Popular Lucrative Careers of the 21st Century: Data Science

One of the most reputed companies, IBM, had predicted that there would be a constant rise in demand for Data Scientists. IBM stated that there would be over 7 lakh job openings by the year 2020, and demand for Data Scientists will rise by 28% within the same year. Similarly, the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics that 11.5 million jobs in the field of Data Science will be created by 2026. Almost all predictions as such point towards the fact that Data Science is indeed a career of the 21st Century. Despite global economic obstacles, Data Science is still the most sought after career.

Is Data Science a Stable Field?

Although Data Scientist is a relatively new job position, the idea of Data Science can be traced back to 1974, when Peter Naur first used the term. However, it was in 1996 when Data Science was referred to as a topic during the conference of the International Federation of Classification Societies. Overall, ever since the position of Data Scientist was created, there has been a steady demand for Data Scientists. Moreover, the growing focus on analysing ‘big data’ and extracting useful knowledge guarantees that there will be a constant requirement for Data Scientists.

The Prospects and Scope of Data Science

Currently, the prospects and scope of Data Science have no definite limit. Those pursuing Data Science can find opportunities to become a Data Engineer, Data Scientist, Machine Learning Engineer, Machine Learning Scientist and so on. Currently, Data Scientist is the most sought after and in-demand position globally. Apart from this, there is a high demand for Data Analysts as well. Moreover, Data Science jobs are among the highest paid jobs. Data Scientists being in demand, also enjoy better and faster career growth as compared to other office jobs.

Data Science Skills

Although Data Scientists are in high demand, it is imperative for all Data Science enthusiasts to focus on acquiring all skills set required for the position. Each kind of Data Science job requires a different set of skills. Firstly it is important to understand the fundamentals of Data Science and Statistics since almost all Data Science jobs require individuals to analyse and understand data sets. Next, an individual needs to learn at least one programming language, for example, Python. Moreover, other skills such as handling ‘big data’, deep machine learning, data manipulation and visualisation are equally important as well. Hence, it is crucial for Data Science enthusiasts to enrol in suitable courses that can teach them all the required skills.

Eligibility for studying Data Science

Eligibility varies depending on the duration and specialisation of the course. Data Science aspirants can choose to enrol in longer courses right after acquiring their 10+2 certification or enrol in shorter courses after acquiring a graduation certification.

Courses Available Currently

There are various data science courses available to aspirants. They can enrol for a long three-year to a four-year undergraduate course in reputed colleges offering Data Science as a specialisation. There are online courses as well offered by top institutions such as Google, IBM, Harvard University, and other educational platforms. Most of the online courses last for a few weeks or a year as it focuses on a specific skill set of Data Science. Among the popular courses, aspirants can opt for paid or free courses which provide certification on completion.

Benefit of Having a Certification

Among the courses available, the most opted course is the data science certification course. A valid certification certifies that an individual has mastered a specific skill set, adding more value to his or her knowledge base and experience. Moreover, having a certification increases the chances of securing employment in leading companies. Acquiring a certification requires patience and dedication. However, the overall benefits, such as stable job opportunities, career growth and a high salary package, outweigh the initial reservations one may have when choosing to pursue a certification course.

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