The Hottest job in town- Data Scientist!

Data Scientist
Data Scientist

Introduction

What do you think is the most desirable job in town? Any ideas? 

According to the Harvard Business Review, Data Scientist has been voted the “sexiest job of the 21st century”. Yes, you read that right.

All it takes is a quick search on LinkedIn for one to see that there are currently 113,000 roles for Data Scientists, with a whopping 93,500 job vacancies!

Seems like an interesting prospect? Want to be the one filling up one of the 93,500 open positions? For that, you need to get started, now. Tramadol But how do you begin?


Well, we’re here for you as always. To take you through the details of everything related to data science, starting from what is a data scientist to how much a data scientist earns…

So, let’s dig in!

What is Data Science?

You may have already googled this, to get an idea but when it comes to Data Science, everyone has their own definition. In a nutshell, “data science is using data to answer questions.” Here’s an interesting piece of information. 

Between the dawn of civilization and 2003, 5 exabytes of information were created, but 2 exabytes are created every day now. Amazing, isn’t it?

Basically, Data Science involves:

  • Statistics, computer science, mathematics
  • Data cleaning and formatting
  • Data Visualization

Now that you have a basic idea about data science, what next? How to go about it? Where to start? What are the topics one should cover?  Well, you can begin by going through this blog.

But, why Data Science?

It is up to you whether you want to be in this field. Is it because it’s the hottest job in the market, or do you genuinely want to be a Data Scientist? You need to decide what your goal is. If you want to learn Data Science for your college academic projects, just learning the basics will suffice. Likewise, if you intend to build a long-term career, you will need to move on to the advanced or professional level.

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So, to find the perfect course for Data Science, first, you need to figure out what exactly you are looking for!

How to learn?

Data scientists come from several educational and professional backgrounds but you need to be proficient in four major fields-

  • Domain Knowledge
  • Math Skills
  • Computer Science
  • Communication Skill

But why are these considered the key skills? Well, no need to jump to conclusions. We are going to learn about them in detail so that you have enough knowledge to make a strong decision.

1. Domain Knowledge

Let the truth be out. Yes, domain knowledge is essential to becoming a data scientist! 

Why? Well, there is always a “why” to everything, and for this “why”, we are going to take an example. So, let’s say you want to become a data scientist in the banking industry and have extensive knowledge of stock trading and finance. Consequently, this is going to be very beneficial for you, as the bank itself will give prefer such applicants over those who don’t. 

2. Math Skills

So, how much did you score in your mathematics exams? You can score good marks in maths even if you are not good at it and don’t ask how, because you know the answer… 😉 

But to become a data scientist, you need to have a good understanding of Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus & Optimization Technique, as they help you in understanding various machine learning algorithms that play an important role in Data Science. 

Similarly, understanding statistics and probability is considered a prerequisite for mastering machine learning.

3. Computer Science

There is a lot more to learn in computer science. Your knowledge needs to be extensive, and if you only went to your school computer labs to play games, then you might regret it a bit, but you can still have those computer skills back How? As always, Coding Ninjas is the answer!

But what programming language is beneficial when it comes to data science? Is it Python or R? Both languages provide a rich set of libraries to implement the complex machine learning algorithm, visualization, and data cleaning. But, you should know both!

Other than programming languages, these computer science skills are also essential-

     And, you know where to go to ace these skills!

4. Communication Skills

If you were a backbencher then, there is no problem because we already know you are the talkative one but can you frame your words eloquently? Yes, being talkative or an extrovert is not the same as having good communication skills, but what matters is how efficiently you can communicate.

You have to be master both verbal and written communication. Because in a data science project, after concluding the analysis, the project has to be communicated to others, like sending a report to your boss or coworkers.

Now, that we have good knowledge about how to learn Data Science, let’s come to the following points…

How can you become a Data Scientist?

A Data Scientist usually needs some formal training. Here are some steps to consider-

1. Get a Data Science degree

Hmm, from where can you get one?? Is that even a question? Even if it is, the answer is simple – Coding Ninjas! 

Coding Ninjas provides Data Science and Machine learning courses for both beginner and experienced learners. Where you can learn how to source, manipulate and visualize data using Python and its libraries. Build and refine your Machine Learning skills with the help of topics like Statistics, Trees, Neural Networks, etc.

2. Hone your relevant skills

Always remember you have to be confident about the basics! Polish some of your hard-data skills. Think about taking an online course or enrolling in a relevant Bootcamp like Career Camp by Coding Ninjas. Here are some of the skills you’ll want to have under your belt.

  • Programming languages
  • Data Visualization
  • Machine Learning
  • Big Data
  • Communication

3. Start at the entry-level

You gotta start somewhere, and it is always a good idea to start from an entry-level job. At this level, you can make mistakes and even learn from them, and your seniors will be happy to guide you. 

Seek positions that work heavily with data, such as data analyst, business intelligence analyst, statistician, or data engineer. From there, it’s possible to work your way up to becoming a scientist as you expand your knowledge and skills.

4. Prepare for Interviews

Data Scientist positions can be highly technical, so you may encounter both technical and behavioral questions. Try to excel in both. Interviewers often want to see examples of your previous work experience or academic accomplishments to gauge your knowledge and confidence.

Code Studio can be your best friend when it comes to interviews. It is a one-stop destination to crack your technical interview. Here, you’ll find 600+ interview problems by companies like Amazon, Facebook, Google, and many more. You can even gain knowledge from others’ interview experiences!

All this is great, but…

How much will you earn as a Data Scientist?

At the end of a great meal, everyone craves a good dessert! And, this dessert is exceptionally tasty. Did you patiently go through the entire article or have you just skipped to the good part? 

Data Scientists annually earn up to Rs.698,412. On an avg. At an entry-level, the number is about Rs. 500,000 per year, and goes up to Rs. 610,811 per year, after an experience of 1-4 years, depending on various factors.

So, this was all you needed to know about a Data Scientist, and if you are thinking of becoming one, you know the exact place where you can get all the skills you need.