Data Scientists are in high demand in India. The steep adoption of Data Science across industries has given rise to unlimited opportunities. Top companies are offering lucrative packages for Data Scientists to help them extract deep insights from their data for a business edge. Some of the top recruiters in India are Microsoft, Amazon, Accenture, Deloitte, and IBM.
So if you want to tap this career opportunity, at the outset you must understand what are the responsibilities of a Data Scientist and what are the prerequisites for you to pursue a Data Analyst or Data Science Course. Ideally, you must be from a Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, or Technology background. Domain knowledge and work experience in analysis or working with data is an added bonus.
So what do you do to get a Data Science job in India? First, understand the job role of a Data Scientist.
A Data Scientist handles and maintains data to make it usable for data discovery and data analysis. Techniques such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and statistical modeling are applied for data-driven decision-making.
Research the available courses and what curriculum they offer. The Data Analyst Course in Bangalore is a great place to begin your Data Science learning path.
How to Become a Data Scientist in India
Your Data Science learning curve begins with learning some more about the discipline and what is included in the various online courses and Bootcamps.
Make good use of the free online resources to check out free E-Books, courses, and tutorials. Browse through the various courses, and match them with your interests, budget, and time available.
Does the course offer a specialization? Is the Certification/Degree industry-recognized? How well does the learning complement your present job or educational background? Does the platform offer live and interactive modules with videos, quizzes, and capstone projects? What support does the course offer? Do you get mentor guidance or placement assistance? Does the course partner with any leading Universities or corporate names like IBM? What is the faculty profile? Is there flexibility in self-study learning, quizzes, and the subscription duration? Are concepts like SAS applications, big data technologies, and machine learning modeling covered?
These are some of the questions you must ask and weigh the course against the criteria.
What is the pathway to getting a Data Science Job?
To begin with, no prior knowledge is required. However, a strong foundation in fundamental concepts of Math and Statistics is useful.
Walk through the following steps and develop the skill sets pertinent for Data Scientist job roles.
- Intern with any Data Science firm
- Develop the relevant skill sets:
- Build a creative and analytical approach to data
- Focus on an area of interest like data mining, data cleaning or machine learning
- Look for courses that focus on Statistics, Probability, and Numerical Linear Algebra
- Learn optimization
- Know about data structures, database design, database architecture, data mining, big data technologies, etc.
- Learn programming languages like Python, MATLAB, Julia, and C++.
- Work on your knowledge of NLP, data extraction, Artificial Intelligence, computer vision, pattern recognition, etc.
- Register for an online data science with 100% placement guarentee that covers the following basic topics and tools
- Topics: distributed architecture, security applications, multivariable Calculus, Information Theory, and Decision Theory
- Tools: R programming, SQL
As a data analysis professional who wants to hone their technical skills as well as management skills to climb up the corporate ladder in data science, opt for a project management course or an MBA in Data Science. Supplement with professional certifications in SAS/SQL or dedicated enterprise software. Master database management, database design, data analysis, and machine learning modeling for a career edge.
Which course to take for a Data Science Job
Data science courses are available for fresh graduates in Engineering, IT, or MBA, offered either as a Certification, a Degree, or a Post Graduate Diploma
Simplilearn, Udemy, and Coursera offer Data Science Certifications recognized by Google, Microsoft, and IBM. Some prestigious institutions like IITs and IIMs offer globally recognized post-grad courses in Data Science, as well as short-term free courses exclusively for working professionals, and fresh graduates from science or math backgrounds.
Here is a list of the top courses to take for a Data Science job in India:
1. Simplilearn’s Data Scientist Program
Learning: Online
Course Type: Master’s Certificate
Duration: Six to twelve months
Prerequisite: Experienced professionals with an analytical mindset
Course details: Simplilearn partners with IBM to give you hands-on experience with technologies like R, Python, Machine Learning, Tableau, Hadoop, and Spark.
2. IIT Madras Programs in Data Science
Learning: Online
Course Type: BSc Degree, Diploma
Duration: Three Years
Prerequisite: Cl 12 (Degree), Cl 11 (Diploma)
Course details: 11 courses (Degree), 6 Programming courses + 6 Data Science courses (Diploma)
IIT Madras offers an online degree/diploma program that focuses on Data Science. They are BSc in Data Science & Programming and Diploma in Data Science.
3. IIT Roorkee’s Certificate Course in Data Science & Machine Learning
Learning: Online
Course Type: Certificate
Duration: Eleven months
Prerequisite: Working professionals
Course details: Topics include Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and other related technologies, and learning to implement them faster and smarter.
The program allows you to build a strong foundation in Data Science with specialization in ML and Python for data-driven decision-making.
4. IBS Hyderabad’s certificate in Data Science
Learning: Campus
Course Type: Certificate
Duration: Flexible, 10 hours to 240 hours on weekends
Prerequisite: Graduate Degree with at least one-year work experience
Course details: The course covers Finance, Analytics, IT & Operations, HRM, Marketing, and Healthcare Informatics.
5. IIM and IIT Indore’s MSc in Data Science and Management
Learning: Online
Course Type: MSc Degree
Duration: Two years
Prerequisite: Graduate Degree (BTech/BE/BS/BPharm/BArch/MSc/MTech/with Math & Computer Programming, Entrance test score
Course details: IIM and IIT, Indore, jointly offer the Program with foundational business knowledge, analytical expertise, and big picture perspective.
6. IIT Delhi’s Certificate in Data Science and Machine Learning
Learning: Online
Course Type: Certificate
Duration: Six months
Prerequisite: Graduate Degree, Basic programming knowledge of Python
Course details: IIT Delhi has designed the program for early and mid-level professionals interested in gaining a deep perspective on data science and machine learning. The course is also for software developers and machine learning engineers.
Summary
Ultimately, you must match your education, career goals, and skills to the course. As a fresh grad, you may have more time than the working professional and opt for campus/online intensive courses. However, if you are a working professional, you can always register for online Bootcamps and platforms offering Certifications.
