Why Companies aren’t looking for Data Scientists — The Holy Grail of Data Science Career
By: Alfred Sasko
Tags: Data Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Career Development, Data Science Careers

1. Firms are not hiring Data Scientists

This subtitle sounds crazy as, according to Gartner, it is the sexiest job in the 21st century.

Has the hiring manager ever asked you if you are a good data scientist?

Most probably not. But he would certainly ask how you would improve the accuracy of convolutional neural network recognizing faces if you would be applying for the position of computer vision engineer. It could be a start-up entering a market with a new face recognition solution for smart buildings.

Becoming a passionate problem solver and expert in a particular industry is the key to success. Think about the following questions to find your niche in the broad data science universe:

What area of data science excites me?

What industry do I want to be in?

What are the major trends affecting my ideal profession? How might it change in the future?

What hot topics in my field I should address to stay competitive?

What is the compensation ranges of my target profession?

What education and training are required?

Imagine you are a Digital Transformation Director working in an e-commerce firm. You are looking for a person who will lead an initiative powering an e-shop with AI to increase revenue. Who would you be more interested in talking to?

I am a data scientist with wide and deep ML and AI knowledge with 3 year of experience. I am looking for the opportunity to advanced my carrier in senior role, where I could lead a small data science team. I support retailers to improve their digital marketing ROI. I built and deployed customer propensity models and increased revenue by 2M$. Writing a blog about the latest AI research in e-commerce is my passion. I am looking for the leadership opportunity, where I could deliver AI solutions driving consumer personalization across all sales channels .

Two introductions above may refer to candidates with similar experience and skills. The only difference determining losing or winning is that the winning one is walking in the hiring manager's shoes.

Different views on Data Scientist; Image by Author

Call to Action

How are you currently positioning yourself to potential employers or clients? Does it sound more like seeking a job or emphasizing the value and passion you can bring?

Exploring the professional environment will sharpen your value proposition and make you stand out in candidates' competition. It is the first concept to keep the interviewer interested in talking to you. How? Follow the actions below:

Create a list of your values, interests, and skills

Search job descriptions containing your list items

Select the industry that interests you

Build a list of target job titles

Investigate the compensation package in your area for selected job titles

Study the ML and AI trends within selected industry

Work on industry project and publication portfolio

Design a list of needed skills tailored to the target profession and industry

Remember linking your identity with the target industry is a key to open many doors.