I just graduated with my BS in Math and started as a Data Analyst. The job is fine, a little slow right now due to some management stuff. I have room to grow into more of a "Data Scientist" role at the company and hopefully raise my TC. I also applied and was accepted into a few Stats MS for Fall 2020. I don't really want to go back to school yet and would rather work my way up than go back to school for two more years to be in the same place. What are my odds of working my way up and into a FAANG Data Scientist job without the MS and just a BS with say 2 YOE? TC: 70k LA Area
Every company defines Data Science a little differently. At Facebook in the Analytics Org, the role requires only SQL and elementary statistics.
Which is basically what I am doing now. Are you a data scientist there?
Yes but not in Analytics. There are several orgs that have data scientists and if your specialty is more mathematical statistics, the Core Data Science team is most appropriate - but they usually hire PhDs.
Why don’t you get MS from online program? Why do you want to be DS? If you really want be DS not just want their TC, additional education be very beneficial for you anyway.
I am not opposed to learning more, the stats programs I applied to are all heavier in ML for a reason, I just didn't love school and the financial instability of it. An online degree would be interesting but feels like it is not as rigorous or looked up to as an in person one.
Rather than being looked down for the rest of your career, since you must be young, I highly recommend getting grad degree if you are serious about DS.
Just learn to implement data science methods into your current role. Start using R or Python to automate your analysis. You honestly don’t need to go back to school and waste time and money. Once you’ve learned enough R or Python, find a contract DS job to advance your skills. Learn whatever you don’t know on the job. After about a year or two, just apply to another company and level up.
The job I'm in is mostly SQL and SAS. I was brought on to help migrate a lot of their automated stuff from SAS with a Python shell to just Python. I also should be able to get my hands on developing the models we use. I figure after a few years here, hopefully working my way up happily, and getting better at some real object oriented python programming and whatnot, I should have a happily padded resume.
Do part time MS while working.
maybe look into kaggle competitions or join a Bootcamp/ do Coursera courses. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to transfer to DS
It will be a long road and the “true” data scientists will look down on you every chance they get. Sad, but true. Seen it happen. That said, it is achievable, but you will struggle to get the same TC you would have gotten post-masters.
My mindset is that if I can work my way up in my current company, learn all of the real skills needed for a Data Scientist on the job, then go get a job at a big tech company, I don't even care if my final TC is lower than the guy with a MS because I'm sure it'll still be high enough for me to feel comfortable.