In this 21st century, one can arguably submit to the fact that Data Science is the next big hit in terms of career.
In our high-tech-driven world, almost everyone has pressing issues which need urgent fix by “big data.”
All facets of life from businesses, non-profit organizations to government institutions, there is a seemingly-infinite and non-ending list of information that can be sorted out thoroughly, interpreted intelligently, critically analyzed, and applied for a wide range of purposes.
See, this is one of the reasons why there is a need to get a data analytics certification.
Finding the right sets of answers about whether or not to sign up for a data science Bootcamp for a data science certification can be somewhat a challenging task.
You might want to ask how can a business sort and thrive through purchasing data to create a marketing strategy or plan?
How can engaging community activities be initiated using patterns of behavior by various government departments?
How can a non-profit establishment enhance its potential operations using their available marketing budgets?
As a matter of fact, all these questions and more, it all comes down to the role of a data scientist.
Why? That’s simple – we are in a world where there is too much information for an average person to process and utilize, data scientists are molded and trained to collect, accurately organize, and critically analyze data, thereby helping people from all works of life.
Who Exactly Is A Data Scientist and What Do They Do?
In a few words, a data scientist is a professional who is trained to work with a large amount of data, make certain deductions, and extract analytical insight.
Usually, a data scientist relates their findings with the stakeholders such as the management, senior leadership, and government officials.
With this, organizations can benefit from making the best-informed decisions to increase their business growth and as well as generate profits.
Basically, a data scientist is an individual who collects, organizes, and analyzes data to reach a meaningful and practical conclusion. They achieve this through many different techniques.
They may present the data in a visual context, which is often called “visualizing the data,” thereby enabling users to look for clear patterns that wouldn’t be easily seen if the information was presented in raw numbers on a spreadsheet.
Data scientists also create highly advanced algorithms that are used to provide solutions to seemingly complex tasks leading to decision making that will help place a business or an organization on the right trajectory.
At its core, data science is the practice of looking for meaning in mass amounts of data.
Who is a Good Candidate?
You might be asking yourself some questions like, “will I become a good data, scientist?” How can I determine if I have the necessary skills needed for a long career in the field of data science?
Or possibly, you may be worried about what it takes to make a juicy career path in Data science.
Well, before an answer to your queries, let me remind you that many unique traits apply to a data scientist, so you may likely possess some of such qualities.
Firstly, you must be curious and have the urge to learn new things constantly. As a matter of fact, if you are a data scientist, you have so many data points to analyze, and so as a data scientist, you must have this inherent curiosity that pushes you to find answers.
Another trait is a strong ability for organization, and this is an indispensable trait you must possess as a data scientist.
Obviously, you’ll find that this career path, just like any other career path, is full of ups and downs.
So, to succeed as a data scientist, persistence is a good trait you must possess. What this trait will help you to do is stay calm when it seems like there couldn’t possibly be an answer to a problem, and when it looks tough to find a way around it.
As a skilled data scientist, you will be persistent and keep working with the hopes of having a breakthrough soon (if not sooner).
Additional qualities you must possess are a creative mind, the ability to remain focused, and pay attention to the least of details.
How to Become a Data Scientist?
So, here we are with the big question about how to become a data scientist.
You may be wondering, “is there a surer way to do this, or it all takes some strict and conventional route?”
That’s exactly what we’ll be seeing shortly. So, it doesn’t matter whether you are a student in a data science Bootcamp or self-studying to acquire this certification, to become a data scientist, you must undergo three basic steps:
- Obtain a bachelor’s degree in any of the following disciplines: Mathematics, IT, Computer Science, Physics, or other related disciplines.
- Obtain a Master’s degree in any data related discipline
- Acquire experience and exposure in your field of interest (e.g., banking sectors, agricultural sectors, healthcare, physics, etc.)
Data Scientist Education and Requirements
The possibility of launching a career in data science with all intents and purposes must start with the very least of a bachelor’s degree, which would take about four years to obtain.
More so, to fully equip yourself and advance your professionalism in the industry, you should as well aim for a master’s or doctorate degree.
There are lots of schools offering data science as a degree course, and this is obviously a good choice if you wish to tilt towards this career path.
With at least a degree in data science, you will have the necessary skills, as well as the right tools to process and, analyze a huge set of data.
While it remains true that a data science degree is the most obvious career channel through which you can become a professional data scientist, there are alternatives to launching your data science career through other technical and computer-based degrees.
Other degree courses that can give you a thriving edge in learning and advancing in data science include:
- Computer science
- Social science
- Mathematics
- Applied math
- Statistics
- Physics
- Economics
Conclusion
Date science, just like any other IT certification, is a promising career path to choose.
This becomes very important since there are lots of great prospects and very diversified applications to different aspects of life which your services as a data scientist will be required.
However, in becoming a data scientist, there are no limiting rules that you must register in a data science Bootcamp to learn and come out successful in this discipline.
But with determination and focus on the goal, you might be on the right track to being celebrated as a skilled data scientist with lots of problems solving abilities.