Lindsey Zuloaga
HireVue
Salt Lake City, UT USA
"A lot of what makes a career really rewarding is going down a path where you’re interested in it but you also get good enough at it to really contribute."
Career Roadmap
Lindsey's work combines: Technology, Science, and Helping People
See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.
Take Roadmap Quiz
Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Network! It sounds icky if networking isn't one of your strong suits, but I very much underestimated the power of human connections in getting opportunities. Try your best to connect with people, go to talks or meetups, ask people in the field you are interested in if they can give you 10-15 minutes of their time to chat, etc.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Engineering Physics/Applied Physics
University of Utah
Graduate Degree
Engineering Physics/Applied Physics
Rice University
Doctorate
Engineering Physics/Applied Physics
Rice University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Director of Data Science:
Bachelor's Degree: Computer Science
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
I grew up in Utah.
2.
It wasn’t until college that I became interested in math and science—I got my undergraduate degree in physics from the University of Utah.
3.
After doing undergraduate research, I decided to go to graduate school and pursue my master’s degree and Ph.D. in applied physics.
4.
After graduating, I went to Munich, Germany, to work as a postdoctoral researcher.
5.
I eventually decided to transition into the business world because academia is competitive and my heart wasn’t fully in it.
6.
I initially struggled to find a job—my Ph.D. made me overqualified in a way, but my lack of professional experience made it challenging.
7.
Cultivating my networking skills made the difference for me and I was able to find a job in industry.
8.
After starting out as a data scientist, I now work as the director of data science for HireVue, which builds products to help make the hiring process more efficient.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
You aren't smart enough.
How I responded:
If you compare yourself to others, you will always notice the things they know or the skills they have that you don't. Remember that there are probably many things you know or skills you have that they don't! Those are just not the things they are calling to your attention.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
One of my proudest accomplishments is getting my PhD without debt. I worked hard and lived like a monk but I never regret not giving in to acquiring student loan debt. Living frugally built character & was worth it to be where I am financially today.
I struggled to find a job when transitioning from academia to industry. Networking helps. It also helps to know that there are others in the same boat as you; there's nothing wrong with you. A large part of the hiring process is just a numbers game.