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The prospect of building a career in data science in New Zealand may be an attractive endeavor, as New Zealand’s technology market and the need for professionals in the data science field expands. Below are some of the details that will assist you should you know how to begin your treasure hunt.
Bachelor’s Degree: It starts with the attainment of the appropriate bachelor’s degree program. Some of the available subjects include Computer, Science and Information Technology, Mathematics, and Statistics. This means one can easily find universities such as the University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington that offer sound programs that provide a solid grounding on data science principles.
Postgraduate Studies: Some of you may feel that just a bachelor’s degree is not enough to create opportunities. Fret not! There are many postgraduate courses available too. Master of Data Science, a program offered by the University of Auckland, offers specialized knowledge and aptitudes in data analysis, machine learning, and the management of big data.
Technical Skills: Knowledge of languages such as Python, R, and SQL is essential to excel in the field of data science. Moreover, knowledge of utilities like Hadoop, Spark, and TensorFlow is also beneficial. Skills like these can be learned through courses and bootcamps like that offered at the Auckland University of Technology.
Analytical Skills: Through an analysis of data, data scientists have to make meaningful conclusions and be analytical in their approach. Some fundamental classes that need to be taken by the participants are statistics, data mining, and machine learning.
Soft Skills: In the current business world, there is no doubt that interpersonal, communication, conflict-solving, or diffusing skills are just but rudimentary. It is common for data scientists to be part of a team and therefore they are required to present findings in layman’s terms.
Internships and Entry-Level Positions: To start, try to apply for internships as well as entry positions like Data Analyst or Business Analyst. These roles offer the opportunity to practically work and to gain a better insight into the industry. Many organizations including RWA People and Vector Company based in Auckland often do this.
Projects and Competitions: Compete in data science-based competitions hosted on sites such as Kaggle. These competitions allow you to solve real-life scenarios and market your talent to possible employers.
Join Professional Associations: Some of them include the New Zealand Analytics Forum and the Institute of IT Professionals New Zealand IITP provides avenues to network, training, and seminars. Interacting with such forums assists one in getting new ideas within the field and also interacting with other professionals.
Attend Conferences and Meetups: Such events help in finding out more from the professionals and interacting with their counterparts best illustrated by the Data Science New Zealand Conference. It is about attending such events regularly which can help you to remain updated in terms of innovation and available jobs.
Certifications: It is ideal to mention the earned certifications from renowned institutions that benchmark the candidate. Industry-recognized certifications standard in data science, machine learning, and big data programs offered by Coursera, edX, and DataCamp, among others.
Continuous Learning: Data science is an evolving field. You can enroll for online classes, subscribe to trade journals and magazines, and even follow other professionals within the same field on different social media platforms. But, to retain that competitive advantage it is critical to keep on learning.
Tailor Your Resume: Make sure to emphasize your technical experience, courses, especially the ones related to the job, and if possible any experience. Additional projects and internships that allow showcasing the use of data science methods in real-life cases.
Prepare for Interviews: Make sure that you are prepared to come up with your technical knowledge, problem-solving strategy, and previous work. Some of the things that have been recommended are the weekly practice of the common data science interview questions and even mock interviews.
Job Portals and Recruitment Agencies: Job seekers can visit websites that offer jobs such as SEEK and LinkedIn among others. New Zealand-based recruitment agencies for IT and Data scientists including Randstad New Zealand also help in your job search.
New Zealand may also require aspiring data science professionals to undergo academic training, skills acquisition, professional practice, and training. With these procedures in mind and by considering the adrenalin rush in revitalizing your professional life – you have all the tools needed to become a data scientist in New Zealand.
