Career Advice for a 2 year unemployed CS graduate switching to Analytics, roast me!

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some blunt advice and a reality check. I graduated from a decent UC in 2023 with a BS in Computer Science. During school, I did a couple of unpaid internships (one abroad in Barcelona) focused on Web Dev, but I realized I didn't enjoy pure software development.

After a rough stint in the SWE job market (0 luck, due to a mix of a bad market and a lack of focus/effort), I’m pivoting. I want to be a Data Analyst or Analytics Engineer. I want my work to influence business decisions, not just build features ( though i am okay with it for the first few years of my career ). I actually enjoy the type of work.

The Current Plan:

• Education: BS in Comp Sci + currently in a Data Analytics Bootcamp (graduating this April).
• The Stack: Sharpening SQL (CTEs, joins, window functions) and Python (Pandas/NumPy).
• Projects: Working on two capstone projects one is focused on tableau/power bi whereas the other one is a more rigorous python + sql project. Surely I need more, any ideas?
• The Goal: I’m fine with coding, but I want to bridge the gap between "building the thing" and "explaining why the thing matters to the business."

The Reality Check I need:

1. The "Bootcamp" Stigma: With a CS degree from a UC, am I hurting my resume by lead-listing a bootcamp? How do I frame this so I don’t look like a "failed SWE" but rather a "data-driven engineer"?
2. Analytics Engineering vs. DA: Given my CS background, should I stop aiming for "Data Analyst" and go full-tilt into Analytics Engineering (dbt, Snowflake, Airflow)?
3. Strategy: My last job hunt failed. I suspect my "effort to results" ratio was off. Aside from projects, what is the #1 thing a 2023 grad should be doing right now to actually land an interview in this market?

Give it to me straight. Am I missing a massive skill gap, or is my "business-oriented" pivot just fluff?

Sorry for the long post, hopefully it was clear.

Have the best day ever, wherever you are!