From Teaching to Data Analytics: A Field He Loves and His Career Plans ft. Joe

For this interview, we were lucky to have Joe, an alum, share his journey from graduating college to starting work and heading abroad to study. Over an in-depth conversation, we learned what he went through in planning his career, job interviews and his upcoming study-abroad plans. His experience spans teaching and data analytics, and he also talks about his hopes for his future career and his advice for younger students.

Hi everyone, I'm Joe (盧宗佑). I graduated from the Department of Accounting at National Taiwan University (NTU) in 2022. In college I interned in the audit department at KPMG. After graduating I first did my military service, then taught at Huwei Elementary School. I'm currently a National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) project assistant in NTU's Department of Accounting. This summer I'm heading to Purdue University for a master's in Business Analytics and Information Management. I'm glad to share my education, my school application process, and my career plans and takeaways with you today.

Teaching experience and motivation

After college, because my hometown is in Yunlin and I also had to prepare for studying abroad, I chose to teach natural science at Huwei Elementary School. That's not a common choice for a lot of new graduates, but if I'd stayed in Taipei to work, most jobs would have meant overtime, plus classes at night, and I might not have been able to prepare for my exams and everything else. So I decided to go back south for my military service and also find a job where I'd get off work earlier, so I'd have more time to prepare for my upcoming exams.

Besides being a job where I could leave early, teaching elementary school science was also something I thought about fitting into my career development. While teaching science, I explained ESG (sustainability) concepts to the kids in simple terms, such as global warming and greenhouse gas emissions. I wasn't just teaching science; I was also teaching students why environmental protection and sustainability matter, hoping this kind of teaching would shape how the next generation understands and values protecting the environment. These experiences enriched my résumé and later gave me more to talk about, and more highlights, in interviews.

Combining a passion for data analytics and baseball

Besides teaching, data analytics is another field I'm really interested in. Earlier I'd met a data analyst, an alum who graduated in statistics, and he gave me a lot of advice. Later, when I was writing articles on baseball management and doing a podcast, I started using Python and Excel to analyze player data in depth, and I found that many sports media outlets use methods that aren't rigorous. Along the way, baseball became more than a hobby for me; it became part of my career plan. This experience also let me show my data analytics skills and enthusiasm in interviews, so interviewers could see that I can genuinely combine what I've learned with a field I'm interested in, and that I'm willing to work harder at sharpening my professional skills to improve it. I also believe it will have a positive impact on my future career.

Future career plans and challenges

"A lot of the time, job hunting isn't just about your ability; it also takes some luck and connections. As long as you keep working hard and stay positive, you'll find a position that suits you."

After graduating, I plan to keep looking for work in the US. I hope to apply what I've learned in a real job, and above all I'd like to get into baseball-related data analytics. That path isn't easy, because the baseball industry today needs more than basic data analysis skills. Right now I mainly use Python and R for data analysis, so I'll need to learn a lot more about machine learning and programming. Before that, I hope to land a data analyst job after graduation and build more hands-on experience; only then will I have a chance to get into the baseball industry. The competition on this path is fierce, but I'll focus on improving my technical skills, and I believe that as long as I keep improving them, I'll find the path that suits me best!

Study plans at Purdue University

When choosing where to study abroad, I ended up choosing Purdue University. Purdue's program has been around for a long time, there are plenty of alumni sharing their experiences, and its career planning support is very thorough. Purdue's tuition and cost of living are also relatively low. As for my study plans at Purdue, I plan to make full use of the school's resources this year: besides doing well in my courses, I'll actively take part in the career coaching programs the school offers. After researching Purdue, I think it puts real care into career support. Purdue arranges relevant corporate partnership projects based on each student's goals, which is very important for international students like us. The school also requires us to have a meeting with a career coach at least once a month to discuss our current progress and goals. That's been very helpful for our career development, and it's also given me confidence about the future; I believe I can find my ideal job after graduation!

Advice for younger students

" First, believe in yourself. Every experience you've had could become an opening when applying to schools or looking for a job. Don't focus only on what you learn in school; a lot of the time your passion and interests can be the key to your success."

Take me, for example: I just like baseball, and I never expected that experience to become a highlight of my school applications. So don't underestimate the value of any experience in your life, and make good use of those experiences to show your ability and passion."

I also think that in business analytics and information management, a business background matters a lot alongside technical skills. A business analyst needs not only programming skills but also deep business knowledge. So if you also hope to make your mark in business analytics and information management, you can work toward these areas too, so that you can apply what you've learned flexibly on the job.

And if you're a management school student like me, I recommend getting more exposure to programming languages. After all, many jobs today require computer-related knowledge, and learning to code can help you handle data and problems more efficiently at work. You can start with a simple language like Python, so you'll be better prepared for all kinds of challenges in your future work.

Finally, I hope sharing my experience with more younger students helps you avoid detours in your study-abroad applications and career planning. Studying abroad is a process full of challenges and opportunities; as long as you persevere and keep working hard, you can make your dreams come true!

Summary

Through this conversation with Joe, we saw his persistence and hard work in teaching, data analytics and planning to study abroad. His experience shows that whether you choose to work or continue your studies, finding the path that suits you and putting your passion and effort into it is the key to reaching your goals. His advice offers real insight for younger students who want to study abroad or start their careers.

We hope every reader finds their own inspiration in Joe's story, and that whether it's about career planning or their outlook on life, they bravely pursue their dreams. Whatever challenges you face, as long as you keep your confidence and perseverance, the future will be brighter.