The Quickest Way to Start Learning Data Science for Beginners

In today’s data-driven world, data is all around us. However, it isn’t having data that matters, rather, the knowledge to use this data is what matters. Your interest in data science is what led you here. In this blog, you will get an idea of the fundamentals of data science, what types of skills are important for success in this field, and actionable steps you can take to get started on your journey.

Data Science - Introduction

Data science is a field of study that combines statistics, computer science, and data analysis. It is used to find trends and patterns in data, and to make predictions about future events.

Data science is a relatively new field, and there are many ways to get started. The quickest way to start learning data science is to take an online course. Skill-Lync offers you a comprehensive first step for getting started with data science with courses like Data Analytics and Data Science.

Who is a Data Scientist?

A data scientist is a person who is qualified to perform tasks like data analysis. There is no one agreed-upon definition of what it entails. However, the core skill set required for data science generally includes the following:

• Strong mathematical foundation (particularly statistics)
• Strong programming skills
• The ability to effectively communicate findings

The Benefits of Learning Data Science

There are many benefits of learning data science, but some of the most notable ones include: 

• Increased Job Opportunities 

Data science is one of the hottest industries right now, and there is a huge demand for qualified data scientists. According to the latest estimates, data scientist job roles are rising at a 14% rate and will create 11 million jobs by 2026. By learning data science, you will open yourself up to a whole range of new job opportunities. 

• Higher Salaries 

Data scientists are some of the highest-paid professionals in the world. In India, the average salary of a data scientist fresher is at the 5.7 LPA mark, and the top earner takes home more than 24 LPA. If you want to earn a top salary, learning data science is a great way to do it. 

• Improved Problem-Solving Skills 

Being a Data scientist involves solving problems using data. This can help you develop strong problem-solving abilities that can be applied in any situation, industry, or field. 

• Greater Business Insights 

As a data scientist, you will gain valuable insights into how businesses operate and make decisions. This knowledge can be used to improve your own business or help others achieve success.

What Tools and Programs are used for Data Science?

There are a few different types of tools and programs that are used for data science. The most common ones are: 

• Data Mining 

This is the procedure for extracting data from huge data collections. It can be used to find trends or patterns. 

• Machine Learning (ML) 

This is a subset of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that allows computers to learn from data without being explicitly programmed. 

• Statistical Analysis 

This is used to analyse the data and find relationships between variables. 

• Visualisation 

This is used to create visual representations of the data, which can be helpful to find patterns or understand complex data sets.

Skills Required to Become a Data Scientist

Primarily, you need to have a strong foundation in mathematics. While not every data scientist needs to be a mathematician, knowing the basics of calculus, linear algebra, and statistics will go a long way. If you're not strong in math, don't worry, there are plenty of resources like Skill-Lync out there to help you catch up.

Second, you need to be comfortable with programming. While many data scientists use languages like R and Python, the most important thing is that you're able to write code and manipulate data. If you're not a programmer by trade. Again, don't worry, there are plenty of resources out there like Crio.do to help you.

And finally, it's important to have some domain knowledge. Data science is all about extracting insights from data, so it helps to have some context for that data. Whether it's understanding how financial markets work or having a background in biology, any domain knowledge will be helpful when learning data science.

Work on Projects to Improve Your Skills!

The best way to learn data science is by diving headfirst into a project. By taking on real-world datasets and working through them from start to finish, you'll gain invaluable experience that will help you hone your skills. Not only that, but you'll also be able to add these projects to your portfolio, which will make you more attractive to potential employers. So, where can you find datasets to work on? 

• Kaggle
• UCI Machine Learning Repository
• Amazon's AWS Public Datasets

Once you've found one or two datasets that interest you, it's time to get started! Begin by familiarising yourself with the data, take a look at the variables and try to understand what they represent. Then, start playing around with the data, run some summary statistics, create some visualisations, and see if you can identify any patterns or relationships. 

From there, it's up to you to come up with a hypothesis and test it out. As you work through projects, don't forget to document your process and results as this is an important part of being a data scientist that most beginners forget. 

Conclusion

With dedication and practice, anyone can become a proficient data scientist in no time. Don't be afraid of taking the plunge into this vast world - dive in head first! Enrol in the online courses offered by Skill-Lync, with courses like Data Science (DS) Machine Learning (ML), and Data Analytics and Data Science we got you covered in your journey to becoming a data scientist!