Switching From Computer Science To Data Science? Here Are Some Skills To Focus On

Data Science is the new hot favorite amongst students and professionals seeking to make a career in a challenging yet rewarding field. Having made astonishing progress in various domains, job opportunities in data science are expanding exponentially. But how easy is it to switch to data science from computer science? Let’s explore a few skills that will help to make the transition smooth.

As India witnesses rapid digitization of services, analysts predict that hiring in the data science industry is all set to increase further. The World Economic Forum has predicted that by 2022, the role of data scientists and analysts will become the most emerging role globally. As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 11.5 million job openings will be created by 2026 in the data science sector. Hence, professionals looking for a career in data science will have plenty of opportunities.

Since data science requires programming knowledge, machine learning, deep interest in statistics etc. most of the professionals who venture into data science are computer science graduates even though this field interests other graduates as well.

Switching from computer science to data science

Switching to data science from a different stream might be a challenging task. This holds true even for computer science graduates. Contrary to popular belief, that data science is similar to computer science, both the fields are far from identical. These may be interrelated to some extent but transition to data science from computer science demands acquiring some new skills. So if you are a computer graduate, following are some tips that will help you in getting into data science.

Learning Statistics

Statistics is the collection, analysis and interpretation of data. It acts as a fundamental tool for data scientists to gather and analyze data and formulate their findings.Data scientists utilize statistical formulas and computer algorithms to understand patterns and trends within data. They then interpret the trends or patterns to see how they could be applied to real-world problems. Hence, for becoming a data scientist, a strong understanding of statistical reasoning and mathematics is important.

Learning Python

Knowing Python is a valuable skill for data science jobs. Python is an object-oriented, simple to learn programming language whose rich arrangement of libraries and tools simplify assignments for data scientists. Python is considered flexible and the language of choice for building better analytical tools. It is also considered as more useful with regard to deep learning algorithms.

Apart from these inherent qualities, Python has a huge community base of computer engineers and data scientists. To cater to their needs Python developers are constantly working towards making this language even better. Considering these points, it is highly recommended to learn Python for becoming a data scientist. Not that this is the only language that can be used in data science but since most of the data scientists are generally comfortable with Python, this language will surely come in handy for you.

Polishing your communication skills

As a data scientist you need to be able to precisely communicate your results to the stakeholders. Apart from analyzing data, a data scientist has to put forth the right problem statement clearly and effectively. Lack of good communication skills can lead to misinterpretation of insights that can have a negative impact on a company. Thus, good communication skills is a must have for a data scientist.

Career in data science can be a satisfying and lucrative career. Hence, while learning the basics of this field, inculcating certain important skills can make you soar high in the data science jobs.

Shreeya Thakur

Sr. Associate Content Writer at Unstop

I am a biotechnologist-turned-content writer and try to add an element of science in my writings wherever possible. Apart from writing, I like to cook, read and travel.