However, not all career changes are bad, and with our specialist mentors, you’ll find that even the most challenging jobs can be made easy, with the right mindset.
Of course, one of those career changes that can seem challenging is a career in data science. Even the word can bring chills down your spine, but don’t worry; we’ll tell you everything you need to know about this career choice and what it takes to be successful. Not only that, but you may also find some of our mentors are experts in this field. So, you can always ask them for advice.
Now, you may not have heard of it before, but by the time you’re done reading this article, you’ll no longer have to ask yourself “Is data science a good career option?”, because you’ll find that, with the demands out there, it is.
What Is Data Science?
Data science is a very new field of work that was born from the likes of statistical analysis and data mining. According to The Data Science Journal (2002), it is the “evidence-based study of the socio-technical developments and transformations that affect the science of policy; the conduct and methods of research; and the data systems, standards, and infrastructure that are integral to research”. Basically, what this means is that data science looks at the massive amounts of data a company has, to understand what their best steps forward will be.
It’s the fact that companies have so many databases, data banks and stored statistics, that they don’t know what to do with it, unless someone shows them. With everything now becoming digital and computerized, it makes sense that companies don’t know how to handle the massive amounts of data they have, so they employ someone to do it for them.
Is Data Science A Good Career Choice?
In all honesty, yes, it is. The reason why is because there are thousands of uses for data science. It’s not just needed in the technology sector, it can be used in nearly every industry, such as social media, ecommerce, retail, healthcare, and so much more.
If you think about it, data science covers responsibilities like handling social media analytics, keeping track of customer databases and so on.Top companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Facebook all need data scientists, because of their massive amounts of data.
Let’s Take A Look At Facebook (Or Meta)
As of the 28th April 2022 (Statista), Facebook (Meta) roughly has under 3 billion users online. That’s a lot of data to sift through, especially if you’re looking for a way to market the company to more people.
Fig. 1 – Number of monthly active Facebook users worldwide - Statista, 2022
So, Meta will need data scientists, to help them analyze and market the social media platform to the right people. They’ll need to look at information, like daily trending topics for certain regions of the world, or maybe the number of transactions that are placed using the social media platform, or even the number of click-throughs from other websites and social media platforms.
It’s with all this data that the heads of departments at Meta plan, suggest, and create new pathways and functions, to make the flow of activity even more streamline. So, as a data scientist, it would be your job to manage the massive amount of raw data, to find the statistics and patterns these decision makers will need.
How Is Data Science A Good Career Option?
The reason why so many people are now flocking to the data science sector is that the job itself is versatile. You can literally join any industry or business and thrive because you’re a necessity. What that means is that a data scientist can be as highly educated as a PhD doctor, or they can be new to the field, and still be good at what they do.
After all, the job of a data scientist is to take that massive amount of information and manage it, so that it’s easier to manipulate and predict. Of course, there will be other jobs that require technical skills, but that also depends on the industry you’re in. So, if you’re an economic analyst working in the business sector, you may not need these technical skills, but if you’re a programmer, who works in the technology sector, you will.
With the globalization of the world, and its increased dependency on technology, more data is being collected and used by companies in every country. Not only that, but data is used by nearly every person on the planet. Think about it this way; a smart watch helps you to track your health habits and the state of your health condition. This type of data is already being manipulated, not just by you, but the watch itself, because it’s storing the data you’re giving it, like your heart rate, your oxygen levels, and even your step counts. By focusing on one aspect of the data it’s storing you’re essentially data mining and using statistical analysis, on a very basic level.
So, even if you’re not a data scientist by job title, you’re still performing the task of a data scientist, just at a very personal and individual level. Therefore, you already have the foundation to be a data scientist. The only thing you need now is the motivation and ambition to become one professionally.
Of course, that means you’ll need to train to be one, whether through entering into formal education again, or by using a mentor, like those we have, here at MentorCruise, who’ll guide you through the process.
Is Data Science A Good Career For The Future?
In terms of salary, it depends on which sector, job type, and the job experience you have that determine the salary you earn. So, if you’re a data scientist working for Apple, for example, you may earn roughly $79 000 (Glassdoor, 2022), for someone in Facebook, you could earn roughly $115 000 (Glassdoor,2022). That’s why data science is a good career option for the future.
Not only that, thanks to the increased dependence on digital technologies and the Internet, nearly every major company in the world is becoming more reliant on data scientists, to help them promote, develop, and grow. Even now, the global market for data science is predicted to be $103 billion by 2027 (Statista,2022). That means there will be more demands for data scientists.
