What’s your job about?
carsales is a digital marketplace that has a single purpose - to make buying and selling a great experience. As a Data Graduate, I have the opportunity to do six-month rotations in three different data teams. I started with the Data Analytics and Insights team, which exposed me to digital data, building dashboards, and fulfilling requests. For my second rotation, I joined the Data Platforms and Engineering team, where I worked behind the scenes, constructing data pipelines and ensuring seamless accessibility of data for stakeholders. I’m currently in my third and final rotation, with the Data Science team, where I will be diving into the AI scene and building machine learning models.
My typical day usually starts with a stand-up meeting, where I connect with my team to have updates on our ongoing projects and troubleshoot any potential roadblocks. From there, we’d proceed with our tasks, which usually involve coding, deploying new features and fixing issues.
What’s your background?
I was born and raised in Malaysia. In 2021, I obtained my Bachelor of Business degree, majoring in Economics and Finance at RMIT University. However, I found myself leaning towards a more practical approach where I could directly apply my skills to solve real-world problems. After thinking it through, I leapt and enrolled in a Master of Analytics and never looked back since.
During my postgraduate studies, I worked with a wide array of datasets, ranging from small to large and complex. I also had the opportunity to intern in the health sector, where I got to apply my skills beyond the walls of a classroom. These experiences reinforced my career path, as I feel like I am constantly learning, and there is no one solution to a problem, which is exciting for me.
I discovered Carsales’ Data Graduate Program and immediately thought, “This is it!” - I love cars and I love data. Through a comprehensive application process, I landed a spot in the program. As I’m writing this, I’ve just passed my one-year mark with carsales, I can’t believe how time flies.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Yes of course! I’ve had the pleasure of working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from civil engineers to teachers and geophysicists, just to name a few. It doesn’t matter what your background is, the graduate program doesn’t expect you to be an expert right away.
The program is structured to provide a steep learning curve. But rest assured, everyone at carsales is incredibly supportive and ready to lend a helping hand if you need one. As long as you’re keen to learn, have an open mind and have a can-do attitude, you’re already on your way to succeed as a data graduate.
What’s the coolest thing about your job?
carsales prides itself on staying current with the latest technology, keeping us constantly learning and embracing the latest tools and technology. As a data graduate, I’ve been involved in high-impact projects and collaborated closely with stakeholders across the business, namely the product and media teams.
In my recent rotation, I had the opportunity to get firsthand experience of how our data is transformed from its raw inputs to refined formats ready for our data analytics and science team. It was incredibly rewarding to see the tangible impact of the data infrastructure I’ve built being extensively used by the stakeholders.
What are the limitations of your job?
A six-month rotation can feel fast, especially when you need the time to get used to the new teams, learn unfamiliar tech stacks, and adjust to different working methods. Just as I feel like I’m settling in, the rotation is nearing its end.
In retrospect, this compressed timeframe may bring the sense of urgency to take advantage of as many learning opportunities as possible. Moreover, I’m using this opportunity to explore which specific area of the data team I resonate with most, be it data analytics, data engineering, or data science.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student