What do Data Scientists do?
The term data science has been causing quite a buzz over the last few years. Having earned the title of “sexiest job of the 21st century”, many people these days are considering a career in the field.
Data scientists are the mediators between the raw data collected and the various stakeholders who need to learn something from it. They act as translators, interpreting the business questions into digital commands that extract clear information from databases; and vice versa – presenting clear information from the mountains of data that they harvest.
Their tools are a combination of mathematical skills, statistical proficiency, and programming language proficiency. But to really excel, data scientists need some crucial soft skills: curiosity, the ability to ask questions, the patience to keep looking for new ways to interpret data, the willingness to constantly learn new skills and topics, and – maybe most importantly - good communication skills.
The better a data scientist is at presenting their learnings in a clear and simple manner, the easier it is for stakeholders and managers to understand what to do with those learnings. That’s why the ability to work well with others, and communicate clearly, is the secret ingredient to a successful data science career.
Data Scientist vs Data Analyst vs Data Engineer
If you’re somewhat familiar with data science, you might have heard about data analysis and engineering, as well. These are three different, distinct roles, all related to data collection and analysis, but each one dealing with different aspects of it.
Because data science is still a relatively young field, the distinction between all three is sometimes a little blurry. But to make things clearer, here’s a breakdown of the differences:
Data Analysts
The role where data scientists often start in, data analysts are responsible for the more basic aspects of harvesting and interpreting data. They usually work as part of bigger business units, like sales or marketing, and are given specific tasks or questions to focus on.
Data Scientists
Usually more experienced than data analysts, data scientists are tasked not only with processing data, but also with automating data harvesting tasks, and exploring new options for gaining insights from the database they work with. They tend to work in a more independent manner, and report directly to company leaders.
Data Engineers
Tend to come from more of a programming/computer science background. They're the ones responsible for the infrastructure that lets data scientists and analysts work their magic, building and maintaining a solid foundation for complex databases.
The role you’ll end up working in depends on your background, passion, experience, and interests, as well as in the needs of your employer. Considering how dynamic the data research field is, and the various opportunities to constantly develop new skills within it, your role is likely to change and evolve as your career progresses.
That’s what’s so great about data science: the possibilities are almost endless.
