How to Become a Data Scientist.
- Duke FamaK
- Aug 20, 2022
- 2 min read
How to Become a Data Scientist
Did you know that Netflix uses data science to measure user engagement amongst others? Data science is one of the fastest growing careers in the 21st century. Professionals that can transform data analysis into a competitive advantage for their companies are in high demand.
What is a Data Scientist?
A data scientist is a professional that analyzes raw datasets to produce insights that help organizations in making informed decisions. They apply statistical and computational skills to collect and analyze data to uproduce actionable insights.
What Does a Data Scientist Do?
The primary duties of a data scientist includes
● Analyze and interpret data for informed decision-making and solutions.
● Collects a significant amount of data from different sources.
● Validates data for accuracy and genuineness.
● Applies different algorithms to the datasets to arrive at a decision.
● Interpret data to uncover solutions and opportunities.
● Uses visualization to explain data outcomes.
Data Scientist Salaries and Job Outlook
Data scientists salaries differ with the employee’s experience level, the company’s size, and location. However payscale reports average earnings of a data scientist is $97,004 per year.
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) reports that the employment growth of computer information and research scientists, which includes data scientists, from 2020 to 2030 is 22 percent.
How to Become a Data Scientist: A Step by Step Guide
Here are steps that will guide your journey to becoming a data scientist:
STEP 1: Obtain A Bachelor’s Degree
The first step to becoming a data scientist is to get a degree in an IT related field. You should also have an excellent STEM and programming background.
STEP 2: Learn Relevant Data Science Skills
To get the necessary skills you need to get a masters degree or a coding bootcamp to develop skills such as Data Wrangling, Statistics, Research, Cloud tools (Azure), Data Visualization amongst others and acquire soft skills which includes critical thinking.
STEP 3: Specialize
Data science involves specializations such as machine learning algorithms, predictive analysis, business intelligence amongst others. Specializing increases your chances of getting higher payment and more defined job roles.
STEP 4: Build your Portfolio
A successful data scientist has a portfolio of projects that have benefited their previous employers.Consider displaying your work on a professional website or in a slide presentation that you can submit to potential employers.
Should You Become a Data Scientist ?
Yes, you should become a data scientist. Data scientists are well compensated, they add value to a business, highly demanded, and the job is not repetitive. If you have a good grasp or interest in statistics and programming, then this is definitely the way to go.
Data Scientist FAQ
What is the Difference between data science and data analytics
There is no clear difference between data science and data analytics. Data Analytics is primarily concerned with statistics, whereas Data Science is concerned with statistics, machine learning, programming, amongst others.
Does Data Science include Machine Learning
Data science includes machine learning, it is a broader term that covers any data-related activity, whereas machine learning is specific.
Which programming language is best for data science Python or R
Python is better for practical computing, whereas R is better for teaching or research. R is more intellectual, but Python is more functional.
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