Data Scientist Answers the Most Popular Data Science Questions
All-around guidance for prospective data scientists
I have been a data scientist for over three years now, so I want to write a post answering the most popular data science questions I have gotten in the comment section of my YouTube channel and Medium articles.
The questions are structured by technical, career advice, and then miscellaneous. Hope you find what you are looking for!
Technical
To what extent should I know SQL?
SQL is a fundamental language for a data scientist, so you should know it well. The good part of SQL is that it’s a lot easier to learn than Python because it’s a very small language.
I have an article explaining the exact SQL knowledge you need to be a good entry and mid-level data scientist that I recommend you checkout.
SQL Knowledge You Need For Data Science
Can you be a data scientist if you’re not the greatest at math?
Yes, you can, but you will struggle to reach the profession’s upper echelons. It also depends on what you mean by “not the greatest.” You certainly don’t need a PhD or even a Master’s level understanding, but if you don’t know essential calculus well, then you will struggle.
Best laptop for data science?
In my opinion, any Mac is great, and if you can get an M-series chip, that’s even better. Macs are UNIX-based, which means their terminal and command line are more in line with Linux, which most compute servers run on nowadays.
Having said that, I am a bit biased because I love Apple products and have never been a fan of Windows laptops.
The main thing is that your laptop choice should not keep you from wanting to pursue data science.
Python or R?
Python, and Python every time. I will be polarising here and say that don’t waste time learning R, especially if you are a beginner.
R has become less and less popular over the years, while Python’s popularity is rising. Not to mention, Python is helpful in other tech professions, so if you ever want to pivot, it will be easier for you in the long run.
I rarely see roles advertising a requirement for R, whereas they always say they want Python. So, learn Python and don’t think twice about it.
Best data science books?
I have a whole separate article detailing the exact books I recommend.
Best Data Science Books & Courses To Get A Job
Career Advice
Do I need to have a background as a data analyst before becoming a data scientist?
You do not need to be a data analyst before becoming a data scientist; you can go straight into it. I did this, and I know many others as well.
However, if you are struggling to find data scientist positions, data analyst positions tend to be slightly easier to get and have fewer requirements upfront.
As a data analyst, you will learn many transferrable skills and the required skills to be a data scientist while getting paid. Becoming a data analyst is not a bad idea and is one potential route to take.
Did you ever get burned out for a certain period of time during your learning phase?
I don’t think I have ever experienced burnout properly, but there sure have been times when I felt exhausted or couldn’t be bothered anymore.
However, I feel it’s hard to get burned out when you enjoy what you are doing. A lot of my work energises me. If you are feeling the opposite, maybe reconsider if data science is what you really want to do.
What are some of the best specializations for data scientists?
It depends on what you mean by specialisations. In terms of degree, any STEM subject is good; ideally, physics, maths, or computer science would be the best options.
When you are in the field, there is no “best,” so pick something that interests you and you like the look of. I specialise in time series forecasting and optimisation; however, others I know specialise in recommendation systems and computer vision.
I like to think we are all satisfied with our specialities, so it’s really a matter of personal preference.
Is it possible to get into app development with data science?
Not really. An app developer is another tech profession, so I wouldn’t become a data scientist if I wanted to build apps. There are definitely transferrable skills, but that’s about it.
Is it possible to work as a data scientist remotely?
Most companies offer hybrid working, particularly in tech, and many will offer fully remote work. This was common before the pandemic but is even more popular now.
Do you have any suggestions on where I can look for data science internship opportunities?
The classic websites are always good, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed etc.
You can also email prospective companies and simply ask for an 8-week unpaid internship. This is often easier to get than a full-time position because it’s temporary and also unpaid! I have heard many success stories using this approach.
How to stand out in data science?
This is a whole topic in itself, to be honest.
I take the Atomic Habits approach and make a slight 1% improvement in all areas. This includes things like:
- Having a nice looking GitHub profile
- Done a Kaggle competition or have a profile
- Writing a blog post
- Having an active LinkedIn profile with a couple of posts
- An excellent and aesthetic CV
All these little things add up and make a big difference, more than you can realise.
Miscellaneous
Is the job market narrowing, or will it further expand in the future?
The market has been pretty bad recently but has picked up more in the last couple of months.
However, regardless of the time or year, people will always say the market is bad. When I left university in 2021, people said the market was terrible.
It’s never a good time, but it’s also always the best time in a way, if that makes sense?
Is data science hard?
Data science is definitely among the most demanding professions. This is mainly because it involves math, coding, and statistics, which society and many people consider difficult topics.
However, if you are good at these things and enjoy learning them, then it’s not really hard per se. You see the fun in these challenges, and the difficulty just wanes.
What are your opinions about AI Engineers?
AI engineers are just ML engineers, but with a specialism in GenAI and LLM models. To be honest, the current ML engineers perform a similar role, so if you want to be an AI engineer, consider applying for ML engineer jobs.
Will AI take data science jobs?
Flat answer is no, as it currently stands.
If AI took over data science jobs, I fail to see what other jobs it wouldn’t take over.
- Software engineer? gone.
- Accountant? gone.
- Lawyer? gone.
If AI got so smart that it could do all the mathematical reasoning and logic deduction required to be a data scientist, then literally every other job would be gone too.
You can even argue that data scientists, machine learning engineers, and statistics specialists would be the last ones to go as we have the most knowledge about AI systems; hence, we would need to maintain them and keep them ticking over.
Don’t worry about AI if you want to become a data scientist!
If you have any more questions, comment and I will make sure to reply!
Another Thing!
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