A job in data science is perhaps the most sought-after career around the world right now. In terms of the job scenario, data science jobs offer the perfect combination of a good salary with challenging and exciting job profiles at the same time. What more could anybody desire? But, as one goes on applying for jobs, one realises how difficult it is to get into these jobs. With the increasing popularity of data science, rejecting candidates has become more common than usual.
Well, nobody is foreign to the feeling of rejection, one must understand that it is part and parcel of life, but when it comes to data science, one must realise that it is a tough nut to crack. If one is looking to get into the data science field as a fresher or trying to switch careers, then it would be wise to keep in mind that it is tough to get into a good profile which is going to take time, and therefore one needs to have ample amount of patience.
Below are tips that might help in dealing with the feeling of rejection from data science interview:
Move On
The feeling of rejection from an interview would be a tough one to handle, especially if the job profile or the company is a good one. But, like in any other case, the first step is to try moving on, and not dwell on for too long on the same subject.
To ease some frustration; again, it’s essential to keep in mind that it is not easy to land on to a data science job, not only because of the nature of the field but also because of the immense demand it is going through. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 11.5 million jobs are to be created by 2026, which makes it sure that private organisations will never stop being hungry for data and the jobs will only be growing in the future. So it’s safe to say that while the competition is increasing, the job opportunities are also increasing.
Review
After one understands the nature of data science job hunt and have experienced it first hand, one needs to review some basic stuff. Firstly, to take a look at your resume and keep updating/reviewing it frequently.
Editing one’s resume should be like refining it. Although buzzwords in the resume are essential, too many of them will only take away focus from a particular skill. For example, instead of highlighting all the languages you know, showcasing it real-time on platforms like Github will give recruiters a better idea and solidify your chances. Along with this, one should make sure to mention all the projects that one has worked on from scratch and give details that especially describe the technical skills.
Retrospection
By retrospection, one doesn’t have to revisit the ‘how did I get rejected’ question, instead one has to ask oneself – ‘What should I do differently this time to get selected’.
One thing to keep in mind is that interview skills, and technical skills are two very different things. So, while looking back at the interview to see what went wrong, one should try to group their mistakes under two separate category — interview skills and technical skills. This way, one can narrow down the problems. One should also keep in in mind the importance of constant upskilling.
The Dark Cloud of Rejection With A Silver Lining
We all must have heard the phrase, ‘fall seven times, stand up on the eight’, from personal experience, this is something that has to be your ‘mantra’. There is a silver lining to failure and people who can see it grows in their life. Failing, to the contrary belief, gives you the confidence to face the next interview without any fear. “You fail, you go back, upskill and move on to the next interview.”
Some Technical Help
While self-evaluating yourself, one must find out that you lack some of the technical knowledge. And therefore, here are some courses one can pick on.
Some full-time courses in India:
- Post-Graduate diploma in business analytics jointly offered By IIM Calcutta, ISI Kolkata, IIT Kharagpur
- Postgraduate diploma in data science (full-time) with MAHE by Jigsaw Academy
- PG program in data science by Praxis Business School
- Post-graduate program in data science and engineering (PGP – DSE) by Great Learning
Some part-time courses:
- Data science specialisation from JHU @ Coursera.
- Introduction to data science from Metis.
- Applied data science with Python specialisation from UMich @ Coursera.
In India:
- Post graduate certification in data science by Edureka.
- Executive PGDM in business analytics by Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management (VJIM)
Outlook
Data Science stream requires skilled personnel, however, as of now, the field of data science needs more expertise. If one is technically sound with excellent interview skills, they might end up cracking the interview.
Another thing to keep in mind is that even if one is doing everything right, there is always a possibility of not getting selected for an interview, and therefore one must endure. For instance, we should take inspiration from Santosh Rai, a data scientist who had to endure 12 rejections before finally getting his first opportunity. According to Santosh, “I didn’t give up and wasn’t demoralised as well. Rather, I saw my failures as stepping stones to success.”
Or Sahil Malhotra’s journey as a fresher, who overcame the struggle of finding a data science job.
One must improvise, adapt and overcome.
