How to Market Yourself as a Data Scientist

As technology advances, companies continue to increase their data operations and analysis efforts, making it an excellent time to pursue a career as a data scientist. In fact, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported strong growth for the industry, with over 59,680 data scientists in 2020 and an average annual salary of $111,100. It also goes without saying that the competition for good companies will be tougher as more and more people become interested in this line of work. So, here’s how to market yourself properly.

Have in-depth knowledge of your niche

You can’t pretend to be good at something you’re not, especially when it comes to the industry of data science. While having all-around knowledge is useful, employers and interviewers will most likely ask you about your specific niche. So, you need to constantly build your knowledge through personal projects, staying on top of data trends, and reading recently released research articles, to name a few. You can start by checking our blog, where we write about methods for Python and coding, machine learning, and the latest techniques for data scientists. Reskilling and upskilling are critical for you, given the industry’s fast pace.

Build your personal branding

Employers are known to do a little background research on their prospective employees to make sure the individuals they’re hiring are a good fit. That said, it’s worth investing time to build your professional online brand. Research has shown that having very little social media presence is almost as bad as having a negative profile. Conversely, having a good online presence shows companies that you’re out there, constantly seeking opportunities. Your personal Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are good places to start sharing your self-improvement progress. There, you can share things about your professional career and experience.

Join hackathons

Hackathons are a fantastic way to put your skills to good use, solve practical problems, and learn strategies from experts and your peers. Through exercising collaboration, teams at hackathons can build products and expose themselves to the real world of data science applications. Moreover, you are also likely to encounter hackathons once you land yourself a job. Many scale-up companies love to hold hackathons as team-building events because they can grow their workforce and push tech initiatives forward. It’s also designed to get you out of your comfort zone and get you thinking outside the box.

Immerse yourself in data science communities

Data science communities like Kaggle and GitHub are becoming more popular for a reason. They are spaces that allow professional data scientists and wannabes to share information and resources that are relevant to the latest trends in the field. For instance, you’ll be able to hear about up-and-coming programming languages that are growing a following as well. You can also build connections with the people you encounter, and be able to help our fellow aspirants as well. Getting involved is also a marketing strategy for yourself.

Ace your interviews

With enough preparation, you’re bound to acquire the right skills to get you through your interviews. What you need to practice is summarizing your capabilities as a data scientist in front of your interviewer. One way to do so is to prepare an elevator pitch, which involves organizing a quick synopsis of your background and experience. It should be short enough to present during a brief elevator ride but substantial enough for people to get a good insight into your career. A tried and tested formula includes your background, skills, and goals. Plus, have your business card on hand.

Lastly, don’t forget to continue growing your skillset and practicing self-marketing. With these tips, you’ll give yourself an edge over competitors. And before you know it, you’ll have landed that job as an in-house data scientist!