Data science is an intimidating subject especially for those who are new to this field. There are so many tools and techniques that it becomes difficult to decide from where to start. We wonder if we are making the right choice by shifting or starting a career in data science. However, it is not as intimidating or confusing as you think, if you follow specific steps. This small but simple guide will help make things easier for you:
Choose the Role that Suits you
There are many roles in data science that includes data scientist, data engineer, data visualization expert, data analyst, and much more. Since there are so many job roles choosing the one that fits your background and experience can be quite confusing. Take for instance a person with experience in business administration should opt for a business analyst role and not a data scientist role as the shift will be difficult. Here are some points to consider, that can help you choose the right role:
- Talk to an expert in the data science industry to know about the various roles available and what responsibilities it involves
- Seek a mentor in the industry who can help you answer your queries about the role to choose
- Know your strengths and weakness and choose the role that suits your interest.
Choose a Language and Learn it Completely
There are many tools and languages used in data science and most of them are popular in the industry. So it is important to pick the right one to start your data science career. There are many online discussion forums and resources that can aid in addressing this question. But having said that, choose a language or tool that is simple and based on your background and then move to complex topics. For instance, if you are a data science degree holder, you can start with programming based tools whereas someone with no coding can start with GUI based tools. But ultimately one should understand the concepts rather than concentrating on the tool and then get a grasp on coding.
Enroll for a Course
The next thing to consider, after choosing the role and the language is to spend time going through the courses offered. The course you opt for should be based on the role requirements. Finding free materials online is easy but, learning and mastering them is not. If you are not averse to spending some amount of money, enroll for a data science course in an accredited learning center as that can avoid many pitfalls. Once you enroll for the course push yourself to complete the assignments and coursework so that you have a little practical knowledge too.
Other Important Things to Consider
- Work on dummy projects so that you have practical knowledge apart from theory
- Research for useful latest information other than the course content you are studying so that you are updated in recent developments in this area.
- Join a community/peer group so that you can interact with experts and get questions resolved. There are many online forums dedicated to specific aspects of data science, join them, and utilize it effectively.
- Work on your interpersonal skills as that can be grounds of rejection in interviews even if you are technically good.
Follow the above tips and take the right steps towards starting a career in data science.
