Building Data Careers

Abstract

The most appealing thing about a career in data is that you have the world open to you. Data is the modern gatekeeper, getting you into almost any arena. The challenge in building a data career is the misconception that the typical career path rolls out in a linear or stepwise way. There are a number of paths and specialties that can be taken or pursued, but they are not neatly outlined, as the Data Science field itself is new. We will discuss career options, the skills you may need for those options, pros and cons of different types of training programs from online courses to full Data Science degrees, including a list of over 460 Data Science degree programs across the country. We will touch on the job market, the ups and downs of management and location, as well as experiences from real data scientists.