BIG DATA - BIG DEMAND-How does one become a data scientist?

BIG DATA - BIG DEMAND

 

How does one become a data scientist?

Today there are a plenty of institutions that offer a variety of courses in Data Analytics, from foundation level to more advanced courses, certifications and degrees in data analytics,top universities like SRM university, ISB, GITAMS, VELTECH, DY PATIL ,Amity etc. .

There are also several free resources available online that can aid your learning. But to begin with, if you are wondering how you can set the path for a career in

analytics, here is what you can do to get started:

1) Develop an Integrated Analytical Skill Set.

It is essential for a Data Scientist to have expertise in diverse analytical tools. The language of SAS is one of the more popular analytics tools you can learn. However R and Hadoop are gaining momentum and today companies are using a combination of tools and technologies for data analysis. Hence it would be wise to develop expertise in a few of the popular ones. In addition a data scientist would also need a comprehensive and through knowledge of

NPL software, languages like QL, Perl and Python.

2) Pick up Some Visualization Skills:

One of the core functions of a data analyst is to visually anatomize exploratory data, and then communicate their findings and insights using interesting and innovative visualization tools. As a data scientist your main objective is to bring insights to the management, so as to enable them to make better business decisions. What use are excellent data mining and modeling tools, if the results of an analysis are poorly visualized? It is thus imperative

that data scientists are apt at the art of visual storytelling and are able to creatively and persuasively communicate, the stories their data tell.

3) Get exposure to Large Data Sets

As a data scientist you will need to work on sometimes extremely large data sets. Hence it’s beneficial to get some exposure to working with large amounts of data, preferably even some data mining algorithms

4) Sharpen your Business Skills

In the world of data analytics, business skills like negotiation, persuasion, creativity and leadership are important to have. As a data scientist you need to be able to feel the pulse of the business, understand business terminologies, have good organization skills and be able to drive and influence change. Also amidst all the sorting, mining and visualizing data, skills like planning and organizing go a long way.

5) Keep Abreast of Innovations and News in the Analytics Industry

Lastly, it is imperative that you develop a keen understanding of the data analytics industry and keep abreast of the latest advancements. Take the time to engage and connect with the data analytics community. Subscribe to journals, download free ebooks and follow interesting blogs by analytics experts. Take advantage of the wealth of free but quality information out there, so that when you are ready to apply for those data analyst jobs, you are well prepared and truly an analytics expert in your own right.

Author: NAGARJUNA MAHANTI

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