Navigators Needed: What You Need to Know Entering The Data Science Field

With the advent of fresh, new kinds of technology that make it possible to do all manner of business online, customers are choosing convenience over tradition and switching to doing just about everything digitally. While this was already taking place pre-2020, the coronavirus pandemic accelerated this shift dramatically as it was no longer safe to interact with most people in person. The world has changed significantly, and for most, there will be no going back. 

This can be a dangerous thing for less tech-savvy companies, as the internet represents a landscape that they aren’t quite sure how to traverse. Companies need someone at the helm of their digital marketing strategies who can read the stars, as it were, telling them if their marketing attempts are landing with consumers and keeping them abreast of the latest trends so they can make informed decisions about possible next steps. These officials are generally known as data scientists, and with the aforementioned changes to how we do business in 2021, companies need them now more than ever. As a result, there’s a vast, lucrative job market for people looking to jump into this high-demand profession.

Are you interested in learning more? Here are some things you’ll need to know about becoming a data scientist.

Data Science: Definitions and Duties

While responsibilities and methodologies vary from position to position, data scientists are generally responsible for recognizing patterns in data, translating them into practicable models, and using those models to answer questions regarding the best possible outcome. While data scientists are often confused with data analysts, data analysts look at data in a more narrow sense, looking for the answers to particular questions and not playing too much with the data. Data scientists tend to look at the big picture, with their main aim being to predict future events through testable models and not answer any particular question. 

Data scientists are not only responsible for taking an, at-times overwhelming, amount of data from multiple sources, recognizing the patterns inherent within those sample sets, and translating them into models, but they are responsible for communicating their findings clearly and simply. If you’re someone who tends to see patterns, someone who is detail-oriented and thorough, and able to share what you find, data science might be the career for you. 

A Broad Swath of Potential Applications

The good thing about picking up a data science certification, should you choose to pursue a career in the field, is that companies from a wide variety of industries are looking to add data scientists to their roster. Retail corporations, for example, are aggressively seeking data science specialists, as they now have to compete with online retailers that are more tech-savvy and need people who can read customer data to stay competitive.

For these companies, the internet is a reservoir of untapped information about customer preferences and habits. Now more than ever, customers make that information widely available through social media. The key for businesses across a wide swath of industries is finding a qualified person to sift through that information and dredge up the actionable bits, the valuable insights that will direct their marketing strategy moving forward and guarantee the most success. Because data science is a field that has implications for every corporation in the modern-day, you may find that when you get your certification, there’s a position open in whichever industry you want to work in.

Data Science Bootcamps – A Fast Way to Get Your Certification

The idea of starting anew can be daunting for most, especially if you think you’ll have to go back to a four-year university to get the qualifications you need. Fortunately, data science bootcamps present a flexible, fast way to get the education you need to get your certification and hop into a job, usually within the span of a couple of months. The entire program typically costs about as much as a single semester at a four-year university—depending on the courses you choose—and most bootcamps have options ranging from covering just the basics to more extensive lessons covering particular skills. 

The wide range of options keeps them competitively priced, and there’s likely an option to fit any lifestyle, whether you’re still working your full-time job and looking to take night classes or looking to go all-in as a full-time student.

Oceans of Opportunity

With the pandemic and the labor shortage impacting businesses across multiple industries, there has never been a better time to consider switching occupations. While an occupation in data science might not be of interest to some, for others, it can open up whole new worlds of opportunity to explore and lead to a lucrative career with a firm foundation in the future.