5 Ways You’re Already A Data Scientist But Don’t Know It

When you think about becoming a data scientist, what comes to mind? If your first thought involves the hours ahead of you, it’s easy to feel intimidated even before you begin. In your mind, you might have not even studied “the right things” in college to make it. But what if we told you that you’ve already had it in you all along to make it in the competitive field of data science? What if the interests that have attracted you, already make you the perfect candidate to become a data scientist? Take the first step.

1. Becoming A Data Scientist: You Try New Things

Sometimes in life, trying new things can be scary. New experiences may yield the thought of: “What if it doesn’t work out?” But some of your best experiences may have come from doing things you had never experienced at one point. This is true whether you think yourself adventurous or not. You may have gone whitewater rafting and discovered you really liked it. You may have had fun on that roller coaster that you initially hesitated to get on. If you’re not adventurous, maybe there was a time when you took the first step in getting to know someone who eventually became a best friend or the love of your life.

At first, all of these activities made you nervous. But in the end, they gave you a rewarding feeling. The feeling of accomplishment. The feeling of fulfillment. If you’ve become bogged down with irrational fears of learning various statistical languages and data science concepts, stand tall and don’t back away from the possibility of a fulfilling challenge.

2. Becoming A Data Scientist: Graphs & Stats Are Everywhere

A large part of becoming a data scientist includes becoming well acquainted with numbers, graphs, charts, and statistics. If you prefer numbers over words, this is your field. Mapping out graphs and charts can feel like putting together a puzzle. For those more inclined toward words, you may feel left out in the cold.

Don’t call it quits just yet! Statistics are everywhere, and you use them throughout your everyday life. You might have used this form of math when deciding which car or home to buy. You may have used graphs and charts when deciding what food your roommates should buy for the week. You may be a sports fan. You may know every statistic about your favorite football or basketball team. If you play video games, you may keep track of the stats for your main character. The point is, statistics are everywhere. There’s no reason to be afraid of them.

3. Becoming A Data Scientist: You Already Decipher Languages

We already know that learning new things can be fun. Becoming a data scientist involves learning how to use data programming languages such as Python or R. I have news for you. You wouldn’t be able to read these words right now if you hadn’t learned how to read English. Before you knew it, you could creatively put words together in any way you choose. All in order to express yourself any way you wished. You have also learned how to sing or play an instrument. This also required you learn the language.

By learning programming languages, you too can use your creativity to express yourself through an app or web page you create. The more you learn, the more expressive you can become.

4. Becoming A Data Scientist: Problem Solving Is Your Middle Name

You want to go to an Italian restaurant for dinner. But your friend wants to have seafood. You need to get to work, but your car is in the shop. A natural disaster such as an earthquake or a flood calls for you to take charge of the situation to take care of your family. Life is full of moments where you must problem solve to get through them. If people often turn to you first to solve issues, you will certainly feel a step ahead as you can effectively handle problems.

5.Becoming A Data Scientist: You Keep Going When Things Are Difficult

Sometimes a certain programming language lacks the sense it should or a concept appears difficult to understand. Times like this prove that your fortitude can know no bounds. Not only do people rely on you, but you also stay with the problem until it’s resolved. Sometimes you don’t understand a programming language concept. Sometimes you don’t know where some statistic went wrong or why it doesn’t make sense. And sometimes, you cannot solve the issue in one hour.

In data science, you will have to continuously problem solve and not let your ego get in the way. Everyone has difficult times, but if you have the courage to not give up at the first sign of a long night, this field may be for you. When this is not enough, you will need to have tenacity and grit. Employers in the data industry find these characteristics to be important qualities in an potential employees.

Conclusion

Do you now see that these things you were already good at make you a prime data science candidate? There’s no reason why you should put it off any longer. Listen to the data scientist in you that has strength, intelligence, tenacity, and love of statistics and learning. Consider that maybe you have what it takes, and it has been with you all along. The things you find interesting might have actually prepared you for the career of a lifetime. You just need to just take that first step.