If you are running a typical business, you are most likely generating tons of consumer-related information and looking for a data scientist.
A survey reveals that 95% of organizations cite the need to manage unstructured data as a problem for their business, which is also why so many companies are hiring data analysts these days. According to the report, the demand for data science skills in the US will drive a 27.9% rise in employment through 2026.
A lot of young professionals will be looking for jobs in data science, but how do you recognize the most talented individuals? The answer is clear – it is important to search for certain qualities when recruiting a data scientist. In this post, we will discuss the top seven characteristics of a great data scientist.
- Coding Skills
Let us be clear about one thing here – your data scientist must have excellent coding skills. Data science is overlapping with programming, so it becomes critical to find a person who understands and handles coding tasks successfully. The most popular programs in data science are:
- Python
- R
- Java
- Scala
- Octave
We can compare the situation with Top British Essays eager to hire creators and professional paper writers. In this case, you simply cannot hire a candidate who doesn’t understand the basics of academic writing, spelling, and grammar.
- Analytical Mind
The second quality goes without saying, but we have to highlight the importance of recruiting a candidate with a strong analytical mind. Data science is packed with riddles and logical puzzles, so it’s natural to expect professionals in this field to be proficient mathematicians and logicians. - Problem-Solving Abilities
Although it may seem that this quality is the same as number two on our list, the truth is that problem-solving is slightly different than analytical thinking. How come?
Well, the point is that people with strong problem-solving abilities are more creative and able to think out of the box in order to create practical solutions. They are not afraid of experimenting and testing alternative options and data science ideas, no matter how strange or unusual these may seem.
This basically means that problem-solving is one of the essential qualities of a data scientist, particularly in large organizations with gigantic data libraries.
- Professional Versatility
Data science is applicable to all types of projects, industries, and businesses. In such circumstances, it is fundamental to find a candidate who is versatile enough to understand, research, and handle all sorts of data science projects.
Your company is by no means an exception because it probably cooperates with different kinds of clients and relies on multiple communication channels. Besides that, modern businesses use a variety of tools and platforms, so it takes a versatile data scientist to cover it all effortlessly.
- Communication Skills
A lot of data science professionals are lonesome wolves who love working alone in peace and isolation. You can’t blame them for being individuals, but that’s not the quality you’re looking for. On the contrary, you need a person with strong communication skills.
Firstly, a data scientist has to be able to explain his work verbally in a way everyone can understand. We are talking about coworkers, managers, project leaders, and other stakeholders.
Secondly, data scientists must have excellent written communication skills in order to make clear and understandable reports and presentations.
- Practical Experience
It can be a bit tricky to find a person fulfilling this criterion, but we are still going to mention it as one of the major traits of the best data scientists. Data science is a relatively new field, so you can find thousands of fresh college graduates with little to no practical experience.
If possible, try to hire a professional with a proven track record of data science projects. The logic is the same as if you are running the assignment help uk and write my dissertation agencies – you want to recruit people with first-hand assignment help experience.
- Passion for Lifelong Learning
The last tip is to search for candidates eager to keep learning and improving their data science skills. It’s a key trait because things change very quickly in every area of life and work. New programs will emerge and new techniques will pop up, which means that lifelong learning becomes the new normal in data science.
The Bottom Line
A lot of businesses are looking for data scientists in 2020, so you have to be careful enough to design a comprehensive recruitment procedure and pick the most promising individual for your team. It’s not a simple process, but you can make it work if you pay attention to the critical characteristics of great data scientists. We highlighted seven qualities here:
- Coding skills
- Analytical mind
- Problem-solving abilities
- Professional versatility
- Communication skills
- Practical experience
- Passion for lifelong learning
Most candidates do not fulfill the entire list of criteria, so make sure to react quickly if you identify a person who matches all of your requirements.
