In a new essay, Eugene Yan outlines red flags candidates should look for when joining a data team. The guidance spans several dimensions: the state of the data itself, the team's roadmap, the role's scope, the manager, and the tooling.
The underlying theme is that warning signs often appear before an offer is signed. Candidates are encouraged to ask pointed questions about data quality and access, whether the roadmap is realistic, and whether the role is clearly defined. Manager quality and tooling choices also matter because they shape daily work and career growth.
Because this is a single practitioner's perspective, the checklist is not exhaustive, but it offers a useful lens for evaluating data-team opportunities.