. Acknowledging that it's normal not to have all the answers right away and being patient with yourself are crucial steps in this growth process.
The Power of Problem-Solving
Problem-solving is at the core of engineering and leadership. It involves understanding problems, identifying the right tools and approaches to solve them, and continuously learning and adapting to new situations. Problem-solving skills, combined with a strong product and business intuition, enable leaders to provide valuable insights, facilitate collaboration, and drive effective decision-making.
The Need to Rethink Hiring for Data Roles
The current process of hiring for data roles is flawed and does not effectively assess the potential for success. The traditional interview process focuses on specific skills and technical knowledge, but this narrow approach fails to account for the diverse strengths and qualities that can contribute to success in data science. To improve hiring, there needs to be a shift towards evaluating candidates based on their individual strengths and how well they align with the specific role and team dynamics. It is important to move away from standardized job descriptions and instead provide more detailed information about the role, manager, and team when seeking candidates. By understanding the unique attributes and requirements of a role, employers can select candidates who are more likely to thrive and contribute effectively. This approach not only benefits candidates but also helps companies find the best-fitting talent for their teams.
The Importance of Embracing Ego and Motivation
Ego and motivation can be powerful driving forces in one's career. While ego may not always be seen as a positive attribute, it can fuel the determination and ambition needed to push oneself to achieve great things. Embracing ego can be a way to tap into that extra motivation and drive to excel. It can also serve as a differentiating factor, setting individuals apart and pushing them to surpass their own limitations. However, it's important to recognize that ego alone cannot guarantee success, and it should be balanced with other qualities and skills. Understanding one's own motivations and leveraging that energy can lead to personal growth and accomplishment.
The Journey and Impact of Pursuing a PhD
The decision to pursue a PhD in computer science was driven by a desire to be fully equipped in the field of data science and machine learning. Although the decision was motivated by personal and ego-related factors, it also aimed to ensure that no opportunities were limited due to lack of qualifications. However, pursuing a PhD while working full-time proved to be a challenging endeavor, necessitating an immense amount of dedication and time management. While it has been a demanding journey, completing a PhD can offer a sense of accomplishment and set one apart in terms of expertise. Nevertheless, it is not a path for everyone, and motivation and ego should not be the sole driving forces behind such a decision.
Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Jack Blandin. Jack is a brilliant data scientist and manager that I had the pleasure of working with at Gohealth. Jack moved from software engineering to data science at Trunk Club and never looked back. He has since managed engineering teams at Gohealth, Wayfair, and now Fi. In this episode we dive into Jack's distaste for the data science interview process, and how he is planning to make it better. We also touch on how he would build an ideal data science team.
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