Was macht ein Data Scientist?

Data science is an attractive profession for logical people who are good with numbers and Excel. But unless you're lucky enough to know a real, live data scientist, it's hard to imagine what they actually do from Monday to Friday.

We shed some light on this complex field so you can decide if it's the right path for you. Take a look at a typical data scientist job description and work environment, as well as the most commonly used skills.

What does a data scientist actually do?

The role of a data scientist depends on the industry and the goals of the company. If you choose this broad profession, you could be responsible for anything from improving an app by analyzing in-depth customer research to predicting the results of a new drug through machine learning.

While the end goal is different, the basic steps along the way are the same. Below are the tasks that just about every data scientist performs:

• Cleansing and analyzing data
• Presentation of findings for interest groups
• Underpinning business decisions with hard data
• Recognizing and predicting behavioral patterns, preferences and trends

Working environment

Data science involves a lot of computer work (no surprise there). Whether you do your work in an office or remotely, you'll spend several hours a day in front of a screen. But the insights you gain from your analysis and algorithms have a tangible impact on your business, your customers and potentially the world.

Data scientists are of great value to their companies and are rewarded for their expertise with a high salary and excellent benefits. According to indeed.com, many data scientists who work full-time enjoy unlimited paid vacation, on-site dining and stock options. 

If you choose a career in data science, you will likely work in high-level positions. Your findings will influence important business decisions, and that means a certain amount of stress and responsibility. But you can also expect a lot of personal fulfillment and six-figure salaries.

Key qualifications of a data scientist

Data science is a highly specialized profession that requires a wide range of technical skills. But interpersonal skills are also required: after all, you need to translate your equations into clear language to convince the management team.  

If you have the following basic skills, you are an excellent candidate for the field of data science.

• Hard Skills: Prepare for fairly intensive math, such as advanced statistics, linear algebra, and calculus. Every data scientist also relies on programming skills to interpret large data sets. So you need to learn SQL and Python. And to work in this field, you need to be an expert in data organization and cleansing. If you are completely new to the data scene, you should study data analysis first.
• Social skills: You need to communicate your results visually and verbally in a way that is understandable to all stakeholders. As a data scientist, you need to perfect the art of extracting the insights that are most relevant to business management from complex information. In addition to clear communication, a keen eye for detail combined with critical thinking will help you solve business challenges with equations and algorithms.

Most importantly, this field is ideal for someone who loves to learn. Data science is constantly evolving, so you will need to adapt to new tools and technologies as your career progresses. This is a constant challenge that many will find exciting and invigorating.

How do you become a data scientist?

This exciting field naturally requires a high level of technical knowledge. To get a well-paid job as a data scientist, you'll need to master Tableau, program in Python and work efficiently with a range of other specialized tools. And to progress in the long term, you'll need a deep understanding of machine learning and the underlying concepts, ranging from calculus to the ethics of AI.