Data Science: Career Opportunities and Job Prospects
How To Find A Data Science Internship In 2022
We can't stress enough the importance of internships. Especially in an emerging industry like Data Science.
Internships give you exposure to the industry you want to work in and lay footwork for you to enter the company you always wanted to work for. Internships also give you a chance to learn what methods are used more in the industry and what the trends are. They are a great way to learn more about the industry while also learning which skills you need to put more focus on.
Let’s look at how you can fetch an internship for data science and then consecutively, a data science job.
Research & Plan
This is going to be your first data science internship, so be prepared to do your research and plan out your next action.
- Make a list of the companies doing great in data science and for whom you want to work.
- Understand and try to identify what kind of a company you want -- whether you want a corporate or a startup, what work culture you aspire for, which industry you want to get in, etc.
- You can also look up the various openings for data science and try and understand what is in demand.
- Make a list of the keywords that are frequently used. You will also get an idea of what skills are in demand.
Build Your Personal Brand
You need personal branding to make yourself stand out among other data science enthusiasts. You have to market yourself to recruiters after all.
You could do this in a lot of ways:
- Posting Data Science related articles on LinkedIn
- Building out a blog
- Working on side projects
- Engaging with other Data Scientists on Social Media
- Creating a YouTube channel about Data Science
The sky's the limit when you think about it!
You could also work on freelance projects, they’ll help you build out your portfolio while gaining experience and exposure. It’s a win-win situation.
A personal brand will give you a competitive edge over your peers as you will have the credibility of other people. Recruiters will also get a chance to know more about you as a person if they are exposed to your personal brand. Only after they get to know you they can start liking and trusting you.
And that's the secret sauce to building a successful personal brand and that's how you can secure a data science internship fast.
Build Your Network
You might have heard this phrase before...
Your Network is Your Net Worth
That's because it's true... A vast network can help you out in various situations.
That's exactly why you should start the practice of networking early on. You need to stay in touch with your peers, classmates, or professors from school. You never know what opportunity they may be having or know someone who may help you out. References always come of help, especially when you are looking for internships or jobs.
Another thing you can do is, network with like-minded people to accelerate your career growth!
If you don’t know people around you who have similar interests, you can also attend seminars or events in data science. Attending such events will give you the opportunity to interact with like-minded people who are even more experienced than you in some cases. You may even get a data science paid internship if you are able to pitch yourself and your skills.
If you live in a small city that doesn’t have such events or seminars then use the power of social media. You can communicate with the whole world just from your phone, there are enough opportunities in data science.
Make it a practice to use LinkedIn and stay in touch with your existing circle of professional acquaintances, Grow your friend list on Facebook, Follow Instagram influencers in your field of interest, etc.
Build Your Soft Skills
Possessing a certain set of basic soft skills is very essential. Employers want someone who can go above and beyond their comfort zone, and carry the right attitude. You need to be flexible with your choices and be open to mingling with the company’s culture.
You improve your chances of getting hired for a data science internship by possessing soft skills like:
- Communication
- Adaptability
- Leadership
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Work ethic
You need to be able to present yourself in a way that employers find appealing.
Soft skills are used every day in the workplace and developing these soft skills is an integral part of finding and retaining a job. A lack of soft skills can limit your potential and stunt your career progression.
Conclusion
These are some ways in which you will get a guaranteed data science internship. Don’t worry if you have not got any experience, data science internships for freshers are available in plenty. There are a ton of opportunities in data science right now.
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