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Skills For a Career in Data Science

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Axel Smith
Skills For a Career in Data Science

Many candidates are usually rejected at the beginning of the job interview process due to failing to meet job requirements. While most data science jobs require a bachelor's degree or more preferably a Master's degree in computer science, economics, statistics, applied mathematics, or related technical fields, one can easily and affordably make career pivots during the lockdown with online courses and certification programs.

Even though requirements vary from one company to another, Harnham shares some useful skills that all individuals seeking to apply for data science jobs should possess:

Programming skills: At the moment, Python is the most popular and widely used data science language. However, other programming languages such as C++, R, and Java/Hadoop are also commonly used. There are jobs that will require experience in at least one scripting language such as Perl or PHP. Advanced math skills (calculus, statistics, linear algebra). Statistical data analysis mostly involves knowledge and skill in multivariate analysis, linear models, sampling methods, applied optimization, stochastic models, and Marketplace, Bayesian, or forecasting models. Possessing a solid quantitative bent will help in filling knowledge gaps on the job.

Data skills. Data scientists are required to master data management, which involves collecting and cleaning datasets; data manipulation; and data visualization. SQL is important for managing relationships between large data sets, while Power BI, Tableau, and other tools help in the presentation of data to other stakeholders in a simple and easily digestible format.;

Machine learning skills. When handling big data, you can be required to utilize both supervised and unsupervised algorithms and reinforcement learning. Machine learning is a much more sophisticated field of data science, however, in case you are interested in specializing in this field, this Springboard article outlines some of the important skills and theoretical knowledge required to secure a machine learning job.

Business skills and soft skills. Considering that data scientists deal with core problems regarding how to enhance efficiency, user experience, and ultimately revenue, they need to possess an in-depth understanding of how the business operates, as well as critical thinking, teamwork, and communication skills.

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