Exploring Today’s Modern Data Science Landscape

If you’ve picked up this book, chances are that you’ve already heard of data science. It’s arguably one of the fastest-growing, most discussed professions within the tech and STEM space, all while maintaining its relative edge and mystique. That is, many people have heard of data scientists, but very few know what they do, how a data scientist produces value, or how to break into the field from scratch.

In this chapter, we will verify the definition of data science with a practical description. Then, we will discuss what most data science jobs entail, while spending some time describing the distinction between different flavors of data science. We’ll then dive into the various paths into data science and what makes it so challenging to land your first job. We’ll finish the chapter with an overview of the non-negotiable competencies expected of data scientists.

By the end of this chapter...