The Joe Reis Show The 2026 Data Career Roadmap: What’s Changed? w/ Maggie Wolff
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Nov 18, 2025 Maggie Wolff, a data scientist and content creator known for her career advice, shares insights into the evolving data job market. She discusses how the entry barriers have risen, emphasizing the importance of networking and technical skills. Maggie also reveals her unique strategies for introverts to thrive at events. The conversation touches on the role of AI in education and hiring, cautioning against over-reliance. She advocates for understanding your work deeply and suggests alternative paths into data for aspiring professionals.
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Enter Data Through Adjacent Roles
- If you start from zero, enter data through adjacent roles like customer success, support, or sales to get your foot in the door.
- Use those roles to learn product tools, build a recognized company name on your resume, and develop your network for later analytics roles.
Higher Bar And Fewer Casual Entrants
- The job market tightened after 2023, raising the bar to enter data roles and shrinking casual interest in the field.
- Remaining audiences are more committed and ask deeper, technical or career-development questions.
Prefer Warm Channels Over Cold DMs
- Stop cold DMing strangers on LinkedIn as a primary networking tactic unless you share a meaningful connection like the same university.
- Use alumni directories, attend industry events, and join event planning committees to build relationships and reputation more effectively.
