The Single Biggest Mistake Analyst Applicants Make (And the 90-Degree Fix)

After 15+ years in analytics and dozens of hiring cycles, I've identified the single biggest mistake applicants make when trying to break into the field.

And it's not a resume issue. It's not a technical skills gap. It's not even interview preparation.

It's how they approach networking.

The Mistake: The "Give Me" Approach

Too many applicants approach networking with their hand out, figuratively begging: give me, give me, give me.

They:

Cold message hiring managers asking about application status
Immediately pitch themselves without building rapport
Treat every interaction as a transaction
Lead with their needs instead of curiosity

This behavior is off-putting. And it almost never works.

I've been on the receiving end of hundreds of these messages. My reaction is never "wow, let me help this person." It's "delete."

The 90-Degree Difference

Here's the fix, and it's simple to visualize:

Take your hand, currently palm-up in the begging position. Now rotate it 90 degrees.

Now you're ready for a handshake.

The handshake represents connection rather than extraction. You're meeting someone as an equal, not asking for a favor.

This single shift changes everything.

What This Looks Like in Practice

The "Give Me" approach (bad):

"Hi, I applied to your company for the Data Analyst role. Can you look at my resume and forward it to the hiring manager?"

The Handshake approach (good):

"Hi, I noticed you're an analyst at [Company]. I'm exploring analytics careers and would love to hear about your experience there. Would you be open to a quick 15-minute coffee chat? Happy to work around your schedule."

See the difference? One is asking for a favor. The other is expressing genuine curiosity.

The Key Principles

1. Lead With Curiosity, Not Need

Ask about their journey. What do they like about the role? What surprised them? How did they break in?

People love talking about themselves. Give them that opportunity.

2. Build Genuine Connections Before Asking for Anything

Have at least one conversation where you ask for nothing. Just listen, learn, connect.

Only after you've built rapport should you mention "by the way, I'm actually applying to your company."

3. Act Like a Normal Human

Would you walk up to a group of people at a networking event and immediately start handing out resumes and asking for job referrals?

No. You'd introduce yourself. Ask about them. Find common ground. Build connection.

Do the same thing online.

Why This Works

People want to help people they like. People like people who are genuinely interested in them (not just extracting value from them).

When you lead with curiosity:

Conversations feel natural, not transactional
You learn information that actually helps you in interviews
People remember you positively
They want to help when you eventually do need something

I've referred multiple people for roles. Every single one started as a genuine conversation where they showed interest in my work first.

The Bottom Line

Stop begging. Start connecting.

Rotate your hand 90 degrees. Offer a handshake, not a plea.

The opportunities will follow.

Common Questions About Networking for Data Analyst Jobs

Q: Won't people see through this if I'm just networking to get a job?

Only if you're being fake. The key is genuine curiosity. If you're only pretending to care about their story, yes, they'll see through it. Actually care. Actually learn. The job stuff becomes a natural byproduct.

Q: How many networking conversations should I have before asking for help?

At least one, ideally two. First conversation: learn about them and their role. Second conversation: mention you're applying. Third conversation (if needed): ask if they have any advice on your application.

Q: What if I don't have time for all these networking conversations?

Then send fewer, better messages to fewer, better-fit people. Quality over quantity. Five genuine connections beat 100 spam messages.