I am going to be a data scientist. This career is math and statistics centered, so it matches with the subjects I enjoy. It also involves lots of critical thinking, analysis, and teamwork, which are strong characteristics of mine. I am interested in data science because it involves predicting future financial outcomes for companies, a job I find interesting. Finally, it offers a variety of tasks and skill sets, so I would be doing lots of different projects. For these reasons, I’m currently very certain that this is the career I am going to do. It matches up with everything I’d like in a job!

Data scientists examine “big data”, or data that is growing and moving fast. They must be trained in computer science, modeling, statistics, analytics, and math. However, data scientists differ from other math positions by their strength in making good business decisions along with being able to effectively communicate their ideas with companies. These aren’t your typical math nerds - they must have people skills too. In fact, IBM goes as far as to describe them as “part analyst, part artist.” They must be able to look at data from different angles, searching for solutions no one else has seen. Data scientists ask questions, challenge existing ideas, and work to create a solution that can better an entire company (IBM.com).

According to cnbc.com, data scientists with 0-3 years of experience who were not part of a team had a median salary of $80,000. Those not on a team with 9 or more years of experience had a median salary of $150,000. However, those responsible for a team of 1-3 people had a median salary of $140,000 and those responsible for a team of 10 or more people had a median salary of $232,500. Also, the McKinsey Global Institute reported that by 2018, 4 million “big data” positions will be available in the U.S., with a shortage of 1.5 million workers. An executive placement company was quoted saying, “The most common complaint among our clients is that there aren’t enough candidates.”

To become a data scientist, you just need experience in math, statistics, and computer science. You don’t need any graduate work, as just 42% of data scientists have a Master’s degree and only 4% more hold a Doctorate degree. This is because data scientists need more than just analytical skills, they need “business acumen and good communication skills” (cnbc.com).

As a data scientist, I probably wouldn’t travel much, but I’d rather not travel and be closer to my family. I would work in an office, most likely in a team. I believe I work best in a team, so this is perfect for me! Each member of the team would specialize in an area (such as statistics or computer science) and all would work to create a final product. Potential employers are seemingly endless, with over 6,000 companies currently hiring data scientists. Among those companies: Microsoft, IBM, Amazon, Google, LinkedIn, Bank of America, Facebook, eBay, Apple, Capital One, and Dell, along with thousands of smaller companies (datasciencecentral.com). The opportunity for advancement is huge. After acquiring experience at a smaller company, a data scientist could work his or her way up to a job at Google, Microsoft, or Apple.

After my research, I am even more convinced that this is the job I want. I have always dreamed of working for a company like Google or Apple, and doing a job I find awesome while working toward that dream sounds extremely cool. This occupation combines my desire to be an innovator with my skills in critical thinking, analysis, and math. It really doesn’t have any disadvantages.

In the next year, I will continue to take math and economics classes, while starting to take statistics and business classes. If I continue to enjoy what I am learning, I will know that I am on the right track. This summer, I will get an internship in order to build my experience working with data and build connections. Along with my internship connections, I will have connections to the math and business world through professors at IUPUI. Through these various contacts, I will begin my career of becoming a data scientist.

My Compass Test results had my top two traits at visionary and planner, followed by analyzer and mentor. It also had a pretty much perfect description of who I am and what I am looking for in a job. It said I “thrive in a work environment that offers a clear opportunity for career advancement, is fast paced, allows for working with others, and is systematic and highly structured.” These four characteristics are spot on. This test helped me further define the type of job I am looking for. 

http://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/infosphere/data-scientist/

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101618128

http://www.datasciencecentral.com/profiles/blogs/6000-companies-hiring-data-scientists