Hi fellow data professional!

It’s baseball season in the U.S., a game defined by the "on-deck" line up. Before a player takes a big swing at the plate, they are already there, weighted bat in hand, timing the pitcher (who has to move a bit faster now thanks to the pitch clock), fully prepared for their moment. They don’t start looking for their helmet only after the umpire calls them up.

In your early career perhaps you're considering "taking a big swing" by applying for that dream role at a company aligned with your business interests or pivoting into a higher-impact position.

Undoubtedly, you're focusing intently on the technical screen and system design interviews. In the process, however, you're leaving out a key part of the process.

Setting your line up.

Aka confirming a reliable group of professional references.

I learned this the hard way while working at a Disney resort (Fort Wilderness for any WDW frequent travelers).

At the time, I was working a bike rental window, sweating through a shift while balancing a 4-stage interview process for my first data role. I had nailed the interviews. The hiring manager was ready to make an offer. Then came the inevitable HR email: "Please provide three professional references who can speak to your technical competence by EOD."

I spent the next three hours in a frantic, cold-sweat scramble. Between checking out surrey bikes for guests, I was ducking behind the counter to text old supervisors and email former colleagues I hadn't spoken to in a year.

It was unprofessional and stressful.

And entirely avoidable.

Upon reflection, I've contrasted that period with my high school self. Back then, I was methodical about gathering recommendation letters for college months in advance. Somewhere between graduating and entering the workforce, I lost that discipline. I assumed the "big swing" was the only thing that mattered.

If you are a new grad, or a professional eyeing a change, the time to line up your references is now, not when you’re 48 hours away from a potential offer. For those of you finishing up the semester, the "dead week" between final exams and graduation is the perfect window. Your favorite professors are still in "student mode," and the impact of your work is fresh in their minds. Don’t just let those relationships fade into a halfhearted LinkedIn connection; cement them with a commitment to ongoing dialogue.

Not sure what to say? Use this relationship-building template that can be customized for either a professor or former colleague.

Subject: Professional Reference / Catching up - [Your Name]

And if you need to brush up on your cold messaging skills, check out this guide.​

By doing the legwork now, you ensure that when you finally take that big swing, the only thing you have to focus on is knocking it out of the park.

Thanks for ingesting,

-Zach Quinn

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