E is for Eskwelabs Issue 061 - Facing crossroads with confidence, using listening and decision-making skills 💪💖
In our sixty-first issue, we explore the theme “Crossroads” and look at a mix of skills, real-life examples, and past events that embody what it means to choose between two or multiple paths.
We created this newsletter to keep our alums, partners, and anyone interested in learning skills for the future of work updated and connected to our ever-growing family. If you want to read our previous issues, you can check them out here.
We begin with two quotes from two literary giants (who were also friends!)
"There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” —CS Lewis
“Little by little, one travels far.” —J.R.R. Tolkien
Hi everyone, it’s Francine here! 👋 We are now in the last quarter of the year, can you believe it? The two quotes that open this issue hit even closer to home, knowing that the end of year countdown has begun and Mariah Carey’s and Jose Mari Chan’s songs are beginning to make their rotation in our playlists.
October’s theme is “Crossroads.” This is the combination of two words and at its core, it symbolically represents a moment of decision. When two or more roads converge and diverge at one point, you may say that this is also a “turning point” of some kind. As serious as the theme is for this month, we hope to approach it the Eskwelabs way of joyfulness, heart, human, and soul. And also, we want you to come out of reading this issue with new knowledge (plus some career thoughts!) and skills. Happy reading, Eskweloves! 📰
What’s in this newsletter:
💼 Looking at the types of career crossroads
❤️ Learning about the levels of listening
🤔 Understanding decision fatigue and how to overcome it
✅ Going through a mentor discernment checklist
READING TIME: 14 minutes
📖 ESKWELABS BLOG HIGHLIGHTS 📖
Here are the latest blog posts by our technical writer and Data Science Fellowship Cohort 8 alum Basty Vergara. Despite our theme being “Crossroads,” you don’t have to choose between reading these two. We recommend going through both!
🔍 Journey into the World of Data Science (9 min read)
Here is a friendly guide for those who want to begin exploring the world of data science. The first step begins with identifying your why.
🧠 Choosing to Become a Data scientist (7 min read)
What are the tools, skills, and responsibilities of a data scientist? Here is a quick read that gives you a summary plus your next steps towards becoming a data scientist.
Do you want to submit a blog post to Eskwelabs and get published? Reply to this issue of the newsletter and let’s see how we can collaborate! ✏️
⛰️ CAREER CROSSROADS ⛰️
💼 Types of Career Crossroads
Type 1: The Fresh Grad goal-getters
If this is you, then you know that the decision you face may come with a lot of external pressure—maybe your parents, peers, and also yourself. The question of “so, what’s next?” looms larger and larger closer to your graduation date in university. It becomes even more intimidating in the days and weeks after.
A link to help you in this season of life:
Type 2: Career Shifters sifting through Options
If this is you, then you may be daunted by the number of choices. But it’s not just about the “where” and “what,” it’s also the “how” that haunts you. It takes courage to shift careers and we commend and cheer on all career shifters.
A link to help you in this season of life:
Type 3: The new industry Curious
If this is you, then you probably have a sparkle in your eye as you look at all the possibilities across various industries. The questions now are “which one” and “why?” It is always, always important to remember your why.
A link to help you in this season of life:
Type 4: Promotion Pushers and Seekers
If this is you, then first of all, we want to celebrate you because you have the self-awareness and grit to go after what’s best for you. For you, the biggest question is the “how.” You can approach your promotion plan from different angles but we would recommend three: research the new role, upskill for that role, and check if your mindset and attitudes are ready for that role.
A link to help you in this season of life:
Type 5: The Enthusiasts who are ready to explore
If this is you, then you have every reason to be excited and joyful. There is so much to explore out there! But with vastness comes decision fatigue. So be kind to yourself. You know that you can set your own pace for your exploration time.
Links to help you in this season of life:
Type 6: Future-focused Upskillers
If this is you, then you must be very aware of the demands of the future of work. Digital transformation is pushing everyone, both individuals and institutions, to adapt. To stand out and stay competitive in the future of work, we recommend upskilling with data skills.
A link to help you in this season of life:
Type 7: Big Picture Thinkers committed to making an impact
If this is you, then you have a mission-driven heart like ours. The question of “where do I go?” is crucial, because everywhere you go there are problems that need solutions. This kind of crossroads is trickier, but it also will lead to some of the most fulfilling experiences of your life once you’ve made a decision.
A link to help you in this season of life:
💼 Eskwelabs programs for your career crossroads needs
🎨 Learning Sprints
Learning sprints are periods of upskilling that combine project-based learning and cohort-based learning. These sprints are an ode to how tech teams work globally, and so these are the building blocks of our bootcamps (Data Science Fellowship and Data Analytics Bootcamp).
If you want Eskwelabs to design and deliver a customized learning sprint for your university, company, or government agency, simply reply to this email and we’ll get started on co-creation!
To give you an idea, we also have existing learning sprints like:
Intro to Data Literacy with Spreadsheets
Intro to Data Science and Machine Learning
Intro to SQL Sprint
Data Storytelling for Government
Data Storytelling & Analytics
Data Storytelling for User Insights
Data Analytics for Sales
🖥️ Data Science Fellowship | Cohort 11
Early bird payment deadline: February 5, 2023
Deadline for scholarship application: February 10, 2023
Deadline of assessment exam: February 20, 2023
Start of classes: March 13, 2023
📊 Data Analytics Bootcamp | Cohort 9
Deadline for scholarship application: January 6, 2023
Early bird payment deadline: January 8, 2023
Deadline of assessment exam: January 15, 2023
Start of classes: January 30, 2023
⛰️ SKILLS FOR CROSSROADS ⛰️
❤️ What are the levels of listening?
