Your One-stop Guide to Become a Data Scientist

"Things get done only if the data we gather can inform and inspire those in a position to make a difference." - Dr Mike Schmoker

Every day we generate close to 328.77 million terabytes of data (source: explodingtopics.com). And businesses are leveraging this data to understand their customers better. Industries are investing heavily in this sector to empower and facilitate their decision-making process. Not surprisingly, this data frenzy has pushed the demand for skilled data scientist professionals across industries.
The data scientist job market is growing exponentially at a tremendous rate. Currently, the data science job market is projected to grow by 36% between 2021 to 2030 (source: Indiatimes.com). And, industries are willing to pay up to INR 25 lakhs - 45 lakhs per annum to the top talents.
Thus, the data scientist career path is highly rewarding. If you are interested in learning how to become a data scientist, this blog can help you be one.

Who is a data scientist?

A data scientist is a person responsible for collecting, analysing, and interpreting data that helps an organisation to take business-related decisions. Once collected, the professional analyses the information embedded in unstructured datasets to provide actionable insights.

What does a data scientist do?

Data scientists use advanced analytics techniques like predictive modelling, machine learning, as well as scientific principles for determining patterns and trends from vast datasets. These data experts often collaborate with other professionals, including data analysts, engineers, application developers, and business stakeholders.
Major industries like healthcare, media and entertainment, and finance are hiring skilled data scientists for multiple purposes. They employ these professionals to predict customer behaviour, identify revenue opportunities, or detect fraudulent transactions.

Why choose Data Science as a career?

There are multiple reasons why pursuing a career in data science would be highly beneficial for you.

• Rising demand for data scientists

  With industries increasingly banking on data-driven business decisions, the demand for data scientists is increasing exponentially. From $70 billion in 2022, the big data market is expected to reach around $103 billion in 2027 (Source: Statista).

• Growing number of jobs and High Salary

  Data science as a domain is a flourishing industry with a huge scope of employment. The big data market is expected to flourish significantly in the coming years. As the investments start flowing in this sector, there will be around 11.5 million new data science-related jobs by the end of 2026 (source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics). Plus, companies are willing to pay close to INR 25 lakhs to the top talents (source: glassdoor).

Qualification and skills required to be a data scientist

While some experts agree that a college degree in mathematics, statistics, or computer sciences is compulsory for a career in data science- other industry experts come with a different opinion. A background in mathematics or statistics does help but you can also join the field from other academic backgrounds. Plus, experience in big data is an added bonus. For aspiring data scientists, it would be handy to hold some degree of experience in statistical modelling and machine learning as well.
Since data scientists work in multiple disciplines, they need various hard and soft skills to make it in the industry. Here are a few hard and soft skills that are a must-have for a data scientist:

1. Hard Skills

   • Statistics and prediction,
   • Python,
   • SQL,
   • Natural language processing,
   • Machine learning and libraries,
   • Deep learning,
   • Big data,
   • Data visualisation.



2. Soft Skills

   • Critical thinking
   • Logic and reasoning skills
   • Communication
   • Problem-solving
   • Business acumen
   • Teamwork

Dataspace Academy’s data scientist certification course offers a comprehensive job-ready training program for aspiring data scientists. This course introduces a learner to all major concepts of data science like statistical analysis and computing, data visualisation, and machine learning. Apart from that, the course covers Python programming - an essential tool for data scientists. During the course, students get ample opportunity for hands-on training on different tools.

How to become a data scientist?

Becoming a data scientist generally requires some formal training. Here is a brief on the steps to become a data scientist.

• Brush up on Data Science fundamentals

  When starting with data science, it is always better to start with the fundamentals, before progressing to niches and specialities. Some of the key areas to focus on are mathematics, statistics and prediction, probability, etc. Also, take time to learn statistical analysis, machine learning, and deep learning.
  You must hone your know-how in programming languages as well. You can start with Python, as it is widely used in the data science field. Take time to familiarise yourself with libraries such as NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib. These are essential for data manipulation and visualisation.



• Get Certified

  Certifications give leverage to your career and help you get noticed by recruiters. Sign up for a reputed certified data scientist course in kolkata (or any preferred location) from a leading institute. Look for an academy that offers training with an immersive, hands-on experience.



• Get familiar with the tools

  Data scientists use different sets of tools for processing and understanding data. The best data scientist course in India covers all the major tools used in this domain, such as Apache Spark, Tableau, MATLAB, BigML. Learning these tools are mandatory to become a proficient data scientist and build a rewarding career in this domain.

• Learn About Data Collection and Wrangling

  Data collection and wrangling are two important things in the life of a data scientist. While data collection focuses on gathering relevant data for further analysis from multiple sources, data wrangling prepares and modifies the collected information for ease of analysis.



• Hone technical skills

  Along with learning the tools, it is essential to learn skills like data mining, data analysis, deep learning, and Natural Language Processing. These skills are highly important for your day-to-day operations as a data scientist.



• Work in real-world scenario

  Create projects that demonstrate your skills and knowledge. Work on real-world datasets, apply various techniques and showcase your ability to derive insights and solve problems.
  Once empowered with the right skills and tools, it's time to head towards job hunting. Ideally, start with building your resume and sending it to potential recruiters. Also, work on internships and networking programs to strengthen your CV further. You can start with entry-level roles for the first two years before moving on to higher roles.

Conclusion

With data dominating actionable business decisions, building a career in the data science domain brings promising opportunities. Companies are on a hiring spree and offering competitive salaries to the best talents available in the market. In fact, entry-level data scientists can earn around INR 12 lakhs annually.
So, if you're ready to embark on an exciting journey, Dataspace Academy is there to help you. We offer beginner-friendly data science courses that could help you grab the best jobs available in the market. Along with theoretical knowledge, learners receive hands-on training on different tools as well.
Join us now!

Q1: What are the prerequisites for taking the data science courses?

Ans: Prerequisites for data courses are mathematics, statistics, and object-oriented programming languages like Java, C, or Python. Also, fundamental knowledge of structured query language (SQL) for database queries is essential.

Q2: What are the skills required for a data scientist?

Ans: Python, SQL, Natural language processing, machine learning and associated libraries.

Q3: What are the job opportunities for a Data scientist?

Ans: Multiple big and small companies are hiring data scientists for entry and senior-level data-related roles. A few of them include Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India, Paypal, IBM, Meta, and Netflix.

Q4: What is the average salary of data scientist in India?

Ans: The average salary of data science professionals is around ₹12.0 LPA in India. Top data scientists can earn close to ₹45 LPA.