Data science is a field that uses scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems to extract insights from data. Data science is related to data mining, machine learning, and big data.
If you want to work in this field once you graduate from university, you should know what jobs will be available for you, what you'll learn during university, how to find the perfect job, and more.
Are you interested in a career in Data Science?
Things you'll learn in college about data science
Data science unifies statistics, data analysis, informatics, and their related methods to understand and analyze phenomena with data. A data scientist is someone who creates programming code and combines it with statistical knowledge to create insights from data and information.
If you choose to get a degree in data science you'll have to learn how to become a sort of data collection engineer. For that to happen you'll have to take computer programming, statistics, algebra, geometry, and calculus classes to build a foundation of your knowledge and skills.
Some of the skills you'll need to develop are maths, statistics, analytics, programming, data visualization, and much more. Data scientists have fast minds, great attention to detail, are organized, and don't feel overwhelmed by the surplus of information they have to analyze and process.
Data science was first incorporated into colleges curriculums for graduate and master's programs. However, since the field has grown and developed, many schools have designed bachelor's degrees for aspiring data scientists.
Here are some of the classes you'll be required to take and pass to graduate:
- Probability & Statistics
- Data Analytics
- Data Exploration & Analysis
- Database Systems
- Data Structures & Algorithms
- Data Mining
- Data Visualization Principles
- Big Data
- Machine Learning
10 jobs in data science
Looking for a job in today's market can be challenging and getting one can take a long time. Some job searches can take months and even up to a year.
However, to search properly for a job you must have extensive knowledge about the field of work you want to apply to. For instance, if you study programming, you probably know that there's more to your degree than computer software or building websites.
In the case of data science, you should know that there are plenty of other roles you could apply to, apart from data scientist and data analysis. You can branch out in this field to different programs, tools, jobs, and systems.
Below you'll find a list of 10 of the most common jobs you can apply to if you have a degree in data science:
- Data Scientist - is responsible for many different aspects of a project. You'd be in charge of knowing what is good for business and the company you work for, collecting information, analyzing it, translating it to visual boards, and presenting it.
- Data Analyst - it can overlap with the responsibilities of a data scientist but the role of data analysts in a company would be basically to visualize, manipulate, transform, and interpret data. You'd be responsible for creating or preparing presentations with the data for business communications.
- Data Engineer - is responsible for creating, designing, and building data software. They'll know about programming and are prepared to build programs, systems, and software from scratch.
- Data Architect - similar to data engineers, a data architect can build software for data scientists but they can also design a database that adapts to the company's business model.
- Data Storyteller - you might think a data storyteller's job is to create reports with visual representations of the data, however, that's not the case. A data storyteller will take data, simplify and focus it, analyze its behavior, and then use this insight to create a compelling story that helps understand a phenomenon.
- Machine Learning Scientist - is responsible for researching new approaches to data manipulation and interpretation and helping design new algorithms.
- Machine Learning Engineer - people applying to this job need strong statistics and programming skills in addition to some fundamental knowledge of software engineering.
- Business Intelligence Developer - they take care of designing strategies that allow a business to find the information they need to make decisions quickly and efficiently.
- Database Administrator - is responsible for monitoring the database to make sure it functions properly and keeping track of the data flow while creating backups and recoveries. Administrators also oversee security by granting different permissions to employees based on their job requirements and employment level.
- Technology Specialized Roles - data science is a relatively new job and it is also a field that continues to grow and expand. As this happens, many different jobs and specialties will emerge.
Is data science a stressful job?
How to know a job is perfect for you?
As we already mentioned, job hunting can be brutal, but one of the things that you have to be clear about is the jobs you want to apply to an interview for. If you define what you're looking for, then you'll reduce the amount of time you spend looking for it!
First, let's define what constitutes a "perfect" job. Many people sometimes don't even know what a perfect job would be because they don't know what perfection means to them.
However, a perfect job would allow the employee to feel fulfilled and challenged. It is a job that you know how to do but you can also learn from. The responsibilities you have, allow you to use your intelligence but it also helps you develop new skills.
Finding something that suits your level of experience, career aspirations, passions, and intellectual capabilities will even be beneficial for your health.
It's been proven that working for something that makes you happy (instead of making you feel like a machine) can reduce your levels of stress which is good for your heart and blood pressure, and overall it can improve your health. Many jobs tend to have a great salary but are detrimental to the employee's health.
If you graduate from university and wish to pursue a career in data science then you probably have a talent for analysis and are great with attention to detail.
Data science professionals have to be prepared to get technical with the information. These professionals are required to become data analysts, understand programming languages, and more.
What is the salary of data scientists?
The transition between college and work
Being a senior in college can be exciting, overwhelming, sad, and more. As a senior, you are required to finish your studies and search online for programs or internships you'd like to apply to once you graduate.
Going from student to data scientist or analyst can be a challenging transition. However, you'll see once you start gaining experience that you've spent the past four years preparing, learning, and gaining skills that will help you succeed as a data scientist, analyst, or engineer.
Many students believe that their lives will turn around and that they'll land their dream job as soon as they graduate. However, this is not entirely true.
Once you graduate you have to find an entry-level gig and work your way up as you gain experience and knowledge over the years. Very few people land a dream job the first time around. Finding it takes time especially because as a student you hardly know what you'll dream job will be.
It's once you've worked in the field that you will understand where you dream of working. But as you start you should try different things like computer programming, statistical analysis, data mining, and more.
Feeling like you want to change careers is also very common for newly graduated professionals. If you're feeling this way don't worry, you should just take some time to analyze your situation and figure out what you want.
We recommend you take your time to analyze what you want, weigh the pros and cons, and see what career path is best for you and your happiness.
Keep in mind that if you're a senior in university you should start searching for internships in a business or company of your interest. This way, once you graduate, you can be sure to have something potentially lined up for you.
Learn what are the top universities in the United States for data science.
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