At Nashville Software School, we provide our students and graduates who are still on the search for their first job in tech with opportunities to dive deeper and continue their education while on the job hunt. These graduates are referred to as Seekers.
A crucial skill for success as a data analyst is managing expectations and deadlines. Recently, Lydia Tsang, an associate data scientist at Caterpillar Financial and a graduate of part-time Data Analytics cohort DA3, shared her journey with our Seekers. Her insights on managing expectations, asking the right questions, and tips for setting deadlines offer valuable lessons for anyone stepping into their first job in tech.
Managing expectations and deadlines is at the foundation of your success on the job. This starts with how you communicate with your manager. Lydia recounts her experiences with two contrasting management styles:
Regardless of the style, Lydia emphasizes the need to adapt. Even with a manager who loves to communicate, you may not always receive clear instructions.
You want to know what really is being asked for." - Lydia Tsang
When faced with unclear instructions or business requirements, Lydia recommends asking questions like:
"Always try to get a more clear direction on the task," Lydia emphasizes. If your manager can't provide all the answers, don't hesitate to ask for a point of contact, such as a business analyst or project manager, who can offer more detailed information.
Dealing with multiple projects and ad hoc requests can make your head spin. Lydia's secret weapon? Tracking her projects. If you’re working in an Agile company, you may have a project management tool to track your projects, but you can stay organized without one. "I always use something called OneNote," she shares. "I have all these different projects that I have, even ad hoc. I put an extra tab so that I can log everything that I'm doing."
Keeping track of all your current projects will help you prioritize your tasks and support discussions about deadlines and your capacity with your manager.
If your manager is asking you when a project will be completed, Lydia offers two approaches for estimating deadlines:
"I would always have the task breakdown," Lydia explains. "This helps the manager understand why I'm quoting these deadlines." Even if you’re given a deadline, you can break a project down to see if you have the capacity to meet the requested deadline. If you don’t have the capacity, you can then have a conversation with your manager about which project on your plate has priority.
Throughout her talk, Lydia continually returns to one crucial point: the importance of ongoing communication. Keeping your manager informed of your progress is vital. If you encounter roadblocks or realize you might miss a deadline, communicate this early.
"I always keep my manager on the same page," Lydia advises. "If I have a roadblock, let's say Friday is the deadline but it's Wednesday and I'm still kind of just in the middle of the steps that I have listed, I'll say, 'Hey, I'm still here because of [this reason].'"
This approach allows you to either ask for assistance or adjust the deadline in partnership with your manager, if necessary. Remember, as Lydia says, "Communication is the key."
Understanding and managing business requirements is an ongoing learning process. Lydia's experiences highlight the importance of clear communication, adaptability, and proactive problem-solving. By breaking down tasks, asking the right questions, and maintaining open lines of communication with your manager, you can set yourself up for success in any project or role.
Even now with over 3 years of experience, Lydia can still feel uncomfortable on a project. “Keep yourself open to asking questions,” she encourages. Asking questions will help you continue to learn and see how others solve the problem. She also stresses the importance of being honest with your manager. “They give you a task [because] it needs to be done. If you’re not honest [about being stuck], you won’t deliver. That’s on you.” She gave an example of being assigned a project that used Python, but since she spends most of her time in SQL and Power BI, she requested a day or two to freshen up her Python skills and refamiliarize herself with the terminology.
Lydia's journey from NSS graduate to associate data scientist at Caterpillar Financial reminds us that success isn't just about technical skills – it's about navigating workplace dynamics, managing expectations, and continuously learning. Which strategy resonated with you the most? Which one could you start to implement today? As you apply these lessons in your own career, we'd love to hear about your experiences. Share your thoughts and strategies in the comments below!