Extract. Transform. Read.A newsletter from Pipeline: Your Data Engineering ResourceHi past, present or future data professional! For many, perhaps even yourself, it’s the most dreaded time of the year: Back to school. While data engineering doesn’t require “supplies”, it can be helpful to pick up a book or two. Aside from getting industry context, your latest data read can provide a helpful talking point in interviews or even impress in casual discussion. Though not quite a textbook, I highly recommend the book that opened my mind to the power and influence of data: Mindf*ck Cambridge Analytica And The Plot To Break America by fashion designer-turned data scientist Christopher Wiley. One of the most valuable lessons you can learn as a student is identifying what you won’t be taught. Despite its universality in data-driven orgs, SQL is under-taught in institutionalized data science curricula. Determining which skills you’ll have to learn on your own can help you prioritize your upskilling and even get you through the class from hell. And if you aren’t currently in school, picking the right certification can advance your career, while the wrong choice can lead to a cluttered LinkedIn profile—and mind. For those compiling a digital supply list, here are this week’s links as plain text:
Thanks for ingesting, -Zach |
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Hi fellow data professional! Quick question: How much could I pay you to switch your job? Conventional wisdom in the tech industry in the last handful of years is that the way to supercharge growth and max out your career earnings is to frequently change jobs. On average, job switchers could and should target an increase of 15-20% of their current salary. But in a rocky economy (at least here in the U.S.), career experts are urging would-be switchers to consider the benefits of a stable role...
Hi fellow data professional and Happy New Year! In the second half of 2025, I made a radical choice: I (largely) stopped blogging. Over the past year, Medium (where I host my content) made a series of changes that de-prioritizes technical content, leading to the departure of several major publications, including Toward Data Science. Pair that platform disillusionment with a bit of burnout, and the result is a feeling that it’s time for a change. For 75+ weeks, I’ve preferred concise,...
Hi fellow data professional - Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Since an email is probably one of the least exciting things to open on Christmas morning, I'll keep this brief. As a thank you for subscribing and reading the newsletter this year, I'd like to offer a gift: My FREE guide to web scraping in Python. Centered around 3 "real world" projects, the guide highlights the importance of being able to retrieve, interpret and ingest unstructured data. Get your guide here. Have a restful...