How to Get Your First Job as a Data Analyst During a Market Slowdown – 5 Smart Strategies

2 April 2025

Getting into IT and data analytics is still a great career choice – but what should you do when the market slows down, and there are fewer job openings for juniors? Don’t panic! You can still land a solid first job, but you need to search smarter, not just harder.

Here are 5 key strategies that will increase your chances of getting hired, even during a market slowdown.

1. Change Your Approach – Look for Companies, Not Just Job Listings

Many people make a fundamental mistake: they only search where job postings exist. The problem? During economic slowdowns, many employers don’t post open roles, even if they still need analysts!

💡 What to do instead?

Find companies that might need you (e.g., growing startups, companies in industries you’re interested in, smaller businesses without dedicated data teams).
Reach out directly – via LinkedIn, email, or networking. You can write something like:
“I see that your company is growing in [industry]. I have data analytics skills and would love to help optimize your processes. Could we have a quick chat?”
Watch for companies that are laying off employees – after cutting senior staff, they often hire juniors at lower salaries.

2. Portfolio > Resume – Show That You Can Already Do the Job

Companies hesitate to hire juniors if they’re unsure whether they can actually do the work. A resume full of courses is one thing, but a portfolio that proves real skills? That’s a game-changer!

💡 What should be in your portfolio?
✅ Real data analysis projects – for example, a Power BI report, SQL queries, Python analysis, or Excel dashboards.
✅ Business context and problem-solving – don’t just say “I wrote some code,” explain “I found a trend that could help a company increase sales”.
✅ Quality over quantity – 2-3 well-documented projects are better than 10 random dashboards.

📌 Pro tip: Share your work on LinkedIn! Recruiters sometimes reach out to people who regularly showcase their skills.

3. Networking – 80% of Jobs Are Never Advertised

Juniors often underestimate networking, thinking that just applying online is enough. The problem? During a market slowdown, formal hiring is reduced, and most jobs are filled through referrals and connections.

💡 How to network effectively?

LinkedIn → Connect with recruiters, analysts, and managers and engage in discussions (e.g., by commenting on posts).
Join industry communities and groups (Discord, LinkedIn, meetups) – jobs are often mentioned there before being officially posted.
Attend industry events (even online!) – you’ll meet people who can refer you.

📌 Pro tip: When you meet someone, DON’T ask for a job right away. First, build a connection, ask about their career, and show interest in the field.

4. Tailor Your Resume & Applications – Stop Sending Mass Emails!

Many juniors send hundreds of applications, but… without any personalization. The result? Recruiters ignore them because they look like “copy-paste” applications.

💡 How to improve your applications?
✅ Customize your resume for each job – if a company is looking for Power BI skills, highlight projects related to data visualization rather than, say, NLP in Python.
✅ Write a short, personalized cover letter – for example, if the company is in e-commerce, you can say:
“I’m passionate about data analytics and recently completed a project analyzing online sales trends. I’d love to use these skills in your team.”
✅ Make your resume easy to read – recruiters spend less than 10 seconds scanning a CV. Your key skills must be visible immediately!

5. Expand Your Options – Don’t Only Look for “Data Analyst” Jobs

Sometimes, one job category slows down while related roles still have openings. You can start in a different position and later transition to Data Analyst internally.

💡 What alternative roles should you consider?

Business Analyst – more business-oriented but still involves working with data.
Marketing Analyst / E-commerce Analyst – companies are always looking for people who can help improve sales.
Reporting Specialist / Data Coordinator – easier to get into, and you can later move to a data-focused role.
Internships / short-term contracts – in some industries, this is the best way to get your first experience.

📌 Pro tip: You don’t have to change your career path, but if you’re struggling to land a Junior Data Analyst role, having a Plan B can be a game-changer.

Conclusion – The Market Slows Down, But There Are Still Jobs!

Yes, there are fewer job postings, but that doesn’t mean there are no opportunities! You just need to be strategic instead of mass-applying to every listing.

🔹 Look for companies, not just job ads – reach out directly to potential employers.
🔹 Build a strong portfolio – show that you have real, applicable skills.
🔹 Networking is key – most jobs never even make it to job boards.
🔹 Personalize your applications – avoid generic CV submissions.
🔹 Consider alternative roles – sometimes a side-step is better than staying stuck.

The data analytics field is still a fantastic career choice, but you need to adapt to market changes. In challenging times, those who work smart – not just hard – will succeed!