Don’t Be Afraid. Whoever You Are, You Could Become Data Scientist!
Don’t Be Afraid. Whoever You Are, You Could Become Data Scientist!
No degree or someone could stop you to become a data scientist
Data Scientist is the sexiest job in the 21st century and still going strong until now. The amount of funding invested in AI is higher than ever which create a lot of job opportunity.
Moreover, every year the number of investments is increasing. Everyone could get their chance to become a data scientist, right?
Well, sort of. An increase in demand means an increase in the supply. It means the number of applicants competition is increasing with the job opening.
Finding the right talent becomes more important than ever for a company. They want to have the best one from the sea of applicants.
The company want the applicant to have the best qualification and have the right skill set. This means the right education is in need for many data scientists.
However, is education for data science is specific to a university major such as computer science, math, or statistic?.
The answer is No. You could learn data science from any source. Even look at me! I am a Biologist but turn into a data scientist.
I never touch any Python or R during my bachelor time yet I am successfully breaking into the data science field. This leads to many who wants to know how I did it.
Questions such as How can I become a data scientist? Do I need to know to program? What is the step? etc. Let me give you some pointers on why you could become a data scientist no matter what your degree is.
A degree is not a sure way to secure employment!
Life is not a linear line, and nor should be a career. You don’t always need to follow the path set up by your degree.
It is not specific to a data scientist job, but any kind of job. The data also support my claim that a degree did not necessarily require to be followed.
The survey such as 41 % of Grads work in jobs not required degrees and 39.4% were unsure about their degree have proven that.
The path to becoming a data scientist did not to be limited by your degree. It is only limited by how much you want it.
There are times that I think that because I have a bachelor's and master's degrees as a Biologist then I need to become a biologist. How wrong I was.
I can become anything I want, and that includes a data scientist. So I became one.
There are many online resources that support the data science study
What is great about data science employment is how many companies did not necessarily look at your degree, but only at your skill and result.
That is why you always have a chance to get an interview with the company if you have an adequate portfolio.
How to create this portfolio? That is how online resources come. All the studies you need to brush up on your skill and create a portfolio are ready online.
Every study material and free course are shared by many content creators, me including.
For example, if you want to upskill in programming, there is a freecodecamp. If you want to upskill in data science, there is datacamp. If you want to upskill anything else, there is Udemy. The point is, that the learning material is everywhere.
Some might ask you to pay, but most of them are free. However, investment in yourself is always the best one. Spend your money wisely.
Did online material help me become a data scientist? absolutely! I remember I start practising Python via Dataquest and from there I scourge every online learning material.
Through dedication and following the right person on social media, I could become a data scientist. The online world is my teacher.
Opportunity is open everywhere, you only need to match your skill
As I have mentioned before, many employer were looking at the skill set instead of your degree.
This means your chance to become a data scientist is higher than ever.
However, you still need to play the game right if you want a higher chance to secure data employment.
Every company have their own data scientist definition and requirements for their project.
You could try to learn every single data science learning material out there, but it only would waste your time because the company requirements are different for each one.
Your task is to align your skill with what the company wants. Align your skill with your dream company/industry.
The better way is to imagine what kind of data scientist you want and research all the requirements for your dream company.
Take my experience as an example. I want to get into the finance insurance company, means I would learn all the business problem exist in that industry and what skill might necessary.
Opportunity is everywhere, you only need to make sure which one do you want the most.
As a conclusion, remember that whoever you are, data scientist is a job that everyone could get.
Please comment if you want to discuss further!