Businesses worldwide rely on data to enhance services and boost profits. Today’s digital era generates vast data, demanding unconventional processing methods and software. A data scientist specialises in interpreting data, aiding organisations in decision-making and operational improvements. They’re proficient in maths, stats, and computer science, analysing large datasets for trends. They also innovate data collection methods.
What Does a Data Scientist Do?
They extract, analyse, and interpret data, revealing valuable insights crucial for strategic decisions. Data scientists clean and analyse data from various sources, craft predictive models using ML techniques, and ensure these models are applied effectively.
Data Analyst vs Data Scientist:
Data analysts focus on uncovering insights using tools like Excel. Data scientists, however, dive deeper, creating complex models and algorithms using Python and R, bridging data analysis with ML for innovative problem-solving.
Qualifications Needed:
Strong analytical and maths skills are key. Proficiency in statistical software and programming languages like Python or R is crucial. Certification from an accredited program is often required.
How to Start:
- Get a Bachelor’s Degree: Aim for fields like data science, statistics, or computer science.
- Learn Programming Languages: Master Python, R, SQL, and SAS for handling large datasets.
- Develop Additional Skills: Gain proficiency in tools for Data Visualization, ML, and Big Data.
- Earn Certifications: Show expertise with skill-specific certifications.
- Internships: Gain practical experience and exposure to the industry.
- Entry-Level Jobs: Start with positions like data analyst or engineer to build expertise.
Skills to Master:
Database knowledge, statistics, programming languages (R, Python, SAS), data wrangling, machine learning, Big Data tools, and data visualisation.
Career Paths:
Data Scientist: $120,931 average salary
Data Engineer: $137,776 average salary
Data Architect: $112,764 average salary
Data Analyst: $65,470 average salary
Business Analyst: $70,170 average salary
Data Administrator: $54,364 average salary
Preparing for a Data Science Career:
Training programs offer comprehensive learning in data science, machine learning, visualisation, and AI. Mastering these technologies provides an edge in the competitive data science field.
You can learn more about our Data science program here.