Fig 2. Big data market size revenue forecast worldwide from 2011 to 2027
So, with this positive trend, who wouldn’t want to work in data science? It’s one of the most needed jobs in every industry, all over the world. In fact, in the US and UK, a job in data science was listed as one of the top 10 in LinkedIn’s Emerging Job Reports in 2020, featuring as No.3 in the US and No.7 in the UK.
What Type Of Data Science Jobs Are There?
As mentioned before, data science covers a wide range of job roles, from statistical analysis to computer programming, but there are more specific roles, which we provide below. For all these roles, MentorCruise offers high-class mentors from FAANG and other top-tier companies to help you get into data science.
Data scientist/analyst
This job is perfect for statistical analysts. As a data scientist, you’ll look at raw data to find patterns in them. This can be a huge undertaking, especially with massive amounts of data. So, you’ll need a keen eye to be able to spot these patterns. Not only that, but you’ll also need good prediction skills and decision-making skills, as these jobs tend to help businesses to create strategic campaigns, to drive more customers, to buying their services and products.
Machine Learning/Data Engineer
These job roles help to create a streamline data system, so that a machine, or factory of machines, can operate smoothly. If a piece of data deviates from a system’s set functions, it’s the job of the machine learning engineer to find and fix the problem. These types of jobs require technical skills, like programming, software solutions and data science.
Data Engineer
The role of a data engineer is to maintain the systems that process and gather stored data, so that it’ll make sense for other data analysts. These roles also involve some level of programming, but they mostly involve being able to organize data, so that it’s readable for others.
Data Architect
A data architect is someone who creates and implements the systems that others need, to analyze the vast amounts of raw data a company may have. So, they create the systems that make sense for other analysts to use.
Not only that, but they will use their programming skills to integrate and protect the data that a company has, so that any unwanted visitors (aka. viruses, or hackers) can’t access them.
These jobs require highly skilled professionals, who can detect these anomalies and even destroy them.
What Industries Are Hiring Data Scientists?
Nearly every industry in the working world is looking for data scientists, and according to an article on LinkedIn, in 2021, the top 3 industries who’re hiring data scientists are:
The Healthcare Industry
The healthcare industry is one of the biggest industries in the world. After all, doctors, nurses, surgeons, and hospital personnel are the first to interact with our data, from the moment we’re born.
They’re the ones that handle all our personal information, such as our blood type, our health conditions, and other private and security information. In fact, with all this data, someone needs to keep them organized, otherwise, surgeons wouldn’t know which surgery to perform on patience, or which medication a nurse should administer, or even what diagnosis a doctor should make.
Data scientists are vital for the healthcare industry because they can help with determining the likely cause and spread of a disease, like COVID-19, or which patient has cancer.
Hospitality
One of the most used industries in the world is the hospitality industry. From the likes of restaurants, cafes, and clubs to hotels, cruises, and airports, data is a highly important factor in guest experiences.
For example, a hotel will need the personal information of a guest, so they know who to bill a room to, or if they’re hosting events for tourists, or business clients, they’ll need to know who’ll be attending, so that they receive the best care in their sector.
Not only that, but with the ever-increasing shift towards AI experiences and virtual assistants, it’s important for companies in the hospitality industry to know about their clients through their data.
Transportation
Machine learning is one of the most important aspects of transportation, and one of the sectors in which a data scientist can be very useful. While data science mainly deals with the programming of a transportation system, there are other aspects to transport that makes data science a major part of the industry.
For example, in aviation, pilots, ground control crew, and airports should know when it’s safe to send a plane flying. After all, natural things like the weather and environmental disasters can affect an airplane’s flying schedule. Or a major snowstorm can block off northern countries like Switzerland, Norway, or Finland.
An earthquake or a volcanic eruption can halt flights to places like Japan or Korea. Even on the ground, train schedules can be disrupted. That’s why data scientists are needed in the transportation industry, so they can keep an eye on any changes in weather or environmental patterns.
So, Is Data Science A Good Career?
In a nutshell, yes, it is. If you’re looking to change careers, then perhaps try a career in data science. Not only is it a highly sought-after job role, but with the world becoming more digital, and with more raw data being added to the masses of databases online, more data scientists will be needed in the workforce. Not to mention the pay is worth the job!
And if you’re still unsure, then speak to one of our experts. They’ll be more than happy to help you in your journey in data science and its career potential.
We have mentors who can teach you a range of different aspects of data science, from statistical analysis and data mining to those who can teach you how to program, code, and create systems for companies and consultants. We at MentorCruise are there to help you, should you choose to start a new career, or change your current career path.