How to Become a Data Scientist

How to become Data Scientist in India

Big data is a mixture of structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data collected by organisations across the world. Once collected, it is mined for information which is then used for a myriad of projects such as machine learning, predictive modelling and other analytics software.

A data scientist uses this data to understand the world around them and create predictions and patterns that help organisations make better decisions. Data scientists are a part of every industry and organisation across the globe in one form or another. For example, a business wants to develop marketing plans for the future but are unsure where the trends are leaning. Who steps in? Data scientists look at consumer patterns and data from market analysis and provide the business data which supports a plan moving forward. 

Data scientists come into play every step of the way and are crucial to the growth of any business or organisation; no matter how small or large.

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What Does a Data Scientist Do?

A Data Scientist has an interesting scope of responsibilities. Let’s have a look at some of them:

1. Examine provided data and mine the appropriate information that can help organisations.
2. They also work backwards and look at the questions posed by organisations and find the data required to answer them.
3. They use their skills - which are a combination of business sense and analytical abilities to mine, sort, and present data.
4. Businesses use data scientists to source, manage, and analyse unstructured data which can provide the inputs they need to solve problems.
5. Data scientists also need to have knowledge of software such as SAS and Python to analyse data.

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How to become a Data Scientist Step by Step

In order to become a data scientist, two broad areas of skills are required:

technical and non-technical skills. 

Some of the technical skills needed include:

1. A thorough understanding of statistics and computing.
2. The ability to process large data sets with ease.
3. Data wrangling and programming
4. Data visualisation - A key skill required to be a data scientist is the ability to paint a picture with large sets of data. This ability to visualise the data plays an important role in helping the employer or client also see the bigger picture and foster an understanding of how data can help.

Data scientists require non-technical skills as well, which are outlined below:

1. A strong business sense to understand how mined and sorted data can help further an employer’s business.
2. Good communication skills to be able to explain the bigger picture and the understanding of the data to employers.
3. A sense of intuition regarding data - a good data scientist knows when valuable information lies below the surface. It is up to them to use their intuitive senses and gauge how valuable a data set is and understand the amount of work that needs to go into understanding it.

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What Are the Benefits of Being a Data Scientist?

There are many benefits to working in a field such as data science -

1. It’s high in demand. As mentioned above, data science is a field that is growing in leaps and bounds. As a result, an increasing number of skilled professionals are needed on a daily basis.
2. A large number of positions available. Data scientists hold an important role, which is also very specific in nature. These roles, coupled with a high demand for employees, make for a niche position which has many openings.
3. It is a well-paying role due to its high demand and a limited supply of available professionals.
4. Companies depend on their data scientists heavily and as a result, are highly respected by their employers.
5. The field of data science is ever-evolving. There is much to learn every day and the job will never get boring or monotonous.

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How Do You Get Into Big Data?

Getting into data science academically is something an interested candidate can pursue after an undergraduate or even postgraduate degree. Candidates looking to get into the field must have a degree in a relevant discipline, such as:

1. Computer Science
2. Economics
3. Information Management
4. Mathematics
5. Statistics

Following this, interested candidates can go in one of two directions - to get a Masters in a Data Science-related field or to learn on their own and train on the job. 

Going the Academic Route 

If they choose to go the academic route, then there are several degrees available for them to explore:

1. IIT Hyderabad - M.Tech in Data Science
2. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - M.Tech in Computational and Data Science
3. Manipal ProLearn - M.Tech in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
4. Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida - M.Tech in Data Analytics
5. Symbiosis Centre for Information Technology, Pune - MBA in Data Science and Data Analytics

There are also Diplomas in Data Science available for those who do not want to take on a long-term course, such as:

1. Goa Institute of Management - Postgraduate Diploma in Management in Big Data Analytics
2. Praxis Business School, Samali - Postgraduate Programme in Data Science
3. Course offered jointly by IIM Calcutta, ISI Kolkata, IIT Kharagpur - Postgraduate Diploma in Business Analytics

Learning from Experience 

Self-study and learning from experience is another route interested individuals can take to enter the field of data science. Here are some steps that can be followed for those interested in a career in data science.

1. In-depth self study in relevant fields such as Natural Language Processing, Computer Vision, and Information Extraction. Read and research material and make it a point to stay up to date on the newest trends.
2. Brush up on short term online courses that teach Statistics and Algebra.
3. There are also short-term courses in data sciences available for those who are keen to learn more.
4. Join an internship with any data science firm and gain hands-on experience and learn on the job.

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Future After a Data Science Degree

In India, most interested individuals begin to work in a data science firm after completing a degree in the same. However, for those interested in working abroad in countries like the US and Canada, it would be beneficial to gain Data Science Certifications such as a Big Data Certification or a Business Intelligence Professional Certification.

Another way to climb the corporate ladder in India is to get an MBA in Data Analytics. Though you do not need a degree to become a data scientist, it is beneficial for those hoping to climb the corporate ladder. 

MBA in Data Analytics

Let’s cover some of the questions you may have about an MBA in Data Analytics-

1. Which are the top colleges offering an MBA in Data Analytics?

Some of the top colleges offering an MBA in Data Analytics include-

• Hindustan Institute of Technology and Sciences
• ILM University
• Amity University

2. What are the MBA subjects in an MBA in Data Analytics?

MBA subjects taught in data analytics include-

• Financial Analysis and Reporting
• Organisational Behaviour
• Accounting for Managers
• Research Methodology

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What Are the Fees for Data Science Courses?

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Loans for Data Science Courses

Indian banks offer a variety of interest rates to students looking for educational loans. Some of the rates are given below:

There are also organisations such as Propelld that offer private student loans that are 100% digitalised.

FAQs About Data Science

What industries can data scientists work in?

Data Science jobs are needed in every business and industry in one form or another. They can work in top industries such as telecommunications, retail, energy, and public health.

‍How much does a data scientist earn in India?

The average salary for a data scientist in India is ₹11 lakh per annum (according to AmbitionBox). However, experienced data scientists can earn as much as ₹25 lakh per annum.

‍Are data science jobs in demand?

There is an overwhelming need for data scientist jobs in the market today. Every field requires them and there is a high demand for skilled data scientists.