Data science is a rapidly developing field that has applications in many industries. Data has taken over as the most valuable asset any organization can have. That is why cleaning the data, making sense of it, and visualizing it to present meaningful insights are at the forefront of every industry. This helps connect well to clients, optimize strategies, cut costs and even perform better.
A career in data science can undoubtedly put you at the forefront of a lot of the technological progress that is about to shape the world’s future. Whether you are a novice wondering how to get started, or an experienced data scientist looking for a quick refresher to get back in the industry, here are 12 essential tips on how to become a data scientist.
Choose the right language
For a complete end-to-end experience, it is vital that you stay up to date on the programming languages that are best suited to the role you wish to take up. There are data science communities that swear by R, while others opt to follow Python. There are several other languages as well.
Pick one programming language and make sure you enhance your skill at it. This can be done by online courses, hands-on projects, coding camps, and challenges, along with competitive coding websites.
Figure out your role
Data science is an umbrella term. A lot of careers and roles fall under this field. You can choose to focus solely on data visualization and perfect your skills at it. You could opt for predictive modelling, be a machine learning enthusiast or choose one of many roles. It would serve well to be aware of the different roles and pick one that suits you best.
Online courses are a great bet
You can find the best data science courses on Udemy, Coursera, or other sites by reputed institutions, teachers, and groups. Make sure you take advantage of the resources available and always stay updated with the latest developments in the field of data science.
Develop teamwork
Data science is not a one-person show. You will need to interact and collaborate with a team at some point in your data science career. IT helps to get into this mentality early on. You can achieve this by joining peer groups, online forums or participating in online competitions and challenges in a group. This will help you develop test cases, ideas, and even new perspectives in your career.
Maintain a problem-solving mindset
Data science aims to solve problems by figuring out meaningful information from the swarm of data available. This is why it is always wise to develop a mind that can come up with effective solutions in the simplest manner. You can easily do this with some practice.
Hands-on projects
As with any other field, theoretical knowledge can only take you so far. Make sure to practice problems on Kaggle or take up any problem that stimulates your mind and make an attempt to solve it.
Communication Skills
Whether you are working in a team and communicating to collaborate, explaining the solution to a business stakeholder, or explaining the problem statement to a group, communication is vital. Brush up on your communication skills for a fruitful data science career.
Technical knowledge
Technical knowledge about the basic foundations of data science is a must if you want your data science career to take off. The best data science courses cover topics like
- Data cleaning
- Data visualization
- Machine learning
- Deep learning
- AI
Network
Attend events like workshops, webinars, and conferences to constantly be exposed to new ideas while also building your network. This can place the best career opportunities in your path. They are also a great learning experience.
Get constant feedback
Make sure you always get feedback on your solutions or ideas. The best way to do this would be to publish your interests. This is easier than ever with online forums like blogs, GitHub, and other outlets.
Find a mentor
Someone who has travelled the same path might be a great way to gain inspiration. Take it a step further by finding a mentor in the field who can guide you in your career.
Be open to opportunities
Understand that your entry point might not always be what you had in mind, but be open to trying out any opportunity that comes your way. The entry point is merely your way in. You can move forward by constantly updating your skill sets.