How can you master data science without a degree in 2020?

Introduction

Becoming a data scientist has become the “American dream”: Everyone wants to have it!

But nevertheless, for all beginners, a great question remains unanswered: Do i need to have a degree to become a successful data scientist?

Data science is a relatively new field, even top-tier universities have only recently started offering specialized courses, which has created a sudden buzz and confusion in the industry. In this article, we are going to break down the question and analyze all its aspects.

If you are a beginner and starting on your data science journey, we have compiled a clear free roadmap guide to building a career in data science that is created by expert DataPeaker curators:

Can I get a job without a data science degree?

The direct answer is YES!! Don't get me wrong here, a title has its own pros and cons which we will discuss in detail in the article, but you can definitely get a job based on your skills and projects.

Have you ever gone to an interview and the interviewer gave you the job instantly because it had the "title"? ¡NO! He will test the depth of knowledge and only then will he offer you the job. Therefore, a title can give you the “chance” from work, but “to get” the job requires skills and effort!

Pros and cons of a data science degree

Pros

• Access to expert faculty – Universities and colleges have professors and experts in each of the subjects. There is no doubt that these shows give you access to some of the great minds, especially if you are looking forward to getting a PhD.
• One-to-one sessions – Learning is always better when you can interact with the experts and be a one-on-one mentor.. This helps to clarify doubts, get tips and the overall experience is much better.
• clearly defined curriculum – The curriculum of a degree course is well defined with clear industry standards. These are comprehensive and provide a holistic view of data science.
• More accessible to recruiters: Universities and colleges have links with organizations and, Thus, there are ample opportunities to land a coveted job directly after graduation.

Cons

• The high cost, of course – Data science is in high demand, but this has a huge cost. You may have to loosen your pockets for hundreds of thousands of rupees. What's more, a good degree from a European or American university can be much higher and can cost you 7 rupee figures.
• It takes time to complete the course – If you are already an active professional, It will be difficult for you to quit a paid job and commit during 1 O 2 years without receiving a salary.
• The selection process generally prefers people from the technical and statistical field – If you come from a non-technical or non-statistical environment, probably won't get priority. The selection process and the interview process of most universities are designed so that technicians have a greater advantage.

Alternatives to obtaining a degree

Obtaining a degree is not the only way to get the title of "The Sexiest Job of the 21st Century". There are a couple of other alternatives. It will definitely take some time and effort, but it will be worth it. So lets see –

Take a comprehensive certification course

Certification courses are a great way to learn data science from scratch and master the field. These courses usually last between 6 Y 12 months and are offered at a much lower price. Although you will need to consider a few things before purchasing the course:

1. Make sure the course is complete
2. Course instructors must be experts
3. The course must be up to date
4. Should offer many real life projects.
5. One-on-one tutoring would be great.
6. On-the-job assistance along with resume preparation and interview preparation.

Regrettably, there are tons of courses that charge a premium but don't offer all of the features mentioned above. But there is a course that provides it all and helps you become an industry ready data science professional..

the AI y ML Blackbelt + course offerings –

1. Mastery of more than 15 tools
2. Experience in data science subjects, machine learning and deep learning
3. Ability to solve real-world industry problems
4. Mentors 1: 1 with industry professionals
5. Comprehensive and personalized learning path
6. Dedicated interview preparation and support

Build knowledge through a free course

Free courses are a great way to leverage your knowledge early in your journey. These courses offer an excellent introduction to data science concepts. But beware, These courses are for beginners and if you have mastery over some subjects I recommend that you go to specialized courses. Let's see the list of some important free courses:

1. Introduction to AI and ML – The perfect course to understand and navigate the artificial intelligence and machine learning industry. List all skills, tools, career path to becoming an AI and ML professional.
2. Python for data science – Python is one of the most powerful and widely used languages ​​for creating machine learning models. This course is great for Python beginners and also provides a free certification!!
3. Introduction to natural language processing – If you are an NLP enthusiast, this is the perfect course for you. In this grade, learn the basics of natural language processing, regular expressions and sentiment analysis of text using machine learning.
4. Introduction to neural networks – Deep Learning has chosen for the last decade and many enthusiasts are interested in learning neural networks. The course answers questions like: What is a neural network? How does it work? What does a neural network do?

Some things must have

Participate in contests – Data science contests are a sure way to develop and demonstrate your skills and get noticed by potential recruiters. You can go to the DataHack platform and choose a problem statement of your choice and get started. Recruiters love candidates who have developed their knowledge through practical applications.

Start writing articles – If you have a knack for data science and a passion for writing, What is the best way to express yourself than writing articles? Article writing helps you learn all the difficult technical concepts and turn them into easy-to-understand topics. Article writing is another great way to help you grab the attention of potential recruiters..

Start from practices – The problem with landing a full-time job in data science is the "required experience.". The best way to get that experience is through internships. Although you may have to start from the ladder beginner even though you have experience in some other field, definitely worth it.

Final notes

To enter data science, you should not make a degree an excuse to build a successful career. In this article, We discuss the pros and cons of having a data science degree and alternatives to a full-time degree.

One of the best alternatives to undergo a comprehensive program that gives you beginner to advanced courses along with tons of real life projects. the AI and ML Blackbelt program + offers you more than 15 courses and more than 39 real life projects. What is the best part? Get tutoring sessions 1: 1 so you get a personalized learning path that is customized just for you and never strays from the path.

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