Note: Juno College has paused the Data Analytics Bootcamp program, but our part-time Data Analytics course is still available for those looking to level up in their careers! If you have any questions, please reach out to us at info@junocollege.com
Before Juno, Lorien McComb worked as a math teacher, inspiring students to love math just as much as she did — but after moving to a new city, she knew it was time for something new.
In just 11 months, Lorien changed careers with Juno's Data Analytics Career Pathway, and graduated from Juno's inaugural Data Analytics Bootcamp. Only 1 month after graduation, Lorien accepted her first data job as an Insights Analyst at Benevity, a corporate purpose software company.
We chatted with Lorien about how she got into tech, and her advice for every stage of the journey. Get to know her below!
Why Lorien Changed Careers with Juno
Why did you decide to make a career change? Why did you choose data analysis in particular?
Lorien: Though there are many things that I love about teaching, the pressures and expectations on teachers seemed to be getting higher and higher, taking a toll on my mental health. When I moved to a new city as a result of my husband’s new job, I decided to take a semester off to rejuvenate.
When it came time to look for a new teaching job, I felt a deep sense of dread about going back to the classroom. I felt like it was time to look for something new that had a more sustainable work-life balance. That began my journey of trying to figure out what else I might want to do besides teach math.
I felt like it was time to look for something new that had a more sustainable work-life balance.
In my research, I came across the career of Data Analyst. It looked like an intriguing way to combine my love of math with some of my natural skills in problem solving, analysis, and attention to detail. To figure out if it might be the right fit for me, I took Juno College’s free Data 101 evening workshop and I fell in love with SQL! I also liked that Juno is a Canadian school and that they are committed to diversity and empowering those who are underrepresented in tech.
I decided to keep exploring and enrolled in Juno’s introductory Data Analytics course. Creating data visualizations and dashboards in Tableau appealed to my sense of design and visual communication. Coding with SQL was a fun puzzle that appealed to my logical brain. And I had no idea how many amazing things I could do with Excel! By the end of the course, I knew this was the right career path for me!
Why did you choose a Bootcamp program over other learning options?
Lorien: I already had good experiences with Juno through the Data 101 and Intro Data Analytics courses. I liked the idea of Bootcamp because I could learn a lot of skills in a short period of time. I also liked that Juno’s program was live online to keep me motivated, get more immediate help/feedback, and have a group of peers to learn with.
Lorien's experience with Juno's Data Analytics Bootcamp
What was Juno’s Bootcamp experience like?
Lorien: Bootcamp was intense but so rewarding! I love learning, so the experience was amazing for me! I appreciated that Juno went out of their way to help create a supportive community. I really enjoyed working in breakout rooms on exercises or assignments where we could share ideas with our peers and help each other learn.
I also loved our Monday morning huddles (for feelings!) where we could talk through our Bootcamp experience - that really helped me feel connected and supported emotionally. The instructors were so great: very knowledgeable and super encouraging! I probably learned the most through the projects where we got to put our new skills to use in a more “real-life” way.
For this Data Analytics Bootcamp project, Lorien used Python (Pandas, Scikit-Learn) and Tableau to create a classification model that predicts the presence of diabetes or prediabetes. The interactive infographic digs deeper into the features in the dataset that are predictive of diabetes. Check it out live here!
What was it like working with Juno’s Career Services?
Lorien: I was very apprehensive about the job search, but Career Services helped me so much. I liked that we had instruction in how to go about the job search every week - it made the process feel less daunting. Once the Bootcamp was over, Zeinab helped me set realistic expectations for myself in the job search. She encouraged me when I was feeling overwhelmed and helped me believe in myself when I was nervous about interviews. I really felt supported every step of the way!
Lorien's Post-Bootcamp Journey
What was your first job after graduating from Juno? What are some of your day-to-day tasks/responsibilities?
Lorien: I got a job as an Insights Analyst with Benevity, a corporate purpose software company. I will be developing reports, analysis, and dashboards to provide insights into how users engage with their software.
When I learned what Benevity does, I was so excited about applying to work with them! It seemed like a perfect match: they even had an episode of their podcast on the same topic as one of my data projects! So I was over the moon when I got the offer! I can’t wait to use my data skills to help infuse a culture of goodness in the world! (I was also so relieved that the job search didn’t take as long as I thought it would!)
What did you learn about yourself during your career change/journey into tech?
I’m so glad I took the leap! Through the journey I found courage and resiliency that I didn’t know I had.
Lorien: I was apprehensive about making such a big career change at first: I liked the idea of learning something new, but the thought of finding a job in a new field was very daunting. Now, looking back, I’m so glad I took the leap! Through the journey I found courage and resiliency that I didn’t know I had. I feel more confident and in control of my life.
Lorien's Advice For Data Analytics Bootcamp Students, Job Seekers, and Beginners
Advice for current Bootcamp students?
Lorien: Savour the experience: it’s amazing, and you’ll miss it when it’s over! Ask lots of questions: the instructors are very patient and really want to help you learn. They have so much knowledge to impart, so make the most of it!
Also, you can bet that some of your peers will have the same question and be so glad that you asked it! And make use of office hours to get more help. The mentors are fantastic! Take the time to connect with your cohort-mates. They are great people and the experience will be more fun and rewarding if you make some new friends!
Advice for job-seeking grads?
Lorien: For me, the key was sending intro and follow-up emails. The director who hired me said that he was so impressed by my initiative to reach out to him personally that he knew he wanted to interview me right away. Make sure you do your research about the company and show what you know about them in the follow-up email and interview.
Advice for those looking to make a career change and/or break into tech as a beginner?
If you’re intimidated by tech, just look at me: I had no tech background whatsoever and now I can code in SQL and Python in just a few months!
Lorien: Don’t let it intimidate you! If you’re stuck in a job that’s wearing you down, don’t be afraid to look for something else. Take the time to find something you really love. Surround yourself with people who will support your journey and help you learn. I would suggest checking out Juno - it’s a great place to find some of those people! And if you’re intimidated by tech, just look at me: I had no tech background whatsoever and now I can code in SQL and Python in just a few months!
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