Do You Have What It Takes To Be a Data Scientist?

Ok, so we all know that there is this big demand for data scientists world over. Many of you are aspiring to become one, but are not quite sure if you have what it takes. As Anjul Bhambhri, vice president of big data products at IBM, says, “A data scientist is somebody who is inquisitive, who can stare at data and spot trends. It’s almost like a Renaissance individual who really wants to learn and bring change to an organization.”

Well we at Jigsaw have here a simple test for you. Answer the questions below and see if you have what it takes to be a data scientist.

1. Do you have a inherent aptitude for numbers?
2. Are you a curious, persistent person?
3. Are you apt at the art of visual storytelling?
4. Are you an effective communicator? Will you be able to creatively and persuasively communicate, the stories the data tells?
5. Are you business savvy( i.e a good leader, great organizer and planner)?
6. Are you a team player?

If you answered yes to the above questions then you definitely have the innate qualities of a data scientist. Well done. That’s half the battle!  Now let’s see if you have the academic background, technical skills and expertise that’s needed to make a career in data science.

1. Do you have a degree in a scientific discipline like Statistics, Mathematics or one of the Sciences and a strong technical background?
2. Have you had previous exposure to working with large amounts of data, preferably even some data mining algorithms?
3. Do you have experience in common predictive modeling techniques, their application and best practices?
4. Do you have expertise in diverse analytical tools? If not are you willing to invest in learning them?

If you answered yes to all of these it’s fantastic! Get going. Start applying for the coveted data science jobs.

If you answered no to a few of them, don’t despair. Perhaps you can invest in obtaining these skills and getting the relevant experience. The reality is, that there is a huge demand for analytics professionals and the industry is slated for exponential growth over the next decade. Gain the skills you need….the jobs are waiting.