DATA SCIENTIST
The newfound love for data science in today's computing world isn't unjustified. Ranked as the hottest job on offer in the coming years by Harvard Business Review.
In such a scenario, what gives you a competitive edge? Here are ten steps about being/becoming a data scientist.
Develop Skills in Algebra, Statistics and ML
A data scientist is someone better at statistics than any software engineer and better at software engineering than any statistician. The idea is to have just the right balance, avoiding too much or not enough of an emphasis on either of the two.
Learn to Love (Big) Data
Data scientists handle a humungous volume of segregated and non-segregated data which computations often cannot be performed using a single machine. Most of them use big data software like Hadoop, MapReduce, or Spark to achieve distributed processing. Many online courses can help you to learn big data at your pace.<br>
Gain a Thorough Knowledge of Databases
Given the huge amount of data generated virtually every minute, most industries employ database management software such MySQL or Cassandra to store and analyze data. Good insight into the workings of the DBMS will surely go a long way in securing your dream job as Data Scientist.
Learn to Code
You cannot be a good data scientist until you learn the language in which data communicate. A well-categorized chunk of data might be screaming out its analysis; the writing may be on the wall but you can only comprehend it if you know the script. A good cover might not be a great data scientist, but a great data scientist is surely a good coder. <br>
Master Data Munging, Visualization and Reporting
Data munging is the process of converting the raw form of data into a form that is easy to study, analyze, and visualize. The visualization of data and its presentation are an equally important set of skills on which a data scientist relies heavily when facilitating managerial and administrative decisions using data analysis.
Work on Real Projects
Once you have become a good data scientist, in theory, it is all about the practice. Search the internet for data science projects (Google quandl ) and invest your time building your forte, along with zeroing in on the areas that still require brushing up.
Look for Knowledge Everywhere
A data scientist is a team player, and when you are working together with a group of like-minded people, being a keen observer always helps. Learn to develop the intuition required for analyzing people who matter, and the ability to have your way with words will always come in handy when tackling unforeseen situations.
Communication Skills
They differentiate the great data scientist from the good data scientist. More often than not, you find yourself behind closed doors explaining the findings of your data analysis to people who matter and the ability to have your way with words will always come in handy when tackling unforeseen situations.
Compete
Websites such as Kaggle are a great training ground for budding data scientists as they try to find teammates and compete against one another to showcase their intuitive approaches and hone their skills. With the rising credibility of the certifications provided by such sites in the industry, these competitions are fast becoming a stage to show companies how innovative your mind works.
Stay Up-to-Date With the Data Scientist Community
Follow websites such as KDNuggets, DataScience101, and DataTau to remain in sync with the happenings of the world of data science and gain insight regarding the types of job openings currently being offered in the field.
Source: Data Science App