Why you should choose Data Science as a Career
Of what use is big data without professionals who have the expertise or technical know-how to turn this cutting-edge technology into actionable insight?
What is Data Science ?
Data Science is the study of data using different tools, methods, approaches in order to draw, extract insight or give meaning to it. In simple terms, Data Science is the process of solving complex problems using data.
Amazon Web Services has identified four main ways Data Science is used to study data:
- Descriptive Analysis : This approach is used to draw insight from what is happening in the data environment. It entails visualization of data using bar charts, pie chars, graphs, maps.
- Diagnostic Analysis : Identifying the nature of the problem in the data by examining it in detail. Multiple data operations such as data mining, data discovery and correlations may be performed on a given data set in order to identify patterns
- Predictive Analysis : Uses history data to predict the behaviour of future data by using machine learning tools, predictive modelling, reverse engineering and so on.
- Prescriptive Analysis : Deals with both predicting the future of data and the implication while suggesting optimum response to the outcome. Techniques used in predictive analysis include: simulation, neural networks, complex event processing.
We are surrounded by data but starved by insight -Jaer Baer
What is a Career?
The Oxford Advance Learner’s Dictionary defines a career as an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person’s life and with opportunities for progress. Take note of the words in bold.
A career must have an opportunity for progress and that’s what Data Science promises. Institutions all around the world are currently making every effort to meet this increased demand for Data Scientists.
Data science employs a variety of instruments, scientific procedures, methods, and algorithms to glean insights from both structured and unstructured data. It is one of the fastest growing jobs on LinkedIn and it is predicted to create 11.5 million jobs by 2026.
Reasons why you should go for Data Science:
- Opportunity to advance: Data Science has a tonne of potential for future growth which means that it has come to stay and you know that in choosing a career, there has to be a potential for progress for that career path.
- High demand : Data Science Careers are in high demand and this trend will not be slowing down soon. There are positions available and many people don’t have the skills and expertise for the job.
- Increase in data : Data comes in different forms and sizes which can be texts, videos, audio and physical data (papers, print out document). This increase in data has created the need for its improvement in quality and management.
In 2020 the internet hit 64 zettabytes of data and IDC has predicted that the internet will hit more than 175 zettabytes of data by 2025. 1 zettabyte is 1 trillion gigabytes. Also, Eric Scmidt, former CEO of google noted that there were five exabytes of information created between the dawn of civilization through 2003 but that much information is now created every two days.
4. Wide application: Data Science skills can be applied in most industries. Talking about health, Education, Business, Oil and gas — Data science is actually the new oil just so you know. Many of these organizations rely on or are beginning to rely on Data Scientists to draw insight from past data in order to predict future occurrence.
5. Technicality: Data Scientists are more technical than Data Analyst. A Data Scientist has to have knowledge of Machine Learning while a Data Analyst may not necessarily need to.
6. Knowledge of Math and Statistics : If Math or Statistics intrigues you and you don’t know how to or where to apply it then Data Science is a good career path to take. If you are a Math/Statistics student or graduate, it is not too late to start thinking of how to apply your expertise in this field.
7. Data Science can make you a better person: It gives you a problem solving mindset and forces you to think, it forces you to learn how to write reports and research, communicate and tell stories with data and all these can help you become a more valuable person to the society. Amazing! isn’t it?
8. High paying Career: According to Glassdoor, a Data Scientist makes an average of $116,100 per year. The more work you put in, the the more money you will make from it.
The drawbacks of choosing a Data Science Career.
Everything that has an advantage has an end. We cannot talk about anything good without its struggles. Every lucrative career has draw backs and Data Science is not an exception.
Some of the draw backs include:
- The overwhelming nature of the field: So many things to learn, so many tools to get comfortable with, skills both soft and hard skills. From Math and Statistics to Machine Learning, Story Telling with Data , writing reports and so on. There is just so much involved in the field but don’t worry, its always one data set at a time.
- Time consuming : Trying to draw insight or tell stories with data can be so time consuming. It can take days, weeks and months before bringing out something meaningful from data. Data Science is not for impatient people.
- The risk of potential privacy: A Data Scientist analyses large amounts of data in different forms from different fields ranging from hospital reports, inventory, salaries of individuals. There will be a need to always adhere to privacy ethics and not share any information outside.
Conclusion:
The route is a challenging yet exciting one to take. No wonder Albert Einstein said that; “In the middle of the difficult lies an opportunity”. The Career however promises three(3) things: Its longevity, durability and security. If you want a secure Career, go for Data Science. Start learning it today and now. Read this on how to kickstart your Data Science journey and become an expert in making positive change that transforms our world in its entirety.
Thank you so much for reading my article.
