How I Landed My First Data Job (And Later Broke Into AI) – Without the “Perfect” Resume

From Data to AI: How a Portfolio (Not a Resume) Landed Me My First Job

A few years ago, I was stuck in the endless job application loop. You know the one:

📌 Applying to dozens of jobs

📌 Tweaking my resume every day

📌 Writing cover letter after cover letter

And still crickets.

I had the degrees. I had the skills. But my inbox was empty.

Then one day, everything changed. And it had nothing to do with my resume.

It was because of my portfolio.

I decided to stop waiting and started building projects.

Instead of just listing skills on my resume, I applied them to real-world problems.

I worked on:

• Data analysis projects on topics I cared about

• Visualizations that told a compelling story

• A portfolio site (that was honestly pretty basic)

Then, out of nowhere… a recruiter reached out.

Not because of my degree. Not because of my work experience.

But because they saw my projects.

That portfolio got me my first job as a data analyst.

And later, when I wanted to pivot into AI, that same portfolio helped me break into AI roles.

That’s when I learned one of the biggest career hacks in tech:

A strong portfolio speaks louder than a resume.

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AI vs. Data Careers – What’s the Difference?

I get this question a lot: What’s the difference between AI and Data Science?

They’re related but they’re NOT the same.

Data Careers (Data Analysts, Data Scientists)

1. Work with raw data to uncover trends and insights

2. Use SQL, Python, and visualization tools like Tableau

3. Help businesses make data-driven decisions

AI Careers (ML Engineers, AI Researchers)

1. Build models and algorithms that automate tasks

2. Use Python, TensorFlow, and machine learning frameworks

3. Develop AI systems that make decisions without human intervention

Both fields are growing fast. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

📈 Data Science jobs are projected to grow 36% by 2031

📈 AI jobs are projected to grow 21% by 2031

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Which one should you choose?

If you love analyzing numbers, finding insights, and telling data stories, go for Data Science.

If you love building AI models, coding, and automation, go for AI.

No matter what, your portfolio will be your game-changer.

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Want to Stand Out? Build a Portfolio.

If I could give one piece of advice to anyone starting out, it’s this:

Start your portfolio ASAP.

That’s why I put together a FREE Portfolio Guide to help you:

• Build real-world projects that impress employers

• Learn how to showcase your AI/Data Science skills

• Get noticed by recruiters (without needing the perfect resume)

Download it here → Click here

Best,

Lekhana

P.S. Have you ever used a portfolio to land a job or freelance gig?

Hit reply and tell me about it I’d love to hear your story!