Tuan Sihan’s Advice to Data Job Seekers: Build, Don’t Just Study
Tuan Sihan’s Advice to Data Job Seekers: Build, Don’t Just Study
Aspiring data professionals often think the secret to getting hired is learning more tools. But on the Objective Hiring podcast, Tuan Sihan, Head of Data & AI at Aspect, says that’s exactly where most go wrong.
“I don’t care if you have 5,000 examples of amazing window functions—unless you show me how it added value to a business.”
Speaking with Tim Freestone, founder of Alooba, Tuan explained that too many candidates get trapped in what he calls the “course rabbit hole”—spending endless hours collecting certificates that don’t demonstrate any real-world impact.
Why You Need a Roadmap
A major reason candidates fall into this trap, according to Tuan, is that they lack a learning strategy.
“They just don’t have a roadmap… these course providers keep upselling them and they follow without knowing the next logical step.”
Tuan advocates for building a personalised roadmap before starting the learning journey. Without it, people waste time collecting credentials rather than mastering what matters.
Build, Don’t Just Consume
Tuan's biggest piece of advice is simple: stop learning, start building.
“I’ve had candidates with a master’s degree and hundreds of certificates—but they’ve never built a dashboard.”
Instead of listing tools on a CV, create side projects. Build dashboards. Use your data skills to answer real business questions. These are the things hiring managers like Tuan actually care about.
Personal Branding Matters
“When I see someone with a strong LinkedIn profile—even if they’ve never posted—I pay attention.”
Tuan spends time reviewing not just CVs, but also LinkedIn profiles. He looks for candidates who present themselves professionally, explain their projects clearly, and demonstrate initiative.
This is where many job seekers miss the mark. They think they need a certain title or company name to get noticed. In reality, presenting your work and your thinking is what stands out.
Talk About Impact
A recurring theme in the episode was how few candidates can clearly articulate their impact.
“They don’t explain what the project achieved or why it mattered.”
Tuan says this inability to market oneself is one of the biggest barriers to getting hired. It’s not about flashy tech. It’s about explaining what you did and why it helped.
Learn Soft Skills
Soft skills aren’t fluff. They’re essential.
“Hard skills can be taught. But attitude, curiosity, and communication—that can’t be faked.”
Candidates often underestimate how much soft skills influence hiring decisions. But if you can’t explain your value in words, your technical skills won’t matter.
Share Your Work Publicly
“LinkedIn is an amazing way to showcase your talent.”
Tuan encourages data professionals to regularly share what they’ve built—even if it's small. A simple dashboard, a chart, a blog post explaining your approach—all of this builds credibility.
And it doesn’t need to go viral. Just being visible to the right person can be enough.
Fake Signals and the Problem with Tests
Tuan is deeply sceptical of online technical tests and generic assessments.
“They don’t translate to how amazing someone is at their job.”
He warns candidates not to overestimate the importance of passing tests or collecting certifications. Instead, they should focus on showing real output and initiative.
What Hiring Managers Are Really Looking For
Tuan hires for motivation, not mastery. If you’re proactive, coachable, and can show initiative, you’re already ahead of most.
“If they can pitch themselves, they can pitch a dashboard to stakeholders. That’s what I’m hiring for.”
This is why he prioritises side projects and communication skills over past job titles.
Use AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch
While AI tools like ChatGPT can help, Tuan cautions against relying on them blindly.
“Use AI for efficiency—but only if you understand the domain well enough to validate the output.”
He wants candidates to embrace AI, but only as an enhancement—not a replacement—for fundamental understanding.
Final Advice
If you’re starting out in data, Tuan recommends this simple approach:
- Build a personal roadmap.
- Focus on side projects, not certificates.
- Articulate your impact.
- Invest in your soft skills.
- Present your work publicly.
- Use tools like Alooba to measure your progress.
“If I had a magic wand, I’d give everyone a portfolio that shows their work—before they even walk in the door.”
Want to get noticed in today’s competitive market? Skip the Udemy binge. Start building. And when you're ready to stand out, try Alooba to showcase your skills objectively.
Applying the Advice: A Practical Example
Imagine you're applying for a data analyst role. You've done some courses, read a few blogs, and maybe played with datasets. But you haven't published anything. You haven't tried to solve a real-world business problem.
Tuan would advise you to change that today. Pick a public dataset. Solve a small problem. Write up what you did. Post it on LinkedIn.
“Even one project with real impact is more valuable than ten certificates.”
Your work doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to exist. It needs to demonstrate initiative, thought process, and the ability to finish something.
Why Most Candidates Will Ignore This
Despite how clear and actionable this advice is, Tuan knows most people won’t follow it.
“People avoid the hard stuff. It’s easier to keep learning another tool. But the hard stuff is what gets you hired.”
Publishing work publicly opens you up to criticism. It’s uncomfortable. But that’s exactly why doing it sets you apart.
Your Career is a Product
Tuan’s philosophy can be summed up in one sentence: treat your career like a product.
You are the product. If you can pitch yourself—what you’ve built, what you know, and why it matters—you can pitch anything else. And that makes you incredibly valuable to employers.
Take the First Step
Start today. Don’t wait until you feel “ready.” Build something. Write about it. Share it.
And if you want to assess your strengths objectively, platforms like Alooba can help you measure your skills in a way that hiring managers actually value.