Yousef Eddin

Unless you've got a very specific reason (like the GI Bill), there's no real need to rush through college, especially when you're young.

I live in Charlotte, and in 2023 I went to Greensboro for a door-to-door sales job. It was supposed to help me grow and learn new skills. It did, but it also took me a whole semester to realize I was being taken advantage of.

I made about $5,000 total… and yeah, there were days I struggled to eat.

But at the same time, I met a lot of people, learned a ton, and had experiences I'll never forget.

So I don't regret it, but I also learned: don't rush into things just because they sound like "growth."

If you want to maximize your experiences in college, get involved in something social.

For example, I go to the gym, which is great, but it's usually solo or with a small group. If you really want to expand your circle and have more experiences, do something like joining a volleyball group or any community-based activity.

The more people you interact with, the better.

• You build connections
• You improve socially
• You honestly just become a happier person

If you're in data science or computer science, here's the reality: you're competing with everyone.

To stand out, you either become insanely good technically, or you combine your skills with another field. I recommend the second option.

Pick an industry, even if you're not passionate about it, and learn it.

• Healthcare
• Banking
• Supply chain
• Energy

For me, it was supply chain. I didn't start with a passion for it, but my curiosity got me an internship as a Supply Chain Analyst. During that time, I earned a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification.

Now, when I apply to roles, especially in manufacturing or operations, I have a real advantage over someone who just has a degree. It also opens more doors beyond "data scientist," like analyst or even buyer roles.

Projects are everything. Start by learning Git and using GitHub. That's where you'll store and showcase your work, and most companies expect you to know it.

Your first project should honestly be simple.

• Build a basic website
• Host it (Cloudflare works great)
• Use it as your portfolio
• Include: LinkedIn, Email, GitHub, a projects section

From there, build projects based on your specialization.

1. 1
   Scrape commodity price data using Python
2. 2
   Automate it daily with GitHub Actions
3. 3
   Store it in a SQL database
4. 4
   Build a dashboard (Streamlit works great)

That kind of project directly translates to real-world work.

If you don't know what to build, talk to professors or look online (Reddit, forums, etc.).

When I interned at ABB, I met someone named Nakyah. She was great at her job, but what really stood out was her presence. People naturally went to her for help.

Why? Because she built a strong personal brand by talking to people, listening to their problems, and offering thoughtful input. That made her incredibly valuable.

Now, your personal brand should be personal. Don't fake who you are. (Unless you're genuinely unlikeable… then maybe adjust a little.)

If you're introverted, you don't have to force it. Just make small talk, ask about people's work, and show genuine curiosity.

5.2 Have an Email Signature

This is the most optional part of this entire reading. The whole point of "building your personal brand" is to be your own company as a human. This is kind of a cherry on top of all that.

Every company has an email signature. You don't need a custom email, but a simple email signature will look more professional than not having one, and does much better than ending an email with just "-insert name here."

From: Yousef Eddin <Yousef.Eddin123@gmail.com>

Yousef Eddin Data Scientist & Analyst · UNC Charlotte Yousef.Eddin123@gmail.com   |   (704) 494-1541 Portfolio   |   LinkedIn   |   GitHub

If you're a freshman, do this early: join a club related to data science or whatever field you're interested in. Then find a mentor.

You can find one through your club or your university's career center. When choosing a mentor, make sure you actually like them and that they're open-minded and willing to help.

• You have someone in the industry to ask real questions
• You get guidance on what actually matters
• You hear about events, opportunities, and paths you wouldn't find on your own
• It saves you time, and mistakes

If you're a senior, become a mentor. Pick up a mentee.

• It makes you more hireable (you can demonstrate leadership)
• It gives you early management experience
• It forces you to understand concepts more deeply because you're teaching them

Plus, it just feels good to help someone avoid the same mistakes you made.

Make a LinkedIn. You don't need to go crazy with it. Just post your highlights.

• New job
• Internship
• Projects
• Capstone
• Competitions

That's enough. There's a whole world of "LinkedIn optimization" out there… and yeah, it probably works. But personally? I don't enjoy it. Do as much as fits your style.