Even though DSNY9 is only three weeks into our training, the meet and greet for DSNY10 is already coming up. As folks are getting ready to apply, I thought I’d put together a few things I wish I’d known before applying or that helped me during the process.
View the process as an opportunity to learn.
I applied the round before I ended up getting in. The feedback I got on that initial viz submission was eye-opening and gave me specific tools and aspects of Tableau to focus on moving forward. Even if I hadn’t decided to reapply, I could’ve taken that feedback and become a better Tableau designer with it.
Figure out what works for you and lean into it.
I spent a lot of time with Andy Kreibel’s Makeover Monday videos. First I’d watch one on 2x speed to get a feel on what the outcomes of each step were, then I’d work through building the viz with the video, then I’d build my own viz using the data set. Through that process, I became more comfortable with Tableau and familiarized myself with how to build different charts. That may not be what works for you, but figure out what does and set some time aside to build skills, particularly if you don’t have any experience with Tableau.
Attend the meet and greet.
I am pretty introverted and don’t walk into rooms full of strangers just for fun on a regular basis, but I really appreciated being able to chat in person with current Data Schoolers and to get the full presentation about how things are run around here. Everyone I spoke with was incredibly friendly and very willing to answer the questions I had about the process and the company. Showing interest and being active in the application process is also something that will never hurt your odds of getting in.
Apply early.
While there are deadlines, it’s also a rolling process. If you submit your viz for feedback early, you’ll get it back with plenty of time to implement those changes and resubmit before the deadline, with the possibility of getting invited for the next round before the deadline.
Utilize that feedback phase.
This process isn’t just about showing off your Tableau skills- it’s a time to demonstrate that you’re willing to make changes and respond to suggestions. Because I’d attended the meet and greet, I’d connected with current Data Schoolers, including someone who was willing to be another set of eyes on my dashboard, which made my submission even better.
Best of luck to all applying!