This is not to be confused with Otto Scharmer’s 4 Levels of Listening to Be a Better Listener. The four levels of listening we are referring to are what we’ve learned from the Calm Collective Asia:
Pretend listening
Selective listening
Attentive listening
Deep listening
Deep listening is what we strive for when we listen to other human beings. This level of listening is about being intentional and deliberate about your listening to another person or group of people. You don’t give in to the urge to interrupt. You don’t prepare your answers to their questions or speech in advance in your head as you listen. You don’t let your mind wander off as you take in what the other shares. It’s about letting the other know you are there for them.
If crossroads symbolize a turning point or moments of decision-making, then it’s also important to develop the deep listening skill and apply it to yourself. How might you apply compassion to yourself? How might you stay true to yourself? How might you be aware and stay present with yourself?
It’s easy to get swept up by the speed of life, so in crucial moments like a career crossroads, applying the essence of deep listening is key.
🤔 What is decision fatigue and how do we overcome it?
It’s part of the human experience to be at a crossroads in your journey multiple times. Once you’re at that decision-making point, it can get tiring after having done it several times. Presenting…decision fatigue.
“Decision fatigue is the idea that after making many decisions, a person’s ability to make additional decisions becomes worse.” —Medical News Today
4 ways to overcome decision fatigue:
Create a low stakes decision checklist - This checklist can contain templates for decisions you can make easily—from wardrobe to weekly meals and to principles you set for yourself on social media or at work. This lessens the burden on your brain for when you are faced with really heavy decisions.
Keep a decisions log - This log can be in a diary format or even in a Google Sheet. We recommend the following columns: The context + the decision that needed to be made + the information available to make the decision + the result of the decision (positive or negative). Having a record of your decisions in the past can guide you when you make ones in the future.
Invest in rest and recreational activities - Your brain, body, and soul needs rest to be productive. Do not sacrifice this aspect of your life, because you can actually make the best decisions when you are holistically at your best.
Set up a personal council of advisers - It’s harder to go through life-changing things alone. Having a group of people you can trust and get advice from can also lessen the burden on your brain when you’re at a crossroads.
⛰️ REAL-LIFE CROSSROADS ⛰️
✅ Going through a mentor discernment checklist
We take the 1:5 mentor to student ratio in our programs very seriously at Eskwelabs. Our pool of mentors are a mix of professionals from the industry and are external to Eskwelabs and we also have alumni who have decided to pay it forward as mentors.
Here is a discernment checklist for you to know if being an Eskwelabs Mentor is right for you. You are the person we are looking for if:
🌱 You care about the success of others as much as—or even more than—your own. Your joy comes from them succeeding, growing, and thriving
🇵🇭 You see potential in the Philippine data community and you want to make a difference in it, by equipping the next generation of data analysts and scientists.
✨ You want to develop as a professional and you understand that this growth is not just in technical skills, but in soft skills like communication, empathy, team management, and more.
🍎 You are a lifelong learner and you want to share this joy with others.
You can learn more about the responsibilities of being an Eskwelabs Mentor by clicking the careers page button below.
❤️ Throwback: September 2022 Alumni Mentors Pool Orientation
Last September 23, 2022, we had the opportunity to welcome back alumni across our data analytics and data science programs. We had 61 attendees and from this group, 48 candidates are eligible to be mentors while 13 were already mentors themselves.
This Alumni Mentors Pool Orientation was a reunion-orientation hybrid. The Eskwelabs team talked about the different mentor opportunities in the programs, the importance of mentorship, and the 2 sigma problem of educational psychologist Benjamin Bloom.
After the presentations, we had a special breakout room session where seasoned mentors could answer the questions of would-be mentors. The photo above is just one page of the Zoom. We hope for more full-house orientation events like this one in the future!
📖 ESKWELABS LIBRARY 📖
Eskwelabs Book Recommendation
📖 Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention- and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari 📖
Book summary from Goodreads (shortened):
“We think our inability to focus is a personal failure to exert enough willpower over our devices. The truth is even more disturbing: our focus has been stolen by powerful external forces that have left us uniquely vulnerable to corporations determined to raid our attention for profit. Hari found that there are twelve deep causes of this crisis, from the decline of mind-wandering to rising pollution, all of which have robbed some of our attention. … Crucially, Hari learned how we can reclaim our focus--as individuals, and as a society--if we are determined to fight for it. Stolen Focus will transform the debate about attention and finally show us how to get it back.”
Book club questions for all of us:
How easily, often, and quickly do you get distracted? How has this impacted your personal and professional life?
How long do you think you can go without logging onto the internet or any digital device?
What are offline and non-screen-time activities that you do for rest and recreation?
Share your answers by leaving a comment!
That’s it for our sixty-first issue of the newsletter! We hope you enjoyed it. 🤗
What did you think of this format? Let us know here. We appreciate you so much for reading!
💌 Cheering you on always,
Francine
Learning Community Manager at Eskwelabs