How to Become a Data Scientist – Best 2024 Guide

Written By The IoT Academy
Published on December 31st, 2022
Updated on March 4, 2024

Data science is a discipline of study that combines subject-matter knowledge and programming abilities. Expertise in maths and statistics are also desired skills to become an expert. They help to draw important insights from collected data. Data scientists apply machine learning algorithms to various data. They include numbers, text, photos, video, and audio. Further, they create artificial intelligence (AI) systems to do activities that often require human intelligence. These technologies give insights that a data scientist transforms into a business value. The field is constantly evolving, so staying updated on the latest technologies and methodologies is crucial. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you become a data scientist by 2024.

In the areas of e-commerce, healthcare, banking, and every other area of human existence, online systems and payment portals collect data. There are enormous amounts of text, audio, video, and image data. Here the role of Data Science is crucial.

Table of Contents

What is a Data Scientist?

Data scientists are known to gather and analyze large sets of structured and unstructured data. A data scientist may have expertise in statistics, computer science, and mathematics. Data Scientist Skills include the ability to analyze, process, and model data. They can interpret the results to create actionable plans for businesses. These analytical experts can work in both technology and social science. Data scientists help to find trends and manage data. They have vast industry knowledge and related understanding to find solutions to business challenges.

The data is collected from various sources like emails, smart devices, and social media feeds. Such large data don’t fit into a database systematically. The focus of a data scientist is making sense of this jumbled, unstructured data. Read on to find out the requirements to become a data scientist in 2023.

Our Learners Also Read: What is the Scope of Data Science in India in 2023?

How To Become A Data Scientist in 2023?

A Data scientist aspirant must have excellent analytical and mathematical skills. One should be able to understand and use complex data sets. If you can use statistical software programs and know programming languages like Python or R then it is good. Here are some steps to become a data scientist after the 12th:

1. Get a bachelor’s degree

Obtain a bachelor’s degree in an area related to data science, statistics, or computer science. It is an excellent way to get started in the profession. A degree from a reputed institute is one of the main factors that employers consider when employing data scientists.

2. Learn Programming Languages

A Bachelor’s degree may give you a theoretical understanding of the topic. However, it is crucial to learn languages like Python, R, SQL, and SAS. These languages are useful when working with large datasets.

3. Acquire Relevant Skills

A Data Scientist should know a few technologies for Data Visualization, Machine Learning, and Big Data. Knowing how to manage enormous datasets by cleaning, sorting, and analyzing is essential.

4. Get Certifications

Certifications specific to a tool or technique are an excellent way to demonstrate your knowledge of those skills. Enrol in any relevant course to make your career as a Data Scientist.

5. Look For Internships

The best approach to gain access to businesses seeking data scientists is through internships. Look for positions that mention terms like “data analyst,” “business intelligence analyst,” “statistician,” or “data engineer.” Internships are also a fantastic method to discover firsthand what a profession will involve.

6. Get Ready For Interviews In Data Science

Prepare for interview questions once you have completed the course. There are technical and behavioral questions for the data scientist job. Be ready for both and practice answering them. You can make yourself assured and competent to interviewers by preparing examples from your previous employment or academic experiences.

7. Take A Job In Entry-Level Data Analytics

Although there are various ways to become a data scientist, getting a job at an entry-level in a similar field might be a great starting point. Look for careers as a data analyst, business intelligence analyst, statistician, or data engineer. From there, as your knowledge and abilities grow, you can progress to becoming a scientist.

Data Scientist Education

To become a data scientist, a strong educational foundation is crucial. Here’s a breakdown of the typical educational path for aspiring data scientists:

Job Roles and Responsibility of Data Scientists

There are many benefits of Data Science in any company or business. Hence, a Data Scientist has to perform several duties. Some of them are listed below:

Collecting a lot of data and organizing it in a way that makes sense.
Utilizing data-driven methods to solve problems in the corporate world.
Using several programming languages, including SAS, R, and Python.
Understanding statistics well, including statistical tests and distributions.
Keeping up with analytical methods like text analytics, machine learning, and deep learning.
Interacting and working together with the business and IT.
Examining data for structure and patterns, as well as identifying trends that can improve a company’s bottom line.

Skills Required to Become a Data Scientist

Data Scientists work with computers daily. They might save time and effort if they knew how to troubleshoot issues on their own. Hence following technical skills are valuable to them:

Programming Languages: A data scientist should be proficient in Python. They must know one or two other languages, such as R or SQL.
Visualization of Data: Another talent for data scientists is the ability to use data visualization tools. Some of them are Tableau, Microsoft Excel, and Google Charts. They help to display data understandably.
Data Mining: Data mining is the process of acquiring relevant and reliable information from various firm divisions or sectors and outside sources.
Analysis of Data: Data Analysis is the process of searching through and examining structured data. It helps to look for trends and interesting areas that can provide useful information for commercial prospects.
Machine Learning And Deep Learning: You must know the basic theories of machine learning. It will help you pursue a career as a Data Scientist. On the other hand, Deep learning focuses on replicating human ways of learning. With the help of artificial neural networks, you can replicate human behavior.
Natural Language Processing: Natural language processing (NLP) is a branch of machine learning. It is used in virtual assistants like Amazon’s Alexa.
Algorithms: They are sets of instructions to solve a problem. They can also perform computations. You should know how to train them to make automated decisions using AI.

Data scientists need to convey their findings to staff members outside of other data science teams. They have to explain their findings to those who are not technical experts. Soft abilities in communication and presentation are important for this.

Conclusion

Data scientists are high in demand in various domains. There are many career opportunities after completing a Data Science Course. Additionally, one must have basic skills to start a career as a Data Scientist. From learning languages to analytical skills, you must prepare yourself in various aspects. Once you become a Data Scientist, you have to perform various duties like handling huge data and coordinating with the team. However, you will get decent pay for this work.

Establish Your Career As A Data Scientist In the Future!

You can master the field of data science by learning it from experts. If you want to understand and work with the core technology frameworks of Data Science, then enroll in a course offered by E & ICT Academy IIT Guwahati. You will learn the developmental and programming frameworks to process massive amounts of data under expert guidance.

About The Author:

The IoT Academy

The IoT Academy as a reputed ed-tech training institute is imparting online / Offline training in emerging technologies such as Data Science, Machine Learning, IoT, Deep Learning, and more. We believe in making revolutionary attempt in changing the course of making online education accessible and dynamic.