It is overwhelming to enter the world of AI with the rise of competition in the field. When I first joined SP Jain School of Global Management, I was under the impression that acquiring coding skills would be enough for me to land a job in the data science sector.But it was later, when I interacted with my seniors and professors, that I realised that soft skills and technical skills both hold equal importance to enter the tech world.

Start off with a strong foundation

In my first semester of the BDS program, we started off by learning the basics of coding, statistics, calculus, and foundational skills. Further into the second semester, we were introduced to core subjects like ‘Introduction to Data Science’ and ‘Statistical Analysis’ which made the semester exciting and engaging.

Get comfortable with coding

Coding is the heart of data science. Having a deep knowledge of learning how to code using languages like Python and Java is essential. Coding helps in building models, cleaning data, and automating tasks. Employers value candidates who have a strong base and understanding of programming.

Build skills in machine learning

Machine learning is what makes data science exciting and useful. It’s about training models to learn from data and make predictions or decisions. Companies want to see that you understand the basics like regression, classification, decision trees, and clustering. They also expect you to know how to apply these models using tools like Scikit-learn or TensorFlow.

Learn how to apply your data

Professionals in the hiring process look for graduates who know how to draw conclusions from data, test hypotheses, and work with distributions, averages, and variances. These skills help you build accurate models and make reliable predictions. It also shows that you can work with uncertainty, which is essential in real-world business decisions.

Keep an eye out for the latest tools

Modern data projects often happen on cloud platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure. AWS has become the talk of the town in the AI sector. Companies appreciate candidates who can work with these services. Knowing tools like Git for version control or Docker for deployment adds a lot of value too. Familiarity and mastery of these tools show that you are job ready, and comfortable working in real-world tech environments.

Build your problem-solving skills

Problem solving is the most essential skill when you’re working in a company. Technically, data science is all about problem solving. Professionals look for people who can approach challenges logically and creatively. Being a strong problem solver means you can identify what matters, explore the data, and come up with solutions that make a difference.

Communication

It is important as a data scientist to be able to express your work clearly, in a structured manner, while having the ability to network with people in a way that can benefit the company. Recruiters highly value individuals who can translate technical terms into business language. Good communication helps teams understand your insights and ensures everyone stays on the same page.

Collaboration

Be it any job in the world, teamwork and collaboration are always the key to moving ahead. In the field of tech, you’ll often work with product teams, engineers, and business leaders. Hiring professionals seek team players who listen well, share ideas, and support others. Collaboration skills ensure that projects run smoothly and that insights turn into real results.

Business Acumen

Business acumen means you can connect data analysis to real business goals like increasing revenue, reducing costs, or improving user experience. Hiring managers appreciate graduates who can look beyond the numbers and help companies grow through smart, data-driven decisions.

Make the most from your network

At SP Jain Global, we had various workshops that gave us an opportunity to network with professionals, CEOs, and heads of different companies, offering us a whole new perspective on the industries that we will step into in the future.

In conclusion

To sum it all up, if you’re looking forward to breaking into the data-driven world, it will require focus and practice. You need to be equipped with the essential skills, have a solid foundation in computer programming and the ability to understand numbers and visualise data through statistics and maths. Also, understanding a company’s values, staying curious, being a quick learner, and delivering on expectations are the skills that will set you apart in the eyes of a recruiter and help kickstart your career.

About the Author: 

Ayati Arora belongs to the 2024 batch of our Bachelor of Data Science program.
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