by Angela Guess
IT Business Edge recently wrote, “Every day, organizations are creating more and more data, yet struggling to tap into and ultimately benefit from this vast amount of information due to the lack of talent available in the field. A study from McKinsey found that the U.S. alone could face a shortage of 150,000+ data analysts and an additional 1.5 million data-savvy managers by 2018. And, according to LinkedIn, statistical analysis and data mining were the hottest skills that got recruiters’ attention in 2014. Glassdoor ranked data scientist as the number one job to pursue in 2016. Harvard Business Review even called it the sexiest career of the 21st century. Got your attention yet? For those interested in tapping into this in-demand and potentially lucrative career, there are some best practices to ensure you are set up for success before applying for jobs in the field.”
Their recommendations include, “Once you have learned the skills and developed a strong portfolio, the next step is to connect with people who can help you leverage those strengths into a data science job. Building your network among data scientists will substantially increase your odds of breaking into the field. Many of the best opportunities aren’t posted on job boards, but are spread privately through certain networks. Networking with the data science community and helping to solve challenging real-world problems will enable you to build a portfolio and a personal brand, which can help you land a job.”
It Business Edge also suggests, “With a bit of searching, chances are you can find great data science events in your area. These are valuable places to meet fellow aspiring data scientists and pick up the jargon. You will get to hear from, and build connections with, established data scientists, and even unearth hidden job opportunities. In addition, some of the best data scientists are on Twitter, and you’ll often find data science podcasts to follow. You’ll also find blogs, newsletters and communities that can help you connect with data scientists online.”
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