How Can I Compete for the Data job?
Does Masters or PhD gives you an advantage in a Data job?
Recently, I just started a new mentoring program for existing undergraduates. We just started our first mentoring session.
The ultimate goal of a degree at the end of the tunnel is that ideal job that individuals are hoping the degree program can get them. Such is life. Naturally, I was asked the following question,
How can I compete with the Masters & PhD if I want to get into a data job?
To answer this question, we go back to First Principle, “Why is there a job position in the first place?”. It is open because we are looking for someone who has the skills and knowledge to solve the existing challenge(s) that we have. We are all solution providers. The minute you cannot perform, aka provide solutions anymore, no employers in the right mind will be paying you a salary.
Getting into a data job means you are looking at providing solutions through data, an area that you are knowledgeable and skillful in! The degree, be it Masters, or Ph.D. only signals a larger repertoire of skills and knowledge, which in turn raises the probability (note this) of solving the problem but there is no guarantee!
To increase your chance of getting that ideal data job will be to showcase you CAN SOLVE business challenges with your current skills and knowledge! What you need is a personal project portfolio, made up of all your passion projects (and not school projects)! The portfolio will give the hiring manager a glimpse into your problem-solving skills, a better indicator than a degree definitely!
Creating a personal project portfolio takes time so I will suggest that you start TODAY! Get a dataset, design a problem you want to solve, and showcase it! Good luck!
What are the other tips you have on getting that ideal data job? Do share in the “Comments”.
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