Death to Data Science?

Oct 7, 2019 31 Comments

Hey all. I am an engineer hoping to switch career paths to data science. I’m looking to pursue an Msc in Data science to help me get into it.
However ive been seeing a lot of reports that contrary to popular belief that job market for data scientist are shrinking. For people who are involved or know about this field, are these reports true?

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  • Axtria
    racers

    Go to company page Axtria

    racers
    Yes. Please don't pursue data science.
    Oct 7, 2019 2
    • OP
      Do you have any insights to why? And, for some one interested in stats + ML, possible career paths
      Oct 7, 2019
    • Axtria
      racers

      Go to company page Axtria

      racers
      PhD in stats or ML would be a better path to pursue.

      DS is saturated. Every person who can visualize a few graphs in R or python calls himself a data scientist. Very few real ML people out there. To filter these, each company has designed their own way of testing aka there is no standardized leetcode type of test. I know many people are frustrated with the ridiculously high LC standard for swe, but at least there's a standard process. DS is all over the place. You can't get a good DS position with solely good stats knowledge or solely ML knowledge or solely probability. You need to have all of these, like one tablespoon each. It's tough to step up your game when you are focussing on 5 different aspects. Also, remember you will be competing with phDs if it's a specialized role, or will be struggling with 4-5 different aspects if it's a generalist role (also very few generalist roles do real ML).
      Oct 7, 2019
  • I’m always surprised to hear about engineers wanting to move to data science. Like would u really prefer to just write sql select statements and make cute little charts all dag vs doing real computer science SWE? Or maybe OP isn’t a SWE but some other engineer?
    Oct 7, 2019 9
  • Walmart
    Ed(he/him)

    Go to company page Walmart

    Ed(he/him)
    Yes every data science or ML person I work with is NOT doing real ML... it's funny because whenever a new project starts that is rumoured to have ML they all want to leave their teams for the new shiny thing.. only to realise 2 months later its NOT ML 🤣
    Oct 7, 2019 0
  • Data engineer and MLE are the data paths to take now. Plus way more interesting and better tools to play around with
    Oct 7, 2019 0
  • New / Data
    etuo

    New Data

     etuo
    I have a full time job, a part time job, a small home-based business, volunteering, and a life (but it's too much that's a bit crazy). It really depends on which courses you're taking. I took the 3 micromasters courses that you can take on Edx before or while you submit your application (helps a lot with admission if you do well) and now I'm taking Regression Analysis as well as Simulation. From these 5 courses CSE6040 and Simulation are the most challenging. I actually just wrote my sim midterm yesterday, did well but the average for the class was just 73 which goes to show how challenging it is. My weekend are mostly studying and many evenings in the weekdays I'm also studying almost till midnight.

    Can you do it with two kids? Absolutely, but you have to commit a serious amount of time to the courses, most of them aren't something you can wing or study last minute. Let me know if you want to know more we can set up a call.
    Oct 7, 2019 1
    • Uber
      CsWw52

      Go to company page Uber

      CsWw52
      So awesome. Thank you so much for the helpful insights! Let me look more into the program details. May take up on your kind offer. Go yellow jackets!
      Oct 7, 2019